Sunbrella Mooring cover cleaning in commerical washer

tcason

tcason

Member
Apr 21, 2008
332
Maryland
Boat Info
240 Sundeck
Engines
5.0L 260 HP
I have neglected cleaning my Cockpit Cover and Tonneau Cover and was wonderind what experience the group has in cleaning the entire cover (two pieces) in a commerical washer. I dry dock my boat and the marinia does not have a good clean place to spread out the cover and scrub plus I was hoping to find a easier way to clean.

I have noticed from a search that Sunbrella carpet runners come very clean in machine but how about a mildewed large cover. Most of my mildew is on the inside of cover - I assume from putting the cover on over a "wet" boat at night and my neglect in not cleaning or sealing the cover for two years.

My concerns are
1. Is cockpit cover too big to do in machine
2. Will cover be "damaged" in machine
3. Will mildew come out with soap and bleach

Any experience and sucess stories that others have had using a commerical machine for a cover would be great. I will treat with 303 after cleaning.

Below is information from Sunbrella website:
Heavy cleaning for stubborn stains and mildew

Sunbrella fabric does not promote mildew growth, however, mildew may grow on dirt and other foreign substances that are not removed from the fabric. To clean mildew, or other stubborn stains:
  • Eight ounces (one cup) of chlorine bleach.
  • Two ounces (1/4 cup) of mild soap and/or detergent.
  • One gallon of water.
  • Clean with soft bristle brush.
  • Allow mixture to soak into the fabric for up to 15 minutes.
  • Rinse thoroughly until all soap residue is removed.
  • Air dry.
  • Repeat if necessary.
  • Re-treatment of fabric for water and stain resistance will be necessary.
If a boat cover is suitable in size for a washing machine, these steps should be followed:
  • Use mild soap and/or detergent.
  • For heavier stains add 1 cup of bleach to wash.
  • Wash and rinse in cold water.
  • Air dry. Never apply heat to Sunbrella.
  • Re-treatment for water and stain resistance will be necessary after machine washing.
Re-treating the fabric

As part of the finishing process, Sunbrella fabrics are treated with a fluorocarbon finish, which enhances water repellency. This finish is designed to last for several years, but must be replenished after a thorough cleaning. Based on test results,
Glen Raven recommends 303 High Tech Fabric Guard™ as the preferred re-treatment product for Sunbrella fabrics. Fabrics should be re-treated after thorough cleaning or after five years of use.
 
:smt001 I hire a mobil steamcleaner twice a year ,open,close season:grin:
tcason said:
I have neglected cleaning my Cockpit Cover and Tonneau Cover and was wonderind what experience the group has in cleaning the entire cover (two pieces) in a commerical washer. I dry dock my boat and the marinia does not have a good clean place to spread out the cover and scrub plus I was hoping to find a easier way to clean.

I have noticed from a search that Sunbrella carpet runners come very clean in machine but how about a mildewed large cover. Most of my mildew is on the inside of cover - I assume from putting the cover on over a "wet" boat at night and my neglect in not cleaning or sealing the cover for two years.

My concerns are
1. Is cockpit cover too big to do in machine
2. Will cover be "damaged" in machine
3. Will mildew come out with soap and bleach

Any experience and sucess stories that others have had using a commerical machine for a cover would be great. I will treat with 303 after cleaning.

Below is information from Sunbrella website:
Heavy cleaning for stubborn stains and mildew


Sunbrella fabric does not promote mildew growth, however, mildew may grow on dirt and other foreign substances that are not removed from the fabric. To clean mildew, or other stubborn stains:
  • Eight ounces (one cup) of chlorine bleach.
  • Two ounces (1/4 cup) of mild soap and/or detergent.
  • One gallon of water.
  • Clean with soft bristle brush.
  • Allow mixture to soak into the fabric for up to 15 minutes.
  • Rinse thoroughly until all soap residue is removed.
  • Air dry.
  • Repeat if necessary.
  • Re-treatment of fabric for water and stain resistance will be necessary.
If a boat cover is suitable in size for a washing machine, these steps should be followed:
  • Use mild soap and/or detergent.
  • For heavier stains add 1 cup of bleach to wash.
  • Wash and rinse in cold water.
  • Air dry. Never apply heat to Sunbrella.
  • Re-treatment for water and stain resistance will be necessary after machine washing.
Re-treating the fabric

