Cleaning a Bimini top

[Lowrider]

Has anyone ever washed their Bimini top in a washing machine?

[Nick55]

No.  A washing machine is kind of hard on your canvas according to my canvas guy. I suppose you could put it on a cold water gentle cycle but I also wouldn’t use a regular laundry detergent.   I washed my Bimini in a tub with some fabric cleaner added to cold water by hand.  Then sprayed it off with a garden hose to rinse, and hung to air dry before treating with Star-brite waterproofing. 

[ahopkins22LSV]

Isn’t the standard procedure to balance on the side of the boat with the bimini deployed and wash it in the driveway at 10pm with your neighbors looking at you like you are crazy? 

[ahopkins22LSV]

That said, I normally use vinyl seat cleaner. I’ve also used a mild soap and water. But how I access it remains the same

[srab]

On 11/14/2023 at 3:08 PM, Lowrider said:

Has anyone ever washed their Bimini top in a washing machine?

Well, the Bimini on my boat doesn't really separate from the metal framework (or at least not without completely disassembling every single joint, and I never even considered that option).

I opened mine over the edges of the bed of my pickup, slowly working it backwards to tilt each segment down onto the tailgate as I cleaned.   I used cold water with Dawn dishwashing liquid and scrubbed with a soft bristled brush.  Followed that up with a cheapie little electric power washer to rinse the suds.

Looked great when it dried.  I still need to spray on some 303 Fabric Guard.  

[solorex]

^ Dawn soap and soft bristle brush like was said above.

[Rack]

Camco Awning cleaner  Available via amazon

I use this on all my sunbrella products 

[agetech30]

I used the washer, the top came out great.