Wash and dry an umbrella at home

If you were lucky when choosing an umbrella - it did not break after the first rain and did not succumb to a fierce gust of wind, then sooner or later you will have to think about how to wash the umbrella. This accessory accompanies us on rainy days, which are characterized not only by streams of water from the sky, but also by mud, slush, and puddles. Therefore, often the “protector from the rain” also has to save his owner from the wave with which the car wanted to shower her from head to toe, accidentally come into contact with the dirty sides of the bus during rush hour, or be wet in a cover, waiting for the opportunity to straighten out and dry out.

Such forced situations negatively affect the appearance of the umbrella. It becomes stained with dirt, rust, oil, or simply loses its color. Let's figure out how to properly clean and dry your favorite umbrella at home.

We arrange a bath day

If the appearance of the umbrella is no longer the same as when you bought it, it is worth cleaning it. Definitely, this accessory is not washable in a washing machine. One of the effective ways to return it to its original charm is to remove the fabric from the knitting needles and wash it thoroughly. It should be dried flat and then gently ironed. While the cover is drying, the knitting needles are rubbed with car wax and the handle is polished. The fabric is then sewn into place.

They say that after such manipulations the umbrella becomes like new. Perhaps this is true. But there is a less troublesome option. A “bath” for an umbrella without removing the fabric from the knitting needles is carried out as follows:

1. Warm water is poured into a deep basin and the selected product is dissolved in it. This could be shavings of laundry or baby soap, washing powder or gel.
2. The umbrella, folded but not packaged, is lowered into the basin. You can leave it there for half an hour or an hour.
3. If there is severe contamination, unfold the umbrella and wash the problem area with a brush and additional soap.
4. When all stains have been removed, this accessory is thoroughly rinsed from a watering can under strong water pressure.
5. The umbrella should be dried correctly without unfolding it, contrary to the contrary generally accepted opinion. If you dry it open, the fabric will stretch and the knitting needles will receive extra load. The umbrella should also be dried at a constant room temperature, avoiding placement near heaters and radiators.
6. The completely dried umbrella is carefully folded, secured with a belt loop and placed in a cover.

Tip: to clean your umbrella, use the following products:

• for washing woolen items. They are better washed out of fabric fibers and do not leave streaks. This is especially true for plain accessories in black and other dark colors (blue, green, brown, etc.);
• non-softening fabric, that is, gel or powder with a conditioner effect will not work;
• in the form of a gel. Although using powder or soap is not prohibited, in this case it would be more correct to use gel, since it is better rinsed from the fabric due to its smaller particle size.

5 secrets for perfect results

Today there are many types of umbrellas. They differ in shape, material, color. This is not just a device that protects from rain, it is a real designer accessory.The canvas can be covered with artistic painting, photo print, can have different colors inside and outside, and can also change the pattern in the rain. Some types of umbrellas have their own cleaning secrets.

1. To brighten up a faded colored umbrella, after washing, before drying, rinse it with an aqueous solution of vinegar (30 g per 1 liter of water).
2. When washing light-colored umbrellas (white, pale yellow, blue, etc.), pay special attention to the folds of the fabric in the area of ​​the knitting needles. As a rule, they get dirty the most. You should additionally walk along them with a soapy brush.
3. Rubbing with a sponge dipped in strong black tea or coffee will help restore the charcoal blackness of a gray umbrella.
4. Traces of rust can be washed off with lemon juice or an aqueous solution of citric acid (at concentration it tastes like lemon juice). To do this, treat the stain with a sponge soaked in juice, and then apply steam to it. To do this, you can use a steam generator or switch the iron to steam mode and “hit” the stain with a jet of steam several times (without touching the fabric with the hot sole of the iron!). Finally, the softened rust is cleaned off with a brush and the umbrella is rinsed. To prevent rust from appearing, you should dry it properly after each rain.
5. Transparent canopy umbrellas should be wiped dry with a soft cloth after washing and each time drying, so that drops do not leave streaks. The stains that have already formed can be removed with a cotton pad moistened with an aqueous solution of ammonia (1:10). Then the umbrella should be rinsed with clean water and wiped dry.

Your favorite umbrella is an indispensable helper and protector in spring and autumn.In order for it to serve for a long time, delight you with the brightness of its colors and crystal purity, do not forget to wash and dry it properly. Moreover, doing this is as easy as shelling pears.