How to Clean an Outdoor Patio Umbrella

We may be surprised to find dust, dirt and debris on our patio furniture which has stored away all winter. Cleaning plastic and glass patio furniture is simple. Hit it with the hose and voila! But your patio umbrella is another story. In order to clean your patio umbrella and make it look as good as new, there are a few things you must do.

Broom
Pail
Dishwashing liquid
Sponge
Garden hose

Instructions

- 1
  Shake the umbrella out on the lawn while it is closed. You might be surprised to find grass clippings, leaves and loose dirt that accumulated over the winter months in your shed or garage.
- 2
  Open the patio umbrella and lay it on its side. Use a broom to remove any cobwebs, mud, leaves or debris that didn’t “shake off.”
- 3
  Fill a pail with warm water and mild dish-washing liquid.
- 4
  Submerge a sponge into the soapy water and begin washing your umbrella, using an up and down motion. Make sure that you give the entire umbrella a good scrub-down.
- 5
  Let the soap soak into the fabric for about 5 minutes once you’ve washed the entire umbrella. This will allow it to penetrate any dirt that’s embedded into the fabric.
- 6
  Stand the umbrella up and rinse it off with a garden hose. If you do not stand the umbrella up, it will only get muddy on the ground. Rinse the umbrella until there are no more soap suds and the water runs clear.
- 7
  Leave the umbrella open and standing in an upright position in order for it to dry out in the sun.

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