Maintaining Your Outdoor Shades

When you pay good money for your outdoor shades, you want to make sure they last. Long-lasting shade sails will provide years of comfort and a healthy return on investment. Choosing a quality shade is the first step, but proper care and maintenance are also important.

How to Look after Your Shades

Looking after your shades doesn’t require much work but that little bit of effort can go a long way. Don’t let damaged sails leave you feeling all torn up! Read Supreme Shades list of the best tips to look after your shade sails.

Clean Them Regularly

Without a doubt, the most important part of maintaining your shade is to clean it regularly. After all, they can protect you from the elements but they can’t protect themselves from dirt.

To clean them properly, carefully take them off their hooks and fold them neatly. Don’t roll or scrunch them up and never use water from a high-pressure hose or metal brush to clean your sails. The Supreme Shades team can guide you in how to best clean your new shade.

Regularly Inspect for Damage

The outdoor conditions aren’t the only thing that can damage shade sails. Bird droppings contain uric acid, which can even damage a car’s paint!

If you notice any bird droppings on your shade sail, be sure to clean them as soon as possible. Even though the sails are made from quality material, the droppings can seep through.

Another time to inspect your shade sails is after a storm. While shade sails can stand up to the elements, they can still be battered around by a heavy storm. Properly fitted sails should be able to withstand storm damage but it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Check Posts and Anchor Points

This is important to the longevity of your shade sails. The place where you attach your sails must be strong and secure. Any wobbling or unstable movement can be a sign on rotting wood. If your sails are attached to iron posts, check for any rusting or warping of the posts. If there is rust, spray the area with anti-rust spray and clean it. In the worst-case scenario, replace the posts immediately.

Store Them Away Carefully

When taking down your shade sails, it is vital that you store them away in an orderly fashion. This can sometimes be a 2-person job. Using all safety measures, take the sails off their hinges (or however they are hung) and carefully fold them. Depending on the material, your shade sails may need to be stored in a cardboard box. To maximise protection, store them in a waterproof plastic bag in a dry area.

Supreme Shades is a family owned business that prides itself on delivering exceptional products and service.  If you would like to learn more about our shade sails, contact the team at Supreme Shades. Call us on (08) 9405 4310 or fill out an online enquiry form.