What Sunbrella is, and how to look after it
Sunbrella is the performance fabric made by Glen Raven, a family-owned textile company in North Carolina, since 1961. Here’s how it works, how to care for it, and how we turn it into cushions made to your exact size.
Why Sunbrella lasts outdoors
Sunbrella’s colour and strength are built into the fibre itself, not added as a surface coating. That is why it stands up to sun, rain and repeated cleaning without losing its colour, while still feeling soft enough to sit on all afternoon.
Weather resistant
It resists mold, mildew, sun, rain, snow and humidity, so cushions can stay outside through the season.
Fade resistant
The pigment and UV stabilizers go into the fibre before it is spun, so the colour isn’t sitting on the surface waiting to fade.
Long lasting
Strong, colourfast fibres hold up to years of sitting, sun and cleaning.
Comfortable
It feels soft, like indoor upholstery, rather than stiff like old-style outdoor canvas.
Tough stains come clean
Most spills come out with soap and water. You can even use diluted bleach, because there is no surface finish to strip away.
#1 Most Trusted Outdoor Fabric**2026 third-party study among U.S. households with incomes $150k+
5-year limited warrantySee Sunbrella.com/warranty
STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®Most upholstery fabrics, Class II
No added PFASNo “forever” chemicals
Color to the Core™
All Sunbrella fabrics are manufactured with Color to the Core™ technology. Each Sunbrella fibre is saturated with dye throughout, instead of just on the surface, before it’s spun into yarn.
Think of a carrot: orange all the way through, not painted orange. That’s why Sunbrella holds its colour in strong sun and can be cleaned with diluted bleach without losing it.
Water-repellent, waterproof or marine?
Three kinds of Sunbrella, three different jobs. Pick the one that matches where your cushions live.
Sunbrella upholstery
Canvas, Spectrum, Cast and most of our range. Rain beads off, but water can get in through the seams in a downpour. Pair it with Dry Fast foam so the inside drains and dries quickly.
Sunbrella Rain
Waterproof upholstery fabric, made for cushions that stay out in wet weather for long periods.
Sunbrella Horizon
A marine-grade vinyl, not acrylic. Fully waterproof and used for boat cushions and poolside seating.
More detail in our guide: Is Sunbrella waterproof?
How to clean Sunbrella outdoor cushions
Spills happen. Most come out with mild soap and water, and the sooner you deal with them, the easier they lift.
Try this first with a new spill
Blot (don’t rub) with a clean, dry cloth. For oily spills, apply corn starch and lift it off with a straight edge.
Spray with a mild soap-and-water solution, or Sunbrella Clean™ Multi-Purpose Fabric Cleaner.
Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue, then let it air dry.
Removable covers
- Hand wash: soak in ¼ cup mild soap per gallon of lukewarm water. Lightly agitate with a sponge or very soft brush, rinse thoroughly and air dry.
- Machine wash: close all zippers and wash cold on a delicate cycle with mild detergent. For severe mold or mildew, add 1 cup of bleach. Air dry.
- Every Fabrica Kraft cover has a zipper, so it comes off for washing.
Covers that stay on
- Mix ¼ cup mild soap per gallon of lukewarm water. Use a soft-bristled brush and let the solution soak in, then rinse thoroughly and air dry.
- Clean the whole surface from seam to seam to avoid water rings. An extractor helps with residue.
Mold and mildew
Sunbrella doesn’t promote mildew, but mildew can grow on dirt left on the fabric.
- Mix 1 cup of bleach and ¼ cup mild soap per gallon of water.
- Spray the entire area and let it soak in for 15 minutes.
- Clean with a sponge, towel or very soft brush, rinse thoroughly and air dry. For severe cases, increase the bleach.
Oil-based stains
If an oily stain remains after cleaning, use Sunbrella Extract™ Oil-Based Stain Remover or a strong degreaser, then rinse thoroughly.
