Is it possible and how to properly wash an umbrella at home?
Lack of proper care of the umbrella causes dirt, smudges and stains to appear on it.
Familiarization with simple recommendations on how to wash an umbrella at home, whether it is possible to use a washing machine for washing, and how to remove stains from the canopy will allow you to easily cope with the problem.
Content
Possible options for washing at home
There is an opinion that this accessory is washed in the rain. This is a misconception, because dropping drops on dusty fabric leaves marks on it. In addition, with prolonged use, rust or grease stains may appear on the canopy, so the question arises: is it even possible to wash the umbrella to remove them?
It turns out that it is possible. You just need to know how to do it correctly. Here are several methods for removing contaminants:
- Cleaning the fabric canopy with a dry clothes brush. This is the easiest way. However, it only removes dust.
- Using the washing machine. Quite an aggressive and complex method. To machine wash, you will have to remove the fabric covering from the knitting needles.
Only a specialist can handle this task. And the fabric may become deformed or lose its original color during processing.
It is impossible to wash the entire umbrella without removing the fabric canopy, since the complex design of the accessory does not allow such treatment. In this case, you can ruin both the umbrella and the washing machine.
- Hand washing is the most effective method. The main thing is to perform actions accurately and consistently. The correct choice of detergents is also important.
Selection of cleansers
From a large range of detergents, it is recommended to choose less aggressive ones. This approach will ensure that the color of the material is preserved and will not affect the condition of metal and plastic parts.
The best means for washing an umbrella are:
- Simple soap solution. It is effective for removing light, fresh stains.
- Powders and gel solutions for washing woolen products. Their advantage is the ease of rinsing and the absence of streaks on the fabric after washing.
These products are good for treating dark umbrellas - black, blue, burgundy.
- Shampoo or dish soap. It is advisable to use these products if necessary to remove greasy stains from the surface of the umbrella.
It is not recommended to use any detergents with a conditioner effect for washing umbrellas. This leads to overdrying of the fabric, deformation and fading of the shade.
If it is necessary to clean small areas of dirt, use a solution of warm water with ammonia or vinegar in a ratio of 1: 1. Single stains can still be cleaned with alcohol or cologne applied to a cotton pad.
Product preparation
Before carrying out the procedure, it is recommended to prepare the necessary cleaning ingredients, a sponge, a clothes brush, cotton pads or soft rags.
Important preparation steps:
- if the design of the umbrella does not provide for removing the canopy from the spokes, it should not be disassembled;
- to carry out preparatory manipulations, the product is opened and inspected;
- Dust and dry dirt are swept away from the surface with a brush;
- The most contaminated areas (especially the folds) are wiped with an aqueous solution and vinegar before washing the umbrella.
When performing the basic cleaning procedure, there is no need to open the umbrella completely. Therefore, it is washed in a half-opened state.
Basic Rules
The procedure for washing the umbrella itself is easy, but involves need to follow some rules:
- mandatory dust removal;
- pre-soaking the accessory in warm soapy water or using detergents;
- To avoid damage to the fabric covering, it is recommended to wash the umbrella half-closed;
- the effect on the fabric does not allow intense pressure and friction;
- piercing and cutting objects, hard brushes and rough sponges are not used for processing fabric.
Step-by-step instruction
The algorithm for cleaning an umbrella consists of performing actions in a certain sequence.In this case, such characteristics of the product as design features, type of fabric, and its color must be taken into account.
Wash the fabric covering
The washing solution is used depending on the degree of soiling of the umbrella. For minor contamination, you can use soap foam from laundry, baby, or any other toilet soap. If you need to wash off old dirt, it is advisable to use shampoo, washing powder or gel.
The washing process itself consists of the following steps:
- You can wash the umbrella in a basin or directly in the bath. To do this, the half-opened product is soaked for 15–20 minutes in warm water (35–45°). Very hot water can cause fabric to shrink and colors to fade.
- Problem areas can be lightly rubbed with a soft cloth.
- After treating the outer side of the dome, it is necessary to clean the internal areas of dirt and debris.
- The umbrella is then placed under a shower sprayer in the bathroom or watered from a watering can from the inside and outside.
- At the final stage, it is recommended to shake off the water and dry the half-open product.
Features of processing different materials
The different colors and structure of the fabric dome require special care. Ignoring the recommendations when washing an umbrella made of delicate fabrics leads to damage to the product.
Below are the nuances of caring for accessories made from different materials:
- Color umbrella. The normal hand washing method is used, but detergents should not contain chlorine. The use of various oxygen stain removers is effective. The best among them are Vanish and Astonish.
You can restore the brightness of a colored umbrella by rinsing the fabric with a vinegar solution.To prepare it, add 1 tbsp to a liter of water. l. vinegar.
