How to care for your umbrella and make it last
Drying it properly, cleaning it without damaging it, storing it dry: the simple habits that make the difference between an umbrella that lasts a single season and one that lasts for years.
An umbrella takes a real beating: rain, wind, opening and closing over and over. The good news is that an umbrella can last many years, as long as you adopt a few simple habits. Here's how to extend its life, and why storing it dry changes everything.
Drying it properly (the most common mistake)
The classic mistake: closing a soaked umbrella and leaving it that way. Moisture sits, the canopy dulls, the mechanism rusts. The right instinct:
- Let it dry open in the open air, out of direct sunlight, until the canopy is dry.
- Never keep it closed and wet for long: this is what creates the perfect breeding ground for mildew and rust.
- Shake it gently to remove excess water before folding it back up.
Protecting it from knocks
At the bottom of a boot or a bag, an umbrella can easily take knocks. A strap catches a rib, a sharp tug to free it and that's the accident — often for good.
Cleaning the canopy without damaging it
A grimy canopy cleans up easily, but it doesn't take kindly to certain harsh products.
- Use lukewarm water and a mild soap, with a cloth or a soft sponge.
- Avoid alcohol, solvents and harsh products: they cloud the fabric and attack the water-repellent treatments.
- Rinse with clean water, then let the umbrella dry open.
Always store it dry
Once dry, store your umbrella somewhere cool and dry. This preserves the canopy, the ribs and the mechanism alike. Its cover protects it from dust between uses.
The habits that don't forgive
- Forcing it open or closed when the mechanism catches.
- Standing it open on its tips (this warps the ribs).
- Storing it wet.
- Leaving it in full sun for long spells (UV wears out the canopy).
And if it's a little damaged?
A slightly bent rib can often be gently straightened by hand. A loose tip can be glued back. These small fixes are often enough and save you from replacing an umbrella: that too is what a lasting purchase is about. To choose a model that lasts, see our guide How to choose your umbrella as well as our windproof tips.
Frequently asked questions
Should an umbrella be stored open or closed?
When wet, let it dry open in the open air. Once perfectly dry, store it closed in its cover, away from moisture. Never leave it closed and soaked over time.
How do you clean an umbrella's canopy?
With lukewarm water, a mild soap and a soft sponge. Avoid alcohol, solvents and harsh products that attack the fabric. Rinse with clean water and let it dry open.
How do you prevent mildew and rust?
Always let your umbrella dry open after use. It's the best way to prevent mildew from forming on the canopy and to limit the risk of the frame oxidising.
How long does a good umbrella last?
Several years with simple care: drying it open, gentle cleaning, storing it dry. A model with fibreglass ribs and a dense canopy holds up far better over time. And use a cover for transport.
An umbrella you keep, and the cover that protects it
Durable recycled canopy, fibreglass ribs, absorbent cover included. Discover the range.
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