Helpful hints
- Clean spills promptly; full removal isn’t guaranteed for spills left to set.
- Avoid scrubbing, hard brushes and abrasive cleaners.
- Always let Sunbrella air dry.
- Protect nearby non-Sunbrella fabrics from bleach, and follow the precautions on the bleach label.
- To remove wrinkles, use an iron on the synthetic setting (test a hidden spot). No steam.
- After many cleanings, refresh water repellency with Sunbrella Restore™ Fabric Protector & Repellent on clean, dry fabric, outdoors.
- Using a professional cleaner? Ask about their experience with Sunbrella and retreatment.
Stain-by-stain cleaning chart
Sunbrella’s recommended method for the most common spills. Open the chart to find yours.
Open the stain chart (17 stains)
Always rinse thoroughly afterwards and let the fabric air dry. Set-in residue may need professional cleaning.
| Spill or mess | At-home solution | Sunbrella product |
|---|---|---|
| BBQ sauce, beer, berries, coffee, cola, tea, wine | 1 tsp dishwashing liquid per 1 cup of water. | Sunbrella Clean™, then Erase™ Spot & Stain Remover for any remaining discoloration |
| Bird droppings, urine, vomit | 1 tsp dishwashing liquid and 1 tsp white vinegar per 1 cup of water. | Sunbrella Clean™ and white vinegar |
| Blood | 1 tsp dishwashing liquid and 1 tsp hydrogen peroxide per 1 cup of water. | Sunbrella Clean™ and hydrogen peroxide, then Erase™ if needed |
| Butter, grease, mayonnaise, oil, paint, salad dressing, sunscreen, tomato | Apply cornstarch to fresh stains, lift the excess with a straight edge, clean with 1 tsp dishwashing liquid per 1 cup of water, then use a strong degreaser. | Sunbrella Clean™, then Extract™ Oil-Based Stain Remover |
| Charcoal | Vacuum the excess, treat with isopropyl alcohol, then clean with 1 tsp dishwashing liquid per 1 cup of water. | Sunbrella Clean™ and isopropyl alcohol |
| Chewing gum, crayon | Treat with isopropyl alcohol, then clean with 1 tsp dishwashing liquid per 1 cup of water. | Sunbrella Clean™ and isopropyl alcohol |
| Chocolate | 1 tsp dishwashing liquid per 1 cup of water. | Sunbrella Clean™, then Extract™ for any oil residue |
| Dye transfer | 1 tsp dishwashing liquid and 1 tsp isopropyl alcohol or bleach per 1 cup of water. | Sunbrella Renew™ Mold & Mildew Stain Remover |
| Ink, nail polish | Treat with 100% acetone, then clean with 1 tsp dishwashing liquid per 1 cup of water. | Sunbrella Clean™ and acetone, then Erase™ if needed |
| Ketchup, mustard | 1 tsp dishwashing liquid per 1 cup of water. For remaining discoloration, use bleach water or a bleach pen. | Sunbrella Clean™, then Erase™ if needed |
| Lipstick, cosmetics | 1 tsp dishwashing liquid per 1 cup of water, then a strong degreaser. | Sunbrella Clean™, then Extract™ |
| Mildew and mold | 1 tsp dishwashing liquid and 1 tsp bleach per 1 cup of water. Severe mildew may need more bleach. | Sunbrella Renew™ Mold & Mildew Stain Remover |
| Pencil | Vacuum, then clean with 1 tsp dishwashing liquid per 1 cup of water. | Sunbrella Clean™ |
| Rust | Treat with a rust remover such as CLR® and rinse thoroughly. | Rust remover such as CLR®, rinsed thoroughly |
| Shoe polish | Apply cornstarch, lift the excess with a straight edge, then clean with 1 tsp dishwashing liquid per 1 cup of water. For wax polish, first cover with a towel and apply a heated iron to lift surface debris. | Sunbrella Clean™, then Extract™ |
| Tree sap | Soften with Murphy® Oil Soap, turpentine or 100% acetone and remove as much as possible, repeating as needed. Then clean with soap and water and rinse well. | 100% acetone, then Sunbrella Clean™ |
| Candle wax | Cover with a towel and apply a heated iron to lift surface debris, then clean with 1 tsp dishwashing liquid per 1 cup of water. | Sunbrella Clean™, then Extract™ |
Always follow the directions on Sunbrella cleaning product packaging. More at sunbrella.com/cleaning-guide.
