Picking the Best Fabric Cleaners, Cleaning Products, and Protectants

Your guide to selecting the right cleaners and protectants for fabrics and hard surfaces

Introduction to Cleaners

It's no mystery that fabrics left out in the elements collect grime faster. This is why cleanliness is especially important for awnings, boat covers, patio furniture, and other related projects that often require deep cleaning for tough stains. Even indoor furniture like upholstered chairs and sofas accumulate dirt from frequent use - whether it's food stains, pet messes, or an accidental spill of red wine. Some fabrics can be cleaned with a DIY water and bleach cleaning solution, but often a specially formulated cleaning product is your best option for stain removal or to generally freshen the fabric. Protect your investment by keeping fabrics well maintained.

The best way to protect your fabric for months is to properly clean it. Defend against harmful bacteria, stubborn stains, soiling, and odor while protecting the fabric with the right cleaning method. A good cleaning product should cleanse without compromising the look or feel of the fabric. In this guide, we'll outline the range of cleaners used in the industry, such as fabric cleaners, upholstery cleaners, upholstery protectors, marine cleaners, awning cleaners, water-repellent sprays, protective polish, and more. We'll start with fabric cleaners then move into multi-purpose and hard surface cleaners.


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Fabric Cleaners

The best fabric cleaners provide effective but gentle cleaning power. Whether you're looking for a deep cleaning solution to remove tough stains or a simple spot clean, the products listed below will get the job done. Read on for recommended upholstery cleaners and other fabric cleaners by brand or project.

Best Fabric Cleaner Brands

2 NON PFA cleaners left to right: Sunbrella Clean spray and Sunbrella Extract aerosol

The following brands are some of the best fabric cleaners on the market for performance fabrics, sofas, outdoor cushions, marine fabric, awning fabric, and more. Read more about each brand and the products they offer.

  • 303®

      • Specially formulated to safely clean and brighten all surfaces with no residue
      • Made for all water-safe fabrics as well as vinyl and more
      • Use for awnings, marine canvas, indoor and outdoor furniture, and more
      • Recommended for easy re-treatment of Sunbrella fabrics to restore water repellency and stain resistance
      • Powerful fabric protector for tough outdoor settings, yet safe for fine fabrics
      • Stops leaks, shields against soiling, hinders mildew formation, and protects against UV rays
      • Ideal for cleaning and protecting clear vinyl
      • Cleans and protects against cracking and yellowing
      • Easy-to-use trigger spray bottle with streak-free finish
      • This 303 fabric protectant beautifies and protects with exceptional UV protection and water repellency
      • Prevents stains, mildew, water spots, cracking, and fading
      • Use on vinyl, acrylic, and more
  • Sunbrella®

      • Sunbrella Non-PFAS formula safely powers through stains, spills, and everyday messes.
      • Safe for use on all Sunbrella fabrics to clean & brighten.
      • Made for use on water-based stains on water-safe fabrics.
      • Non-PFAS formula draws out the toughest, most set-in grease and oil-based stains for quick and easy removal.
      • Engineered to penetrate the fiber of the fabric, capturing & lifting debris.
      • Once applied, the product dries into a powder and is removed with a vacuum.
      • The non-PFAS formula adds an invisible layer of protection to your Sunbrella outdoor fabrics, restoring water repellency, and reducing drying time.
      • Provides added protection against the elements and water-based spills without impacting the look or feel of your outdoor fabrics.
      • Spray product directly onto clean, dry fabric until evenly saturated, overlapping in a crisscross pattern and let dry.
  • IMAR

      • Cleans, shines, and protects Strataglass and CrystalClear clear vinyl
      • Features special UV inhibitors
      • Safe to use daily for proven effectiveness at extending vinyl life
      • Safely and easily cleans, polishes, and protects Strataglass and CrystalClear clear vinyl
      • Creates a nearly invincible protective barrier against the damaging effects of marine environment pollutants
      • UV resistant and durable
      • Spray

        • Cleans, shines, and protects Stamoid marine vinyl and similar vinyl products
        • Contains special UV inhibitors
        • Proven to enhance luster and extend the life of vinyl fabrics
      • Cream