- White. Special delicate care is required for snow-white accessories. Even slight dirt spoils its appearance. Stains can be removed using citric acid. The recipe is simple: 1 tbsp. l. water + 0.5 tsp. lemon extract.
An old stain is carefully wiped with a cotton pad soaked in this solution, or simply applied to a cloth and washed off after 3 to 5 minutes. Then do normal washing. Stains from the white dome can be easily cleaned with a paste made from water and baking soda. The processing procedure is similar to the previous method.
- Black dome. This is the most practical color. It can be easily washed in a soap solution with laundry soap, grated and foamed in warm water.
The disadvantage of a black coating is the likelihood of discoloration when removing stains and the appearance of streaks if rinsing is poor. Remove stains with vinegar solution.
An effective way to achieve a rich black color after treatment is to add a strong infusion of black coffee or tea to the rinse water.
- Transparent umbrella. After washing the transparent umbrella, it is necessary to remove stains that appear from water stains. They can be wiped off with a soft cloth or a napkin. A good remedy for stains is a solution with ammonia (100 ml of water + 10 ml of alcohol). After such treatment, it is necessary to rinse in the shower with clean water, then wipe dry.
- Lace. Special care should be taken when processing lace accessories, as the delicate fabric may become deformed or torn when washed. Therefore, it is recommended to immerse such an umbrella in warm water in a semi-folded state.To wash lace, special detergents for delicate fabrics are used.
After processing, the lace umbrella must be dried without exposing it to direct sunlight, because delicate lace may acquire a grayish tint.
Methods for removing rust
Rust stains appear on fabric or knitting needles. You can remove them from the fabric with lemon juice applied to it with a cotton pad or soft napkin. After 3 – 4 minutes. The rust must be cleaned with a brush and washed off with plenty of warm water.
Rust is removed from the spokes in the same way. You can also use citric acid (add 1 part acid to 2 parts water). After cleaning the rusty areas, it is recommended to lubricate the spokes with silicone grease. This will prevent rust from reappearing.
Removing grease stains
Fresh grease stains can be washed with detergents used for dishes. The removal procedure is carried out in several stages:
- inspect the umbrella for grease stains;
- wet the product and apply a few drops of the product to the contaminated areas;
- rub with a brush until foam forms;
- after a quarter of an hour, rinse under running water and dry.
It is more difficult to remove old grease stains from fabric. It is recommended to pour boiling water over the contaminated area after treatment with detergent.
All manipulations have to be performed twice or three times. That's why It is better to remove grease stains immediately after contamination.
Cleaning the cover
When washing an umbrella cover and bringing it into proper shape, you can use any detergent. However, it is important to take into account all the recommendations regarding their selection for different types of fabric and color features.
Cleaning the handle
The umbrella handle is a place where fat, dirt, viruses and bacteria accumulate. It is advisable to clean it as often as possible.
A high-quality smooth handle is easy enough to wipe:
- liquid soap for washing hands,
- dish gel,
- alcohol.
Sticky residue can be easily removed with a damp alcohol wipe or a wet cloth with baking soda applied. It is more difficult to clean a pen with embossed patterns. Here, the use of baking soda will help out, with the help of which the recesses and protrusions are carefully processed.
After cleaning, the handle is rinsed, and after drying, it is advisable to polish it using car wax.
Musty smell and how to eliminate it
The appearance of a bad odor is directly related to improper drying umbrella after washing. It occurs due to the appearance of mold in places where residual moisture remains.
You can get rid of it using table vinegar. The solution is prepared from water and vinegar mixed in a 1:1 ratio. The umbrella is wiped with the mixture and then washed with running water.
The final stage is re-drying the product according to the rules outlined below.
How to dry it properly?
Following simple tips for drying the product will prevent the fabric from sagging, rust and a musty smell.
Recommendations for drying the accessory after washing are as follows:
- Under no circumstances should the product be dried closed.
- You should also not leave it lying down, as the umbrella will take a long time to dry. This will damage the waterproofness.
- You cannot open the umbrella completely, because the fabric covering will sag. Deformation changes are especially typical for products made of synthetic materials. Prolonged tension on the spokes leads to their breakage.
- It is best to dry the umbrella half-open.
- After washing, the product should be opened and closed 3-4 times. This removes excess water.
- To dry, it is not recommended to leave the umbrella near heating devices to avoid deformation and stiffness of the fabric.
- Drying in the sun is harmful - the dome burns and becomes discolored.
You will find maximum useful information about washing clothes and various fabric products Here.
Video on the topic of the article
This video will show you how to wash an umbrella:
Conclusion
Properly washing and drying an umbrella is not difficult. But This simple procedure will ensure the accessory is in good condition and will extend its useful life..
And the owner of a convenient product will be reliably protected from the vagaries of the weather. At the same time, he will be pleased with the cleanliness and attractive appearance of the umbrella.