CANVAS AND ISINGLASS CARE
Maintain your canvas and glass as well as prolonging its life and get the most out of your money by following some easy steps.
CANVAS CLEANING
Sunbrella® Fabric Cleaning
Sunbrella® fabric should be cleaned regularly before substances such as dirt, particles, etc. are allowed to accumulate and become embedded in the fabric. Hose off fabrics on at least a monthly basis with clear water to avoid accumulation.If you take down your canvas during the winter season, you should clean it, allow it to air dry, and store it in a well-ventilated area.
If you need to do a vigorous cleaning, you can do this once every two or three years depending on how quickly your canvas gets dirty (more if it is up year round and less if you take it down in the winter). The fabric can be cleaned without removing it from the frame or boat. Simply brush off any loose dirt, particles, etc.; hose down and clean it with a mild, natural soap such as a liquid dish soap (not a detergent) in lukewarm (not hot!) water, and use a soft bristled brush to clean. Let the soap sink in. Rinse the canvas thoroughly to remove all of the soap. Air dry.
If you have very stubborn stains you can use diluted chlorine bleach and soap mixture (no more that ½ cup of bleach and ¼ cup mild, natural soap (not a detergent) per gallon of warm (not hot) water. Use a soft bristled brush to clean and let the mixture soak for 15 minutes or so if necessary. Rinse the canvas thoroughly with cold water to remove all of the bleach and soap. Air dry. Excessive soaking in bleach will can deteriorate threads, so be sure to get your canvas restitched if necessary.
Sometimes a thorough cleaning will remove part of the water repellency that your canvas came with. After the canvas is cleaned and dry, you can reapply an air-curing treatment such as 303 Fabric Guard® or Aqua-Tite®.
When you clean Sunbrella® fabrics, always use a mild, natural soap (like dishsoap) and never a detergent. Do not use HOT water (never more that 100*), and do not apply heat since it will shrink the fabric. Do not steam press or dry in a dryer. Always make sure that the Sunbrella® is completely air dried.
If you have a small cover and you use a washing machine to wash the fabric, do not use a detergent and wash and rinse using cold water. Do NOT use the dryer or your Sunbrella® fabric will shrink. Always air dry. You will need to reapply a water repellant after using a washing machine.
Sunbrella® Plus Fabric Cleaning
Follow the same instructions as for regular Sunbrella® fabric above, but if you need to bleach the fabric for stubborn stains, use a non-chlorine bleach due to the urethane coating.
Sunbrella® Furniture Fabrics Cleaning
Sunbrella® furniture fabrics, including stripes, solids, textures, linens, and Comfort Sling® features a soil- and stain- resistant finish that makes clean-up easy. Sunbrella® fabric should be cleaned regularly before substances such as dirt, particles, etc. are allowed to accumulate and become embedded in the fabric. Hose off fabrics on at least a monthly basis with clear water to avoid accumulation.
Spot wash by briskly sponging the area with a soapy solution using a mild, natural soap and lukewarm water. Rinse thoroughly with clear water to remove all of the soap. Air dry thoroughly. For stubborn stains, you can use a fabric spot remover, and follow the directions on the can. Be sure to test an area for color fastness.
Solution dyed fabric does not promote mildew growth, but mildew may grow on dirt that is not removed from the fabric. To remove mildew stains, prepare a mild solution of one cup bleach plus two capfuls of mild, natural soap per gallon of water. Spray the entire area and allow it to soak in. Scrub with a sponge or clean rag. Sponge the fabric thoroughly to remove all of the soap. Air dry.
Stamoid® Fabric Cleaning
Stamoid® exterior marine products should be cleaned regularly to avoid dirt build up. A mild, lukewarm soap solution, such as a liquid dish soap is recommended. Use a soft brush or sponge. Let the soap stand for a short period of time but do not let the soap dry. Then rinse the fabric with clean water to remove all the soap. Allow the material to air dry thoroughly.
Do not ever use abrasive detergents or substances with solvents or gasoline.
Phifertex®, Sunsure®/Textilene® Cleaning
Use a cleaning solution containing 1 tablespoon of mild, natural soap, like liquid dish soap, and 2 tablespoons bleach with a gallon of water. Clean the fabric using a sponge or soft cloth dipped in the cleaning solution. Rinse the material thoroughly with clean water and air dry.
Clean this material on a regular basis (once or twice a year) to prolong its life. Rinsing the material to prevent buildup will also extend its life.
CANVAS WATERPROOFING
We recommend that you reapply a water repellant such as 303 Fabric Guard® or Aqua-Tite® to prolong the life of your canvas products. After a yearly cleaning, this is definitely recommended, since water may no longer bead up on the canvas, the UV screening is depleted, and stain resistance is compromised. Be sure that you first wash and air dry your canvas as outlined above in the Sunbrella® Fabric Cleaning section. Follow the instructions on the bottle for each product- they recommend one or two coats of a light spray (more if necessary). The 303 Fabric Guard® covers up to 100 sq. ft. per aerosol can and 800 sq. ft. per gallon of spray. The Aqua-Tite® covers a minimum of 200 sq. ft. and can be sprayed, brushed, or rolled on.
