MY SUNBRELLA SHRUNK

ffheap · Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 9:28 am Post subject: MY SUNBRELLA SHRUNK

I Folks,

I have a , hopefully, minor problem. I washed the top of my cockpit cover, dried it in the dryer with a low setting, sprayed it with the green can 3M fabric protector. When I put it on, it had shrunk.

Can I , and how do I, unshrink it? I thought Sunbrella would not shrink.

Fred Heap

Sneaks · Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 9:50 am Post subject:

Drying it in the dryer is disaster in the making. Don't ask me how I know but my mooring cover is soft, 3M protected, clean and fits again.

Sunbrella cleaning instructions.

My solution was to get it wet with plain water, put it on and let it air dry in place, fastened.

Don

thataway · Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 1:02 pm Post subject:

The Sumbrella cleaning site is at:
http://www.sunbrella.com/usa/carecleaning.shtml
One has to carefully follow these instructions.

The fabric should only be air dryed. Heating will shrink the fabric. The only approved finish application is 303 High Tech Fabric guard --I am not aware of any 3M product approved for Sunbrella. However since the lable is green on this product's plastic container, hopefully this is what you used. (Incidently people use everything from Thompson's water seal to wax on Sunbrella as it ages and looses water repelancy).

I agree that the best bet is now to put it up on the frame, snap as best you can, and spray it with water. There are snap extensions--which have a male on one end and female on the other end. You can buy these or make them. It is possiable that you may have to make some extensions.

Good luck.

ffheap · Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 4:23 pm Post subject:

Hi Folks,

Great answers, but not what I want to here. I am thinking of the following. Shorten the back frame. I might only have to loosen the bracket and push it down. That should solve most of the problem. The rest, take out the snaps that don't fit and add new ones that fit.

I shall do all this after I run it through the wash again, and AIR DRY it.
I don't think it will work, but just maybe!!!!.

Fred

Papillon · Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 4:40 pm Post subject:

Sunbrella is made from acrylic yarns. Acrylic and Heating Elements do not mix.

Follow the instruction suggestions above.

Loosen the support poles to fasten your snaps where possible and put a bungee cord on the frame to apply gentle pressure. Hose it down and let it air dry. Repeat as many times as it takes to get back you required tension.

Keep the faith....There was a man from Nantucket..who took his Sunbrella and #*#*ed...it.

thataway · Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 5:02 pm Post subject:

I have never put Sunbrella in a washing machine. I use Ivory soap and grate off small slivers to disolve in luke warm water. If necessary I use a small amount of chlorox for any mildew. I have bimini's which have been in daily use for 6 or so years with good results and still maintaining water resistance.

If you can move the frame slightly and relocate the snaps, that will work. When you put in new snaps, be sure that you have some dacron in between the layers of Sunbrella. I have a flat jawed set of vise grips for which I have a set of dyes to put ine snaps.

Cheers · Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 10:34 pm Post subject:

Read Bob Austin's responses. Don't wash in hot water or in the machine. Wash it while on the boat, if possible. Rinse with clear water and air-dry. If it fits treat it with 303 High Tech Fabric Guard™

Before you modify anything talk to the fabricators - I'll bet they've seen this before and can fix it for you.

Mine is 4-years old and still fits perfectly.

ffheap · Posted: Mon May 29, 2006 5:43 pm Post subject:

Thank you for your help. I contacted Sunbrella, and hope to get an answer back. I think you are all correct. I will have to adjust things to make them work. Fabricator flew the coop and went to Florida.

Fred Heap