Peace of mind for years to come. The Sunbrella Care Team can talk you through most product or warranty questions. For anything about your cushion’s sizing, sewing or delivery, contact Fabrica Kraft.
Warranty and certifications
5-year limited warranty
Sunbrella fabric carries a 5-year limited warranty from the mill. See Sunbrella.com/warranty for details. Fabrica Kraft adds its own workmanship warranty on the cushions we make.
Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX® Class II
Most Sunbrella upholstery fabrics have been tested in an independent laboratory to verify they contain no harmful substances according to STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® (19.HUS.73033 HOHENSTEIN HTTI).
No added PFAS
Sunbrella fabrics do not contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), known as non-degrading “forever” chemicals.
Sustainability
Glen Raven, the company that makes Sunbrella, publishes figures on recycling, waste and energy use at its plants. These are the headline numbers:
245,619 lbRecycle My Sunbrellaof fabric collected from Sunbrella customers over the past 5 years.
89.3%Zero waste to landfillof waste diverted from landfills in company-owned plants making Sunbrella fabrics in 2024.
863,201 lbRecycled material useof recycled raw materials used to make new Sunbrella fabrics over the past 5 years.
70%+Renewable energyrenewable electricity used in all Sunbrella plants in 2024.
−60%Carbon footprintnet Scope 1 & 2 carbon footprint in five years in company-owned plants, driven by renewable energy credits.
Sunbrella at home
Sunbrella cushions made to your size
Every one of our custom Sunbrella cushions is cut to within ±0.5″ of your measurements, sewn with a zipper cover and a Sunbrella × Fabrica Kraft collaboration tag, and ships in 2–3 weeks.
Questions about Sunbrella fabric
What is Sunbrella fabric made of?
Most Sunbrella upholstery fabric is 100% solution-dyed acrylic. Some ranges blend in other fibres, and Sunbrella Horizon is a marine vinyl.
Is Sunbrella waterproof?
Standard Sunbrella upholstery is water-repellent, not waterproof. Sunbrella Rain upholstery and Sunbrella Horizon marine vinyl are waterproof.
Does Sunbrella fade?
Sunbrella is made to resist fading because the colour runs through the fibre. Like any fabric, it changes slowly over many years of direct sun, but far less than printed or piece-dyed fabrics.
Can Sunbrella cushions stay outside in the rain?
Yes. The fabric resists mold and mildew. To help cushions last longer, stand them on edge after heavy rain and store them during long wet or winter spells.
Can you use bleach on Sunbrella?
Yes. A diluted mix of bleach, mild soap and water is safe on solution-dyed Sunbrella acrylic. Rinse thoroughly afterwards.
Is Sunbrella good for indoor furniture?
Yes. It’s soft enough for sofas and window seats and a good choice for sunny rooms and homes with kids or pets. See also Sunbrella Interiors.
Who makes Sunbrella?
Sunbrella is made by Glen Raven, Inc., a family-owned textile company based in North Carolina. Fabrica Kraft cuts and sews custom cushions to order using genuine Sunbrella fabric.
Love how your space turned out? Share it and tag @sunbrella with #Sunbrella and #SunbrellaRetailPartner.
Sunbrella® is a registered trademark and Color to the Core™, Clean™, Erase™, Extract™, Renew™ and Restore™ are trademarks of Glen Raven, Inc. Fabrica Kraft makes custom cushions using genuine Sunbrella fabrics.
