Bimini/canvas in the washer...

[Baker]

I probably should have posted this up before I did it. *I looked on the sunbrella website and they said putting it in the washer was one way to clean it. *Of course they are talking about their fabric....probably without consideration for the zippers and stuff. *Any reason why one shouldn't put a bimini in the washing machine.? *Has anybody else done this? *It is in the spin cycle as I type...on the gentle setting with extra rinse cycle.

 

[Penta]

John et-al; I did just that about 6 years ago with our bimini and it turned out great. I did do one added thing though and that was to do the wash on a sunny day and only partly dried the top in the dryer. I then took it back to the boat and installed it, damp, and let it dry on the frame. Don't know if it would have shrunk but I did not want to chance it I also sprayed some zipper lube on the zippers once everything was dry and it worked out fine. Don't know about the long term things as the bimini came off a few months later when we hauled the old girl for the re-fit and the bimini has been living in the store room since.
YMMV
John
Penta
Sidney, BC

 

[Baker]

Cool...mine went well I guess. I have not put it back on the boat. I was also curious as to whether to install it dry or wet? I think in the past I have always put my biminis on dry. But wondered if it would be easier wet???

 

[C lectric]

I haven't tossed my cover in the washer - too big.
After drying I sprayed it with 303 canvas protectant. It seemed to help make it a wee bit easier to handle , resecuring it into place. It has shrunk over the 10 yrs we've had it, not a lot but enough to make it tougher to fasten.

Next time I'll try installing when wet - I'm curious too.