ISINGLASS CARE
Glass (Isinglass/Clear Vinyl) Cleaning
Cleaning, polishing, and protecting your clear vinyl glass has never been easier. Spray on Plexus® and wipe with a soft, non-abrasive cloth. Plexus® cleans and seals the pores in plastic surfaces with a micro-thin layer of shiny, protective wax, which makes the surface resistant to debris, oil, scratches, and yellowing. Anti-static properties repel lint and dust.
Strataglass® Glass Cleaning
It is recommended that Strataglass® is cleaned with IMAR Strataglass Protector Polish every two to three months. In the interim, use the IMAR Strataglass Protective Cleaner frequently.
Silicone Spray
Use silicone spray on zippers and hardware like snaps to keep them lubricated and in working order. We recommend Zippy Cool® or a silicone spray.
Makrolon Cleaning Instructions per Makrolon Technical
Makrolon® Cleaning Instructions Periodic cleaning of Makrolon® polycarbonate, using correct procedures with compatible household cleaners, is recommended to prolong the service life of your material. Makrolon® GP polycarbonate has a relatively soft surface that mars easily with wiping action. Makrolon 15, Makrolon AR, and Hygard sheets are hard coated, abrasion/mar resistant polycarbonate products that offer a higher degree of scratch resistance and surface hardness. These products provide superior protection against unintentional chemical attack. However, the use of abrasive, gritty cleaners and/or hard cleaning implements (e.g. hard brushes, scrapers, squeegees) should be avoided to eliminate the possibility of scratching the surface coating.
The following cleaning techniques are based on standard industry practices.
General Cleaning: 1) Thoroughly pre-rinse with warm water to loosen and wash away surface material, grit and grime. 2) Using a soft microfiber cloth or moist non-abrasive sponge, gently wash with a mild diluted soap or detergent. 3) Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm clean water. To prevent water spots, thoroughly dry the glazing with a dry soft cloth.
Removing Heavy Oils and Tars: 1) Thoroughly pre-rinse with warm water to loosen and wash away surface material, grit and grime. 2) With a 50/50 isopropyl alcohol-water mixture, gently rub the area with a soft non-abrasive cloth. 3) Immediately rinse thoroughly with lukewarm clean water. To prevent water spots, thoroughly dry the glazing with a dry soft cloth.
Removing Graffiti, Paint, Marker, Inks and Glazing Compounds: 1) Thoroughly pre-rinse with warm water to loosen and wash away surface material, grit and grime. 2) Using Naphtha VM&P grade, Isopropyl Alcohol or Butyl Cellosolve, gently rub the area with a soft non-abrasive cloth. Do not apply solvent cleaners under direct sunlight or during high temperatures. 3) Immediately rinse thoroughly with lukewarm clean water. To prevent water spots, thoroughly dry the glazing with a dry soft cloth.
Removing Adhesive backed Labels: 1) Isopropyl Alcohol, Naphtha VM&P grade or Kerosene will help lift stickers and adhesives. 2) Immediately rinse thoroughly with lukewarm clean water. To prevent water spots, thoroughly dry the glazing with a dry soft cloth.
Compatible Cleaners The following cleaning agents are compatible with Makrolon Polycarbonate Sheet products when used according to the manufacturer’s recommendations: Top Job, Joy® Palmolive Liquid® Windex® Ammonia free [Top Job and Joy are registered trademarks of Proctor & Gamble, Palmolive is a registered trademark of Colgate Palmolive, Windex is a registered trademark of Drackett Products Company]
Points to Remember Do not use abrasive cleaners. Do not use high alkaline cleaners (high pH or ammoniated). Do not leave cleaners sitting on polycarbonate for periods of time; wash off immediately. Do not apply cleaners under direct sunlight or at elevated temperatures. Do not clean your polycarbonate with any unapproved cleaners. When in doubt, seek guidance. Using scrapers, squeegees, razors or other sharp instruments may permanently scratch your polycarbonate. Always avoid dry rubbing/cleaning your polycarbonate, as sand and dust particles clinging to the exterior of the glazing may scratch its surface. An Anti-Static Canned-Air Ionizer can reduce electrostatic charge buildup on polycarbonate, consequently reducing dirt and dust buildup that would hinder cleaning.
Special Note: The edges of your polycarbonate sheet are not protected with an abrasion and chemical resistance hard coating. Do not allow cleaning solutions and solvents to pool along the edges for any length of time. Always rinse edges thoroughly with generous amounts of lukewarm clean water. Removing scratches from Makrolon polycarbonate sheet/window Deep scratches and gouges made by sharp objects such as keys, screwdrivers, and knives cannot be repaired. Fine scratches may be reduced in severity or cosmetically hidden by using a buffing compound such as NOVUS 2 Plastic Fine Scratch Remover, followed by a cleaning and polishing agent like NOVUS 1. However, for abrasion resistant coated products such as Makrolon AR, Makrolon 15 and Makrolon FC, buffing their abrasion resistant coated surface is not recommended because doing so further damages the coating and these scratched sites worsen the condition. Once removed, the coating cannot be repaired and buffing sites may optically distort the window.