How to clean an umbrella at home

The umbrella is an essential accessory of many people, which can serve not only as a protector from rain, snow or hail, but also to prevent direct sunlight on the skin. So, in many Asian countries in the summer you can observe how tourists, who are not used to the scorching sun, use it to counteract the ultraviolet flux.

In Russia, the umbrella is usually used to protect against heavy rain, and since most of the cities of our country are located in areas where any friable terrigenous rocks are exposed to the surface, this accessory can be easily blown and spread over the surface, get a sloppy look.

Interesting: for example, in St. Petersburg, most of whose territory is located in the Baltic Shield area, composed of crystalline rocks and, as a result,poorly amenable to weathering processes, it is rather difficult to stain both an umbrella and other items of clothing due to the absence of this soiling material.

Most of the fabrics of modern umbrellas, forming a protective dome, are already represented by classic water-repellent materials: nylon, eonge, polyester (though not ordinary, but impregnated) and sateen. In the ideally considered situation, all the listed tissues, with proper tension and proper construction of the umbrella frame, contribute not to the absorption, but to the rolling of water droplets to the periphery, therefore they can only be soiled if, for example, they are dropped into a dirty pool.

However, all domes, with the exception of satin, need relatively regular care, so it is recommended to wash the umbrella at least once every six months. This is due to the fact that many fabrics of budgetary umbrellas still absorb some of the moisture, which over time breaks the strength of connections between the smallest elements. If you do not allow the umbrella to dry, stagnant moisture can cause mold and unpleasant smell.

Tip: you can determine the quality of the umbrella with a simple experiment,for which you need two or three glasses of water. They should be poured onto the dome of the umbrella, after which the time to completely dry the fabric should be noted. The best quality umbrellas dry out in 5 minutes, maximum 7.

Ways to clean the umbrella

The choice of the method of cleaning an umbrella directly depends on the type of pollution, the color of the accessory, the presence of smell and the quality of the coating. It is especially important to pay attention to the nature of the fabric and its composition, since some chemicals can harm one and have no effect on others.

Cleaning with soapy water and other light mixtures.
If the contaminants remaining on the umbrella are weak, that is, not spread over the entire area of ​​the dome, rubbed with a fingernail and look like sea salt on the rocks after the surf, then you can remove them and at the same time clean the umbrella using soap solution.

It is very simple to dilute it: it is enough to add 100-150 milliliters of liquid soap to the basin with water, and then mix the two components to make the liquid uniform. Since the dome of the umbrella must be completely submerged under water, the amount of soap and water used should be calculated first.The umbrella should be wiped with a soft cloth (eg, melamine) in a circular motion, then wiped off with a towel.

It is important: to leave the umbrella to dry in the maximum open state in no case be impossible, since this is fraught with the appearance of stretch marks on the fabric, and a little later - holes.

As an alternative to liquid soap, ordinary shower gel, soda and washing powder (the latter should be used for woolen things). The percentage of the two components of the mixture is established empirically and depends on the size of the umbrella.

Serious dirt cleaning
If it is impossible to remove contamination from the surface of the umbrella using the means described above, it is recommended to use stronger chemical reagents, the procedure for which is somewhat different.

Also, before you dip the accessory in any of the solutions described below, you should soak the umbrella in the pelvis or pan for several hours. This may partially improve the process of removing dirt and plaque from the surface. The following substances will help to clear the umbrella:

1. A solution of water and ammonia (for one liter of water - 150 ml of alcohol).The surface of contamination must be wiped with a cotton pad moistened in the product, after which it should be additionally walked with a cloth with a soap solution.
2. Weak acetic solution (for one liter of water - two tablespoons of vinegar or citric acid). It is recommended to work with this folk remedy in special gloves, and wipe this or that place dry after cleansing.
3. Citric acid can help get rid of not only stains and streaks, but even rust at the place of attachment of the dome with the umbrella handle. If it is necessary to remove it only from the metal part, then it is possible to soak the cloth in the acid itself, if also from the fabric - always in solution.

The choice of one or another means depending on the color of the umbrella

As mentioned above, when choosing a cleaning method it is necessary to rely on the color of the umbrella: for example, it is not recommended to clean white umbrellas with different solvents and even bleaches, since their use can cause tissue damage.

To return the former color to such an umbrella can help a weak solution of acetic acid, in which an ordinary foam rubber sponge should be moistened.She should very slowly rub each section of the fabric in order not to miss a single smear or coil of small mechanical impurities.

Black umbrellas are somewhat easier to clean: for example, you can use a strong brewed tincture of tea, while getting rid of rust on such umbrellas is even easier - rubbing the place with a hard brush. In rare cases, ivy leaves and mint leaves are added to the solution, which should be boiled before boiling: this procedure promotes the release of various organic acids that are beneficial to the purification process.

In no case can not use:

• Strong hydrocarbon mixtures (gasoline, diesel, kerosene and acetone);
• Thermal heating (for example, nylon fabric will tear immediately);
• Strong acids (for example, capron-containing ponge will instantly become unusable).

In conclusion, it is necessary to emphasize once again that when using any method of cleaning the umbrella surface from contamination, it is important to keep it in a half-open state and use only weak solutions, even if this will increase the duration of the procedure.Compliance with these rules will extend the life of the umbrella and maintain the strength of its dome.

Video: how to properly care for an umbrella