Outdoor Fabric Dye

[Sweetpea1989]

We have inherited a really sturdy outdoor umbrella/parasol, but the fabric is unevenly faded from the sun and looks a state.

Could we just dye it do you think with normal clothes dye? This is also an option www.amazon.co.uk/Simply-Spray-Waterproof-Outdoor-Fabric/dp/B015E8SVL2?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Next option you can buy replacement material for about £20.

Trying to restore not replace where possible. :)

What's the fabric made of? If it's cotton or rayon/viscose it will take machine dye. If it isn't it won't. If it's a cotton mix, it will take some of the dye but will be paler and possibly patchy.

Hmm I have no idea and there isn't a label on it. Thanks for your reply!

Yes you need to figure out if it's mainly something like polyester or cotton. Generally if it is heavy, absorbs water, looks darker when wet and takes a long time to dry it is likely to have a good cotton content. However fabrics sold for outdoors often have a high polyester content.

Honestly if you can replace for £20 I would do that. You could well need 2-3 boxes of dye at £6-8 each plus the salt and several runs of your machine, including rinsing the machine out after. And I wouldn't be confident that a dyed umbrella wouldn't leach colour out if left out in the rain. If it's faded then the fabric has already been degraded by the sunlight.

Makes sense, I thought that might be the case, its unknown territory for me.

Ill get one ordered.