Cleaning a shade sail
by fabric, stain and season
A shade sail over a patio or balcony collects dust, pollen and bird droppings, and in time also green algae. How you get it clean depends on the fabric: acrylic, olefin and coated polyester do not tolerate the same products. Here you can read how to clean your shade sail, remove stains and prepare the sail for storage.
For normal care, lukewarm water, washing-up liquid and a soft brush are enough. The fabric decides whether bleach or a washing machine is allowed. All further topics around the sail are in the shade sail guide.
- Take the sail down or make it easy to reach, and remove dry dirt with a soft brush.
- Use 1 part washing-up liquid to 20 parts lukewarm water, at most 30 degrees, apply in circular movements, rinse clear and dry in the shade.
- No pressure washer, no steam cleaner, no tumble dryer.
- Olefin may go in the machine at 30 degrees on a gentle cycle, but only when needed.
- Agora, made of solution-dyed acrylic, tolerates a 1:20 bleach solution for mildew and bird droppings. Dralon, olefin and polyester do not tolerate bleach.
- Clean thoroughly before storing and let it dry completely. For property managers and nurseries there is a seasonal service with cleaning and storage.
Which fabric is hanging there? Care by weave
The dyeing and coating decide which products are allowed. Our made-to-measure shade sails come in Agora, olefin and in the waterproof Cover version, and the panels of the rope tension awning also in Dralon and Polysun. Which fabric suits your spot is covered under shade sail: which material. You will find more solutions for sun protection on the patio and our outdoor fabrics by the metre in the shop.
| Fabric | Used by us in | Washing | Bleach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agora, solution-dyed acrylic | Water-repellent shade sail, rope tension awning | Lukewarm water with neutral soap, at most 30 degrees | Allowed diluted 1:20, for mildew and stubborn stains |
| Olefin, polypropylene | Water-repellent shade sail, rope tension awning | Machine at 30 degrees on a gentle cycle, only when needed | Do not bleach |
| Cover, PU-coated polyester | Waterproof shade sail | By hand with lukewarm water up to 30 degrees and mild soap | Do not bleach |
| Dralon, conventionally dyed acrylic | Rope tension awning | By hand, heavy soiling at 30 degrees on a gentle wash cycle | No bleach, not even diluted |
| Polysun, polyester | Rope tension awning | Hand wash only, at most 30 degrees | Do not bleach |
Cleaning a shade sail step by step
Make it accessible
Take the sail down or make it easy to reach. If you can get at the fabric everywhere, you can also clean it while it hangs.
Brush off dry dirt
Remove dry dirt with a soft brush or with the vacuum cleaner and upholstery nozzle.
Apply washing-up liquid solution
Mix 1 part washing-up liquid with 20 parts lukewarm water, at most 30 degrees. Apply the solution with a soft cloth, sponge or brush in circular movements.
Rinse clear
Rinse thoroughly with clear water. Soap residue in the weave otherwise attracts new dirt.
Dry in the shade
Let the sail air-dry in a shady, well-ventilated place. Damp fabric in full sun can develop water marks.
Only continue once dry
Tension or store the sail only when it is completely dry. Moisture in folded fabric leads to mildew in storage.
Washing a shade sail: machine or by hand?
You may wash any sail, but the washing machine suits only certain fabrics.
Olefin in the machine
Olefin sails may be washed at 30 degrees on a gentle cycle. According to the manufacturer, frequent washing can impair the properties of the fabric, so only wash when needed. More about the fabric under olefin.
Agora by hand
Clean the water-repellent Agora sail with lukewarm water and neutral soap. For mildew and stubborn stains, the solution-dyed acrylic tolerates a diluted 1:20 bleach solution. More about the fabric under Agora Liso.
Cover by hand only
The waterproof Cover version is coated polyester. Clean it by hand with lukewarm water up to 30 degrees and mild soap, without bleach.
Panels of the rope tension awning
Remove light soiling on acrylic panels with a warm cloth and a little washing-up liquid. Heavy soiling may go in the machine at 30 degrees on a gentle cycle. Polysun panels by hand only. You will find the awning itself under made-to-measure rope tension awning.
