How to Clean an Umbrella

A piece of equipment that is neither a garment nor any accessory, yet it can make a fashion statement. It is practical for daily use yet fashionable. Can you guess what? Yes, it’s an umbrella. Can you think of a place, time, or season where you wouldn’t need an umbrella? During the summer, we need an umbrella to protect ourselves from harsh or mild sunlight. In winter, umbrellas protect us from snow and dew drops. And, of course, umbrellas are indispensable in the rainy season.

Not only is the umbrella helpful, but it is also a stylish accessory that can complete your look. Umbrellas are one of the oldest fashionable items, used since the time of Elizabeth. You can carry a matching umbrella with almost every outfit, and they will give you a stylish, elegant, and classic look. However, with great fashion comes great responsibility. You need to take care of your umbrella regularly to keep it giving fashion statements for ages.

Cleaning Your Umbrella

Cleaning your umbrella is vital to remove blemishes and dust to keep its color and texture intact. The material that the umbrella is made of is generally repellent to water or any liquid, so any liquid substance will likely slide off the fabric. Despite this, you still need to clean your umbrella. To do so, you will need a large water container or a bathtub where you can immerse your opened umbrella, a sponge for rubbing, water, and a washing liquid.

Step-by-step Cleaning

Fill the bathtub or container with water to cover the open umbrella. Avoid using seething hot water, as it may damage the roof. Also, avoid using ice-cold water as well, as it does not help dissolve dirt. Instead, use lukewarm water. First, gently rub the top of your umbrella with the sponge in plain water before adding any washing liquid or powder. It will aid the elimination of dust and loosen dirt particles from the fabric.

Pour the cleaning fluid into the water in the bathtub and swirl with your hand to create a lather. Do not apply the cleaner directly to the canopy, as it may cause discoloration and make the umbrella look pale. After making the lather, dip the sponge in the lather water and rub it on the canopy. It will remove all the stains from your umbrella and reveal its natural color.

Drying the Umbrella

After removing dirt and stains from your umbrella, it’s time to dry it. Drying is a very important step in the umbrella cleaning process, as failure to do so can result in mildew growth. Once you have removed all spots, stains, and dust from the canopy, rinse it with clear water. Ensure that you have cleaned off all the lather from the umbrella surface. After cleaning off all the foam, place it in the sun to let the water drip off. The utility of an umbrella is to withstand harsh rays of the sun, so direct sunlight will not damage it. Drying an umbrella may take one full day. Once the water has stopped dripping from your umbrella, you can bring it inside and let it air-dry.

Treating Mildews

Mildew is a severe threat to umbrellas. It not only damages the umbrella but also deteriorates the look of the canopy. It is necessary to treat mildew at the beginning to protect your fancy, sturdy umbrellas.

Products Needed

It is not possible to remove stubborn mildew from your favorite umbrella using plain water or washing liquid. You will need some kind of mild alcoholic liquid and a paper towel. Isopropyl alcohol is the best ingredient, but if it is not available, rubbing alcohol from your local pharmacy will also work. As a home remedy, you can also use vinegar.

Cleaning Process

• Remember that mildews grow due to moisture. So, to treat them, take your umbrella out in the sun.
• Start the process with a patch test. Apply a small amount of the ingredient you are using to a hidden part of the umbrella to see if there is any adverse reaction. If there is none, you can start the cleaning process.
• Soak the paper towel in the alcoholic liquid and wipe it over the mildew. Be gentle, and do not rub harshly.
• After this, wipe the area with a clean towel soaked in clear water. If no spots remain, you can move on to the next step. Otherwise, repeat the process.
• Wipe the area with a damp cloth and rinse it with water.

Drying Process

Drying is an essential part of washing an umbrella. If it is not dried appropriately, there is a risk of mildew growth. Dry the umbrella in direct sun. You can alternatively choose to air-dry the umbrella, keep it hung, or open it, and eventually, it will dry out completely, all by itself.

Quick Tips:

• To treat stubborn stains, apply a stain remover to those spots.
• If your umbrella is old and needs waterproofing, apply a waterproof spray to the fabric.