Outdoor umbrella maintenance & care guide

Close your umbrella in strong winds
Never leave your umbrella open in excessive winds or when it is not being used. Close it fully and secure the strap firmly around the middle to hold the arms against the mast.

Use a cover when not in use
A cover bag helps protect your umbrella from dust, pollution, salt spray, pollen, birds, wind, and excessive sun exposure. This reduces wear and tear and can significantly extend the life of the fabric and frame.

Keep your umbrella clean
Periodically rinse your umbrella with fresh water, particularly in coastal areas, to remove salt and dirt. For a deeper clean, use warm water and mild soap. Avoid harsh cleaning products.
For more information, see our guide to cleaning your outdoor umbrella fabric.

Fold the canopy correctly
When transporting, storing or closing your umbrella for an extended period, carefully pull out and fold the acrylic canvas canopy as shown in the Riviera umbrella manual. This helps prevent marks and creasing where the fabric can become pinched in the aluminium frame.

Check the fittings annually
Before summer, give your umbrella a quick visual inspection. Check that the spigot bolts, ground fixing bolts, barrel bolts, canopy screws and other visible fittings are tight and secure.

Lubricate the stainless-steel cable
For Shade7 Riviera and Shademakers Sola cantilever umbrellas, we recommend applying a small amount of CRC to the stainless-steel cable every few years, particularly in coastal environments.

Remove the mast cap and, while another person slowly opens the umbrella, spray a small amount of CRC onto the cable every 10–20 cm as it passes over the pulley. You can also lubricate the exposed end of the cable inside the canopy.
Avoid getting CRC on the umbrella fabric.

Refresh an older umbrella
To refresh the appearance of older aluminium and nylon components, apply a small amount of car interior protectant, such as CRC Liquid Armour or an equivalent product, using an old cloth.
Do not allow the product to come into contact with the umbrella fabric.

Keep the canopy firm and taut
When opening your umbrella, extend it until the fabric is firm and taut. This reduces flapping and unnecessary wear on the fabric and frame.
Do not over-wind the umbrella, as this can place unnecessary strain on its components.