...cleaning a Sunbrella mooring cover?

fatlazyless · 07-30-2012, 02:20 PM

Hello .......... I have a dark green, Sunbrella mooring cover for an 18' boat that is dirty with yellow pollen stains .......that would be nice to get cleaned up. So, what works? Can it be washed in a large washing machine at a laundramat, or do I just hose it down and brush it out or something?

NoBozo · 07-30-2012, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Hello .......... I have a dark green, Sunbrella mooring cover for an 18' boat that is dirty with yellow pollen stains .......that would be nice to get cleaned up. So, what works? Can it be washed in a large washing machine at a laundramat, or do I just hose it down and brush it out or something?

Go to a laundramat and use their Heavy Duty washing machine to wash the cover. Wash the cover in "Woolite" according to the directions. AIR Dry over a picnic table at home. Get a spritz bottle of "Waterproofing with Teflon" from West Marine and treat the cover. It will look yukky Until it drys. Maybe an hour +/-.

NB

BroadHopper · 07-30-2012, 03:49 PM

If you can't afford the laundromat, I would fill an old galvanized iron tub with water, some woolite, and stir the cover by hand until the water turns black. Rinse in water and white vinegar and repeat if the rinse water is black.

If you have a porch railing you can wrap the cover around, borrow your neighbor's pressure washer and wash the heck out of it. Careful you don't apply to much pressure, your sunbrella will rival swiss cheese.

Belmont Resident · 07-30-2012, 06:42 PM

I washed mine several times in my washing machine. I just used Tide and it came out fine.
Used Camp-dry waterproofing and it worked ok. I’ve been told that the stuff sold at EMS for re-waterproofing ski jackets works great on boat tops and covers. I never did try it though. I guess you add it during the rinse cycle and then air dry.
Boats gone now and the original equipment mooring cover went with it and it was still in good to excellent shape and 11 years old.

Loony Singer · 08-01-2012, 02:45 PM

FWIW, here's a link to the manufacturer's recommended cleaning and waterproofing method: http://www.sunbrella.com/cleaning/ma...ops-covers.php.

I'm about to tackle my dark green covers, and I'll stick pretty close to these recommendations. The 303 waterproofing is available from places like West Marine, but it's pricey. You can save a few bucks buying it on Amazon.

Belmont Resident · 08-01-2012, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loony Singer

FWIW, here's a link to the manufacturer's recommended cleaning and waterproofing method: http://www.sunbrella.com/cleaning/ma...ops-covers.php.

I'm about to tackle my dark green covers, and I'll stick pretty close to these recommendations. The 303 waterproofing is available from places like West Marine, but it's pricey. You can save a few bucks buying it on Amazon.

Sports & Marine carries it as well and they usually have low prices.

LostInNH · 05-23-2013, 10:25 AM

Hello,
So I have a glastron 185 with american bow and overwindshield snap covers. They are red and starting to get pretty dirty. The recommended cool water and soft brush with gentle detergent isn't really up to the task.
The website says no machine wash, but has anyone had experience with that? Or any other ideas. Covers are only three years old.
Thanks

BroadHopper · 05-23-2013, 11:01 AM

I have a mooring cover over 15 years old. I would wash them at the laundry mat every spring with powdered detergent and double rinse. No bleach or oxiclean. After the cover dries on the porch railing I would spray on water proofing and I am good to go for the season!

Highlander · 05-23-2013, 12:32 PM

I wash mine every season in our front loader washing machine with Woolite, the manufacturer says not to use detergents. I also add a small amount of bleach to help clean the mildew that tends to build up on the underside. After hanging over the fence to dry I waterproof it with the spray tent and canvas waterproofing from Wal Mart. This process has worked well for several years and keeps the canvas looking new. I have tried the pressure washer method in the driveway in the past but find the washing machine works best.

fpartri497 · 05-23-2013, 07:18 PM

at the end of each boating season I wash my bimini top In the front loader with liquid tide and then put It in the dryer for a full drying cycle then I spray It with 303 from parifinaila. been doing this for four years with great results

Just Sold · 07-04-2013, 10:31 AM

After reading the posts here I downloaded Sunbrella's cleaning PDF. We have had the boat for 2 years but we have not cleaned the mooring cover and I do not think the previous owners did. the boat is 22 years old but the cover is not. I used the recommended soap and bleach combo.
First I washed the mooring cover at the local Laundromat in their largest washer (60#). Today I have washed it 3 times on the driveway using my long handle nylon scrub brush on both sides. Lots of scrubbing and got it clean with lots of extra effort. Now I am waiting for the waterproofing to arrived on Tuesday. Then I will apply 2 coats each side and hopefully it will look good. Will let you know.

