Steve,
I have a complete cockpit enclosure on AnnieG. The enclosure is constructed of cadet grey sunbrella. I don't know how old the top is, but I have had to have many of the seams restitched because the stitching does not last as long as the sunbrella. I have also had to replace zippers because the sun has damaged the old ones.

It had a lot of mildew, green mold, and dirt on it last year, so I took it off and scrubbed it with a brush and a mixture of about a quart of bleach per gallon of water and a little laundry detergent. I dunked it in a little kids swimming pool filled with fresh water after I cleaned it, just to be sure all of the bleach was out.

After it dried, I used a paint brush to apply a coat of 303 Fabric Guard Water Repellent, which is what the makers of Sunbrella recommend. The instructions say to spray the stuff on, but I don't like the overspray getting on the windows. The brushed on Fabric Guard pretty much saturated the fabric, but when it dried it didn't change the color. The fabric came out looking like new. This year, after a northwest winter in the marina, it still looks good.

Gary Teeter
1989 C39 #966
AnnieG
Everett, WA

Find the Sunbrella website, they have instructions for cleaning.

Wow! A quart of bleach per gallon seems like way too much bleach!!! Might that be a cup of bleach or less??

Laura,
I was desperate. The top was a disaster! I had previously tried a weak bleach solution and it did not remove the stains. After the stronger solution, the top looked like new, although my clothes had lots of white spots. My reasoning was that if I used a strong bleach solution and then got the top quickly into the fresh water soak the bleach would not have time to do much damage.

I don't think I would try this on a colored top without first testing an unobtrusive spot and seeing if there is a color change.

I bought an old sewing machine similar to a sailrite and have replaced several zippers and restiched most of the seams (bad before cleaning) on the top since the heavy handed treatment, and have observed that the fabric is still strong. The kalglas plastic window material does not seem to have been effected. If I had stratoglass coated windows, I might have been a little more cautious.

Gary Teeter
1989 C36 #966
Everett, WA

Gary,

I typed in Sunbrella and hit the Ctrl button on my browser and found this: [url]http://www.sunbrella.com/na/cc_marine_tops_covers.php[/url]

NO bleach. Soft detergent. Simple.

We have had good luck with a product called IOSSO.... our blue sunbrella sail cover was almost black... now it looks brand new.

Cheers,
Tony

And once cleaned per Sunbrella instructions, try this: [url]http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=151258[/url]

I just did this for my dodger and bimini. Sunbrella suggests using a mild detergent like Woolite and up to a cup of bleach for a wash machine load. Yes the larger machines work good for the tops, I wouldn't try the windows. The bimini had some mold growing and the machine did not take it all off so I mixed up another batch half cup bleach/gal plus 1/4c woolite and scrubbed with a stiff brush that got it. I used the 303 spray it takes a lot about 1/2 the coverage they say for two coats (32oz for the top of the dodger). I am going to order a gallon so that I can finish my bimini. I sprayed of the dodger this weekend and the water just beads up and runs off. Sunbrella says this cleaning and spraying should be done every 3 or so years to keep the fabric waterproof and in good condition.