What Are Outdoor Fabrics?

"Outdoor Fabrics" refer to woven textiles made from a wide variety of synthetic fibers, acrylic, polyester, olefin and various blends, including cotton.  These breathable fabrics are made "water repellent" by a chemical treatment process during manufacturing.  The treated fabric repels (beads) water, resists soiling, both water & oil based stains and impedes mildew formation.

With time and use the original repellency treatment is diminished, making periodic cleaning and re-treatment necessary.  The key to keeping your outdoor fabric looking great and extending its life is periodic cleaning followed by repellency re-treatment.

What Are the Most Common Outdoor Fabric Uses?:
Boating:
- Enclosures
- Biminis
- Dodgers
- Boat & sail covers 
RV:
- Acrylic awnings & furniture
Automotive:
- "Canvas" Fabric Convertible Tops
Home and Garden:
- Commercial and residential awnings, outdoor furniture

What outdoor fabrics can 303 Products safely clean?

Though the cleaning and re-treatment procedures in this web page specifically apply to Sunbrella® and fabric  "canvas" convertible topping, they also apply to most outdoor fabrics. Waiting until your outdoor fabric is dirty, stained and/or leaking requires the use of harsh chemicals and physical cleaning methods which can diminish service life.

How do I use 303 products to clean my outdoor fabric?

Use 303 Fabric  / Vinyl Cleaner, 303 Aerospace Cleaner, 303 Convertible Top Cleaner or 303 Cleaner & Spot Remover or use a mild
natural soap (Ivory Soap) in lukewarm water (100°F max)
Use soft bristle brush, sponge or cloth to loosen any stubborn dirt.  Properly maintained fabric should require no more than light agitation.
Rinse THOROUGHLY to remove soil and cleaning agent.
Allow to air dry. 

Re-treating
303 High Tech Fabric Guard is the re-treatment product recommended by and for Sunbrella® /Glen Raven, Inc.

303 High Tech Fabric Guard restores lost water repellency and stain repellency to factory new levels.  It stops leaks, resists soiling, impedes mildew formation and helps protect against the sun's harmful UV rays.

With 303 High Tech Fabric Guard re-treating is easy, quick, inexpensive and lasts a long time.

What can I do with 303 High Tech Fabric Guard

Use only on new or newly cleaned, dry fabric. 
Spray on 303 High Tech Fabric Guard until damp. DO NOT SATURATE!
Allow fabric to dry thoroughly before using or storing. 
If time permits, two light coats are better than one medium coat. Allow to air dry thoroughly between coats. 
Coverage:
For Sunbrella, "canvas" convertible topping and similar weight fabrics, apply at the rate of 75-100 sq. ft. per 16 oz. trigger sprayer, 500-800 sq. ft. per gallon.  Expect greater coverage on lighter weight fabrics, less on heavier fabrics and carpeting.

Maintenance Tip: About once a month, use a water hose to gently spray off any dirt that has settled (outdoor Sunbrella).  This keeps dirt from settling in and extends the time between soap and water cleaning and ret-reating.

For Stubborn Stains: Soak the stained fabric for no more tahn 20 minutes in a solution of 1/2 cup (4 oz) of bleach and 2 oz 303 Fabric Cleaner or 303 Aerospace Cleaner or natural soap per gallon of warm water (100°F).

Tip For New Fabrics: During the fabrication process the factory finish can be worn causing the new fabric to "wet", most commonly at the seams.  To prevent or correct seam leaks, treat the seam with 303 High Tech Fabric Guard.

WARNING: Silicone "water repellent" products are not recommended.  These products are not compatible with the outdoor fabric's factory finish and actually promote staining.  Water "sealants" for wood and masonry also are not recommended.

Before using 303 High Tech Fabric Guard, read the label directions and warnings.

Sunbrella®, made from 100% solution dyed acrylic fiber, is the world's largest selling outdoor fabric.

303 High Tech Fabric Guard is powerful enough to protect fabrics in the harshest environment...outdoors. Yet 303 High Tech Fabric Guard is safe for the finest fabrics, wool, silk, and fine leathers including suede.

This text is reproduced from the 303 Products web site. For more information on 303 Products please go to: www.303products.com