Phantom · 07-08-2013, 01:39 PM

Laundromat LARGE Washing Machine
Add Tide
Air Dry
Treat with Scotch Guard Water repellant

We do this annually !!

Just Sold · 07-08-2013, 03:27 PM

I finished waterproofing our mooring cover yesterday. The cover is for a 23' x 8.5' boat and it took 1 gallon using a pump sprayer. Overall I was satisfied with the cleaning (not every stain came out) and especially the waterproofing. I used Starbrite waterproofing from Overtons w/free shipping. Will not have the cover on for a few weeks as I am using the enclosure canvas right now.

Chaos · 07-08-2013, 04:37 PM

I use a paint roller on my canvas and cockpit cover. It keeps the overspray down and I think I actually use less. I did all my canvas pcs and a 10 x 10 gazebo top with less than a gallon. I also use the Starbrite product.

LIforrelaxin · 07-08-2013, 06:33 PM

I have done this several times now... and tried various methods. From my experience this is what works best....

Machine wash with mild detergent.... I would never use any amount of bleach... I find that the mildew washes out with just the mild detergent...

I recommend only using 303 Fabric Treatment to treat the canvas..... I have tried other products like Starbrite Fabric Treatment and been less then thrilled with the results.... I found black staining after a summer of use, when I treated my canvas with the starbrite product. Admittedly all the staining washed out, but I have never experienced this when using the 303 formulation.

I will be taking my mooring cover to the laundry Mat later this summer and buying a gallon of 303 to treat it... It might be 10 dollars more then the starbrite product but my experience shows me that it is worth it....

07-30-2012, 02:20 PM	#1
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,526 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 295 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	...cleaning a Sunbrella mooring cover? Hello .......... I have a dark green, Sunbrella mooring cover for an 18' boat that is dirty with yellow pollen stains .......that would be nice to get cleaned up. So, what works? Can it be washed in a large washing machine at a laundramat, or do I just hose it down and brush it out or something? __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

07-30-2012, 03:49 PM	#3
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,512 Thanks: 3,118 Thanked 1,090 Times in 784 Posts	I would go along with NOBOZO If you can't afford the laundromat, I would fill an old galvanized iron tub with water, some woolite, and stir the cover by hand until the water turns black. Rinse in water and white vinegar and repeat if the rinse water is black. If you have a porch railing you can wrap the cover around, borrow your neighbor's pressure washer and wash the heck out of it. Careful you don't apply to much pressure, your sunbrella will rival swiss cheese. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

07-30-2012, 06:42 PM	#4
Belmont Resident Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Belmont NH but prefer Jackman Maine Posts: 1,857 Thanks: 491 Thanked 409 Times in 251 Posts	I washed mine several times in my washing machine. I just used Tide and it came out fine. Used Camp-dry waterproofing and it worked ok. I’ve been told that the stuff sold at EMS for re-waterproofing ski jackets works great on boat tops and covers. I never did try it though. I guess you add it during the rinse cycle and then air dry. Boats gone now and the original equipment mooring cover went with it and it was still in good to excellent shape and 11 years old. __________________ "better to have a short life that is full of what you like doing, then a long life spent in a miserable way.."

08-01-2012, 02:45 PM	#5
Loony Singer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 109 Thanks: 28 Thanked 16 Times in 11 Posts	Sunbrella manufacturer's recommendation FWIW, here's a link to the manufacturer's recommended cleaning and waterproofing method: http://www.sunbrella.com/cleaning/ma...ops-covers.php. I'm about to tackle my dark green covers, and I'll stick pretty close to these recommendations. The 303 waterproofing is available from places like West Marine, but it's pricey. You can save a few bucks buying it on Amazon. Last edited by Loony Singer; 08-01-2012 at 03:25 PM. Reason: mistake in heading

05-23-2013, 10:25 AM	#7
LostInNH Junior Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 11 Thanks: 6 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	American Boat cover cleaning Hello, So I have a glastron 185 with american bow and overwindshield snap covers. They are red and starting to get pretty dirty. The recommended cool water and soft brush with gentle detergent isn't really up to the task. The website says no machine wash, but has anyone had experience with that? Or any other ideas. Covers are only three years old. Thanks