        • Protects Stamoid and other vinyl fabrics in marine environments
        • UV protection and static resistance
        • Creates a virtually indestructible protective barrier to maintain like-new quality
      • Gently but thoroughly cleans Stamoid and other marine vinyl fabrics
      • Specialized, UV-resistant cleaning power to lift mildew, dirt, and grime
      • Trusted history on yachts
  • IOSSO®

      • Removes mold, mildew, stains, and more
      • Use this mold and mildew cleaner on awnings, tents, patio furniture, cushions, umbrellas, tarps, boat covers, camping gear, vinyl, and more
      • Biodegradable and gentle on the skin

Fabric Cleaning Solutions by Project

The following brands are some of the best fabric cleaners on the market for performance fabrics, sofas, outdoor cushions, marine fabric, awning fabric, and more. Read more about each brand and the products they offer.

Hard Surface Cleaners & Multi-Purpose Cleaners

Multiple hardware parts

The best all-purpose cleaners for hard surfaces are usually compatible for use with multiple materials. Whether you need a quick polish or thorough rust removal, the multi-surface cleaners below offer a solution. Keep reading for the best multi-purpose cleaners by brand or material.

Top Multi-Surface Cleaner Brands

2 cleaning products left to right: 1 jug of 303 Protectant, and 1 tub of IOSSO mold and mildew stain remover

The following brands are some of the best multi-surface cleaners on the market for plastics, metals, and more. Read more about each brand and the products they offer.

  • 303®
      • Specially formulated to safely clean and brighten all surfaces with no residue.
      • Made for all water-safe fabrics as well as vinyl and more.
      • Use for awnings, marine canvas, indoor and outdoor furniture, and more.
      • This 303 protectant beautifies and protects with exceptional UV protection and water repellency.
      • Prevents stains, mildew, water spots, cracking, and fading.
      • Use on rubber, vinyl, plastics, acrylics, gelcoat fiberglass, and more.
  • IMAR
      • This yacht and boat polish cleans, polishes, shines, and protects fiberglass, gel coat, metal paint, and other marine environment hard surfaces
      • Safely removes light oxidation, marks, and stains
      • Creates a protective barrier to UV damage, soil, scuffs, mildew, and other stains
  • IOSSO®
      • Removes mold, mildew, stains, and more
      • Use this mold and mildew cleaner on awnings, tents, patio furniture, cushions, umbrellas, tarps, boat covers, camping gear, vinyl, and more
      • Biodegradable and gentle on the skin
      • Removes oxidation, tarnish, surface rust, and water spots
      • Polishes to a high shine and protects for months
      • Recommended for all types of metals including stainless steel, aluminum, copper, brass, silver and gold

Multi-Purpose Cleaning Solutions by Project

Certain cleanings solutions are developed for use with specific kinds of hard surfaces and other materials. Here are the cleaners we recommend for the following cleaning projects.

Cleaning Products by Purpose

Certain cleaning solutions are developed for use to solve specific problems. Here are the cleaners we recommend for the following purposes.

Cleaner Coverage

Depending on the formula, different cleaners cover different surface areas. See below to find coverage for several of the most widely used cleaning products.

Solutions to Common Cleaning Problems

Some stains, soils, and marks are more difficult to remove than others. See below for tips and tricks on cleaning processes to overcoming some common cleaning obstacles.

Cleaning Do's and Don'ts

  • Always remove dirt and debris from fabric before cleaning
  • Blot (don’t rub) liquid spills with a clean, dry cloth
  • Always wear gloves and clean in a well-ventilated area
  • Always follow instructions provided for each cleaning product
  • If you're unsure if a cleaning product is compatible, test the cleaner on a small area of the fabric first
  • 303 products should not be used on Strataglass or CrystalClear clear vinyl
  • Use of any cleaner or polish product other than IMAR Strataglass Protective Cleaner and Polish voids the Strataglass factory warranty
  • Protectant products will not repair already existing damage

Disclaimer:

The purpose of this guide is to give fabricators some general guidelines and product information. Read all our Product Guides.

This guide should not be considered as the sole source of information on cleaners. This guide is strictly informational.

Please reach out to your local customer care team for more guidance.

More cleaning questions? Reach out and let us know how we can help!