Ok, they're clean now so what do I waterproof them with?

[donradclife]

I have had good luck with the Starbrite waterproofing, which you can spray, brush or roll on--doesn't change the color too much, and lasts about a year between recoats on my dodger.

[Maine Sail]

303 High tech Fabric Guard is the ONLY approved waterproofing treatment for Sunbrella! Do not confuse it with 303 Aerospace Protectant they are two entirely different products for different purposes.

This product is NOT recommended because Glen Raven Mills, the parent company to Sunbrella, owns 303 and they make money from it. It's recommended because after vast amounts of testing, this directly from our rep at Glen Raven (I'm a silent partner in a Marine Canvas Business), it's clear, by quite a long shot, that 303 High Tech Fabric Guard is the best product for the fibers, waterproofing, dirt, pollution and stain resistance.

As an aside, I spilled some 303 High tech Fabric Guard on my Mahogany deck last year. To my surprise, and to this day, that spill spot NEVER gets wet and is still beading water a full year later! It would be an expensive deck treatment but holy crap that stuff lasts!!!

One last note DO NOT wash Sunbrella in a washing machine! Yes it came out clean and I know it's tempting, but detergent WILL and CAN destroy the Sunbrella fibers and the tossing and turning action of a front loader actually has the fibers sawing against each other thus shortening it's life span. We clean Sunbrella in a large soaking tub with Dreft or Ivory Snow non detergent soaps. After a day or two in the tub the dirt and pollutants are all sitting on the bottom of the tub and the product is clean. Washing Sunbrella in a machine will shorten it's life so try and not do it more than ABSOLUTELY necessary...

303 High Tech Fabric Guard:
http://www.303products.com/tech/inde...Product_ID=429

[bestfriend]

Another Halekai post added to my favorites for future use.

[fcsob]

303 Fabric Guard. Says it is the only protectant recomended by Sunbrella.
303 Areospace Protectant for plastics,rubber ect.We used it on our dodger it realy made a big difference.