Have you ever heard of Sunbrella fabric? It is one of the most popular outdoor décor fabrics. It can be found on patio furniture, hot tub covers, indoor couches, and boat canvas. If properly cared for, Sunbrella fabric can retain its original appearance for up to ten years.
Naturally, you may want to re-dye your Sunbrella awning or boat cover after a few years. Is it, however, safe to do so? Will a new dye coat ruin the fabric? Can you paint Sunbrella fabric in the first place? Yes, you can, but you will need to make the fabric water permeable. Stay with us to know the detailed process.
Can You Paint Sunbrella Fabric?
Sunbrella fabric is an acrylic woven fabric. It is popular because of its water-resistant, fade-resistant, stain-resistant, and mold-resistant characteristics. Furthermore, this fabric is simple to clean and has a longer lifespan.
Many storefront awnings are made of a special Sunbrella fabric. Sunbrella is also the most commonly used material for boat covers. This fabric keeps your boat safe and dry. You can use a Sunbrella cover on your patio to create a nice little spot to rest when it rains or to find some shade when it’s too hot outside.
Painting On Sunbrella fabric
Because Sunbrella fabric is water and liquid-repellent, painting it is a difficult process with no guarantee of success. Sunbrella can be dyed with chalk paint or water-based acrylic paint, but the dye may simply sit on top of the fabric when you try to paint because of its liquid-repellent nature.
So, firm pressure may be needed to force the paint into the fabric. Another option might be to paint the fabric. The biggest problem with painting this fabric is that it tends to dry and crack. To paint Sunbrella, you’ll need to soak the canvas in a heavy detergent/water mixture for a day to remove all of the fabric waterproofing.
If it can’t absorb water, it won’t be able to absorb dye. Furthermore, it will not last the season. The sun will quickly degrade the dye. Awning companies sometimes paint or silkscreen signage on Sunbrella. Test the paint you would like to use on a small area or a scrap piece first but you should be fine.
Things to Consider
Applying a coat of paint to your Sunbrella fabric may cause it to become stiff. This may cause cracking over time, especially if you need to fold the fabric. Essentially, by painting Sunbrella, you risk reducing the fabric’s flexibility.
The best solution is to spend more time considering which Sunbrella color you want to purchase in the first place. Simply buy a new Sunbrella cover that matches your current needs if you want to change the color.
Can Sunbrella be painted?
Sunbrella has not dyed in the way that most of us think of dyeing. In fact, we use no dyes at all. Prior to extrusion, highly UV-resistant pigments are mixed with the fibers in a liquid state. After that, the fiber is cut, baled, blended, spun into yarn, and woven into fabric.
How do you restore Sunbrella fabric?
For Common Mildew and Stains
If your Sunbrella fabric and cushion or pillow are removable and the manufacturer recommends machine washing, you can follow the steps below.
1. Using the Washing Machine
To begin, close all zippers on the removed fabric. Place them in the washing machine and select the cold wash cycle. Use the usual amount of mild laundry detergent when running a delicate cycle. Then remove the fabrics and air dry them. Avoid using a dryer because it can discolor the fabrics.
2. Bleach Solution
Get a large mixing bucket containing 1 gallon of water, 1 cup of bleach, and 14 cups of dishwashing soap. Spray the mixture on the fabric and let it sit for 15 minutes and the mildew will be removed.
Use a sponge or a soft bristle brush to remove the mildew. Rinse the fabric with clean water and let it dry. Water stains and water rings can result from treating the entire piece, so treat the specific area of mildew on Sunbrella fabric.
3. Water Cleanser with Basic Soap
Here is a formula for a solution that will remove many common stains. 1 gallon of water, and 14 cups of gentle dishwashing liquid. Spray the solution with a sprayer, then rub it in with a soft bristle brush, or soft towel. Only rub the stains, and then rinse.
Ketchup stain, mustard stain, raw egg stain, coffee stain, tea stain, soda stain, grape juice stain, chocolate stain, charcoal stain, and pencil mark can all be removed. Just vacuum those stains first before working on a pencil mark or charcoal mark.
Difficult Stains
Don’t worry if some stains are difficult to remove. You can do it quickly if you follow the instructions.
1. Wine Stains Removal
Spray clean water on the stain. After that, spray those tough stains with soapy water and rub the area with a bristle brush. Now, rinse with more clean water to remove the solution. Take a soft cloth and gently pat the area dry. The rest will be done by air drying.
2. Bloodstains Removal
It can be difficult if the split blood dries in the fabric. To begin, use soapy water to remove as much of the stain as possible. Now, combine 60ml of dishwashing liquid and 120ml of ammonia in 1 gallon of water. This is the bloodstain remover. Spray it on the bloodstain and rub it in. Then, using clean water, rinse the surface.
3. Odorous Stain Removal
Make a vinegar and soap solution. Take 60ml dishwashing liquid, 80ml white vinegar, and one gallon of water. Using a sprayer, apply the solution to the smelled stain. Rub it with a bristle brush as needed, then rinse the residue. This solution works well on vomit, beer, berries, urine, and food coloring stains.
4. Oil-based Stains Removal
First, spread cornstarch on the oil-based stained surface to absorb it and dry it. Scrape the remaining cornstarch after it has finished absorbing the grease. It’s time to use an old trick.
Spray the stain with soapy water. Rinse the soapy solution from the fabric with a sponge and soft bristle. The method is applicable to paint, tree sap, tomato juice, liquid shoe polish, suntan lotion, and salad dressing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of dye can be applied to fabric?
There are a few different product types that can be used to apply pigment to the fabric. While most people use paint as their primary medium, some prefer to apply their designs with inks or even fabric dyes. The majority of textile and fabric paints are acrylic-based paints that have been specially formulated for use on fabric.
Can you permanently dye fabric?
Yes, you can permanently paint fabric. However, sometimes you will see so-called permanent paint coming off, it’s because the painting or fabric wasn’t taken care of as it should.
Final Statement
Can you paint Sunbrella fabric; yes you can. We recommend working with a specialized company that prints graphics on fabrics. They have the necessary tools, paint types, and experience to achieve the desired results.
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