As part of the finishing process, Sunbrella fabrics are treated with a fluorocarbon finish, which enhances water repellency. This finish is designed to last for several years, but must be replenished after a thorough cleaning. Based on test results,
Glen Raven recommends 303 High Tech Fabric Guard™ as the preferred re-treatment product for Sunbrella fabrics. Fabrics should be re-treated after thorough cleaning or after five years of use.
Click to expand...
 
You got a pretty big cockpit cover. I think it's going to depend on the machine. Best thing would be to go and try it. Make sure to use a front-loader - you don't want to use a machine that has an agitator.

The bleach solution will help with mildew - more time in the sun will help, too.
 
We wash ours each year in a commercial washing machine (very large size) at a laundramat near the house. A home size machine is really not up to the task and the commercial washer costs less than $6.
 
Re: Sunbrella Mooring cover cleaning in commerical washer - RESULTS

I washed my Cockpit Cover and Tonneau Cover in commerical washer this Monday.

Procedure
Washed Cockpit cover in 60 lb machine with two cups of Tide and 1/4 gallon of bleach.
Washed Tonneau cover in 40 lb machine with same amount of detergent and bleach.
Ran both through warm water perm a press cycle.
Removed both from machine and still had some soap residue and mildew on undersdie of cover.
Put both covers in a single 60 lb machine added 1/2 cup of tide and 1/2 gallon of bleach.
Let covers air dry on fence and then sprayed with 303 using ONE GALLON hand pump (this took less than two minutes and puts on even coats) - THANKS for this suggestion and I now use sprayer to spray Easy Off on bottom of boat at end of season to get off stains.

Results
75% of "inside" mildew was removed.
The tonneau cover had some edge seams come un - stiched.
Mildew is still on some spots on inside of cover but outside looks like new.
Will call canvas shop to have covers re-stched. Covers are 5 years old and the stiching can apart on the part of cover that is exposed to sun 24/7 during season - I think stiching was "due" but accelerated by the washing machine action.


Lessons Learned
Do not wait so long to clean covers (I plan repeating each spring and apply fresh 303).
Perhaps try to pre-scrub/pre-treat heavey mildew spots.
Wash both covers in seperate machine 60 lb minimum.
Use less soap or plan on rinising off cover after cycle with hose.
Try gentle cycle on machine.
Use more bleach - I plan on seeing how much water is used in wash cycle before next time to determine maximum amount of bleach.

Good luck and I would reccomend using a commerical machine to wash Cockpit Cover and Tonneau Cover.
 
We run ours through a commercial machine once a year. Tide and bleach make it look like new and it's 5+ years old.
 
I have used a mold/mildew remover spray from the boat store with oxy clean in water and a scrub brush.took a little while but took all the stains out.then treated with 303.been good since.I was a little worried about the machine damaging the zippers or seems.
 
The cover for my 240SD was 2 pieces, we ran it through our front load washer at home, with regular detergent. Worked like a champ.
 
I take my single piece cockpit cover and lay it flat on my driveway and pressure wash it after a summers use. Dry in the Sun, and then use the 303 High Tech Fabric Guard (about two bottles!) and store it for next Summer. No problems keeping the black canvas clean this way, but I certainly do my best to scrub it during the summer months as well with a deck brush, so its not _too_funky.
 
As a follow up to washing covers in commerical machine and some of the edge seams ripping apart.

Had local canvas shop remove covers and re-stich all seams ripped and not ripped. Took three hours and charged $180.00.

Canvas guy said he used "better" thread and it will now last longer than the Sunbrella fabric. He also suggested two vents in cover to allow condenstae out and to avoid mildew on interior of cover.

I plan on having vents installed next spring.
 
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