05-23-2013, 11:01 AM	#8
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,512 Thanks: 3,118 Thanked 1,090 Times in 784 Posts	Fifteen years old cover I have a mooring cover over 15 years old. I would wash them at the laundry mat every spring with powdered detergent and double rinse. No bleach or oxiclean. After the cover dries on the porch railing I would spray on water proofing and I am good to go for the season! __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

05-23-2013, 12:32 PM	#9
Highlander Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 74 Thanks: 1 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	I wash mine every season in our front loader washing machine with Woolite, the manufacturer says not to use detergents. I also add a small amount of bleach to help clean the mildew that tends to build up on the underside. After hanging over the fence to dry I waterproof it with the spray tent and canvas waterproofing from Wal Mart. This process has worked well for several years and keeps the canvas looking new. I have tried the pressure washer method in the driveway in the past but find the washing machine works best.

05-23-2013, 07:18 PM	#10
fpartri497 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Concord NH Posts: 681 Thanks: 97 Thanked 48 Times in 39 Posts	at the end of each boating season I wash my bimini top In the front loader with liquid tide and then put It in the dryer for a full drying cycle then I spray It with 303 from parifinaila. been doing this for four years with great results __________________ dont worry be happy

07-04-2013, 10:31 AM	#11
Just Sold Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Suncook, NH, but at The Lake at Heart Posts: 2,612 Thanks: 1,082 Thanked 433 Times in 209 Posts	After reading the posts here I downloaded Sunbrella's cleaning PDF. We have had the boat for 2 years but we have not cleaned the mooring cover and I do not think the previous owners did. the boat is 22 years old but the cover is not. I used the recommended soap and bleach combo. First I washed the mooring cover at the local Laundromat in their largest washer (60#). Today I have washed it 3 times on the driveway using my long handle nylon scrub brush on both sides. Lots of scrubbing and got it clean with lots of extra effort. Now I am waiting for the waterproofing to arrived on Tuesday. Then I will apply 2 coats each side and hopefully it will look good. Will let you know. __________________ Just Sold At the lake the stress of daily life just melts away. Pro Re Nata Last edited by Just Sold; 07-05-2013 at 06:48 AM.

07-08-2013, 01:39 PM	#12
Phantom Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Berlin, Ma / Gilford Posts: 1,931 Thanks: 445 Thanked 604 Times in 340 Posts	Laundromat LARGE Washing Machine Add Tide Air Dry Treat with Scotch Guard Water repellant We do this annually !! __________________ *A bad day on the Big Lake (although I've never had one) - Still beats a day at the office!!*

07-08-2013, 03:27 PM	#13
Just Sold Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Suncook, NH, but at The Lake at Heart Posts: 2,612 Thanks: 1,082 Thanked 433 Times in 209 Posts	I finished waterproofing our mooring cover yesterday. The cover is for a 23' x 8.5' boat and it took 1 gallon using a pump sprayer. Overall I was satisfied with the cleaning (not every stain came out) and especially the waterproofing. I used Starbrite waterproofing from Overtons w/free shipping. Will not have the cover on for a few weeks as I am using the enclosure canvas right now. __________________ Just Sold At the lake the stress of daily life just melts away. Pro Re Nata

07-08-2013, 04:37 PM	#14
Chaos Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Danville, NH and West Alton Marina Posts: 134 Thanks: 111 Thanked 32 Times in 20 Posts	Just Sold I use a paint roller on my canvas and cockpit cover. It keeps the overspray down and I think I actually use less. I did all my canvas pcs and a 10 x 10 gazebo top with less than a gallon. I also use the Starbrite product.

07-08-2013, 06:33 PM	#15
LIforrelaxin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Long Island, not that one, the one on Winnipesaukee Posts: 2,821 Thanks: 1,014 Thanked 880 Times in 514 Posts	I have done this several times now... and tried various methods. From my experience this is what works best.... Machine wash with mild detergent.... I would never use any amount of bleach... I find that the mildew washes out with just the mild detergent... I recommend only using 303 Fabric Treatment to treat the canvas..... I have tried other products like Starbrite Fabric Treatment and been less then thrilled with the results.... I found black staining after a summer of use, when I treated my canvas with the starbrite product. Admittedly all the staining washed out, but I have never experienced this when using the 303 formulation. I will be taking my mooring cover to the laundry Mat later this summer and buying a gallon of 303 to treat it... It might be 10 dollars more then the starbrite product but my experience shows me that it is worth it.... __________________ Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....