Every wash counts
With the acrylic panels of the rope tension awning, every wash cycle washes out more of the protective finish, and the fabric then gets dirty faster. For olefin, the manufacturer also points this out. Better to brush it off often than to wash it often.
No tumble dryer
None of the fabrics in our sails belongs in the tumble dryer, and none in dry cleaning. Always air-dry.
Removing stains by type
The table applies to solution-dyed acrylic, which for us means Agora. For olefin, Cover and Dralon, stick to the washing-up liquid solution and leave out the bleach. Treat stains as soon as possible, because fresh stains come out more easily.
| Stain | Product | How to proceed |
|---|---|---|
| Bird droppings, sun cream, resin, berries, wine | 1:20 washing-up liquid solution, 1:20 bleach solution if needed | Apply, leave to work briefly, rinse thoroughly clear |
| Mildew, damp marks, green algae | 1:20 bleach solution | Soak the fabric in the solution, then wash again with 1:20 washing-up liquid solution and rinse clear |
| Oil, grease, coffee, tea, milk, chocolate | 1:20 washing-up liquid solution | Loosen with a soft cloth in circular movements, rinse clear |
| Car grease | Acetone, on the spot only | Dab off with a soft cloth, then wash again with washing-up liquid solution |
| Rust | Lemon juice and salt | Soak the stain with lemon juice, cover with salt, leave for 24 hours, rinse, repeat if needed |
| Candle wax | Kitchen paper and iron | Let the wax harden and peel it off, iron out the rest under kitchen paper on a low heat, wash again |
Home remedies instead of special cleaners
You do not need a dedicated cleaner for the shade sail. You can clean your shade sail with home remedies: most dirt comes off with lukewarm water and mild soap. You usually already have these products at home.
Washing-up liquid 1:20
1 part washing-up liquid to 20 parts lukewarm water. This is the basic solution for every fabric and for almost every stain.
Soft brush and vacuum cleaner
Dry dirt comes off with the brush or the upholstery nozzle before water presses it into the weave.
Lemon juice and salt
Against rust on acrylic: lemon juice on the stain, salt over it, leave for 24 hours, then rinse.
Bleach only for Agora
1 part bleach to 20 parts water does not attack the solution-dyed acrylic fibre. Bleach does not belong on Dralon, olefin and polyester.
Hydrogen peroxide for Dralon
For very stubborn mildew on Dralon, you can try diluted 3 % hydrogen peroxide. Test it first on an inconspicuous spot.
What damages the fabric
Pressure washers and steam cleaners damage the water-repellent finish, and on coated and laminated fabrics they loosen the layer. This applies to every sail and every awning made of fabric.
Hot water can impair the waterproofing. Lukewarm is enough for any cleaning.
No dry cleaning, no petrol, no solvents and no abrasive cleaners. The only exception is acetone on the spot for car grease on acrylic.
On Dralon, even diluted bleach can bleach the colour out or make it blotchy. Olefin and polyester do not tolerate bleach either.
On olefin and polyester, do not apply a waterproofing spray yourself. It can react with the finish applied at the factory.
Damp fabric in direct sun easily develops water marks. Dry it in the shade and in the open air.
Clean before storing
A thorough cleaning of the shade sail is due twice a year: before storing in autumn and before hanging it up in spring. Why every sail is taken down in winter and how to store it is covered under waterproofing and winterising a shade sail.
Store clean and dry
Clean the sail before storing it and rather let it air-dry a day longer. Moisture in the fabric leads to mildew in storage.
Hang it up again in spring
Brush it off thoroughly once, treat stains from storage such as mildew, then hang it up. You can read how to get the sail taut and with a slope under tensioning a shade sail.
Have the shade sail cleaned
Would you like your shade sail professionally cleaned and stored? For property managers, nurseries and local authorities, we offer a seasonal service with shade sail orders: dismantling and inspection in autumn, dry, insured storage over the winter for up to about six months including cleaning and maintenance, and refitting with an acceptance report in spring. If you would like to have your shade sail or other sailcloth cleaned, ask us via the service centre. We calculate the terms for each order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not sure which fabric your sail is made of?
Send us a photo of the sail and of the stain. We will tell you which product the fabric tolerates and what you had better avoid.