If you are worried about the fabric wearing out, you can also let your umbrella dry half open. When drying it this way, however, you must make sure that the moisture has evaporated completely before closing the umbrella. It is also important to ensure the umbrella frame is completely dry.
Tip 2: Closing the umbrella
If you want to treat your umbrella with care, there is something to bear in mind when closing it.
Proper care of umbrellas also includes regular removal of dust and dirt. If you neglect this aspect of umbrella care, stains can appear that, in the worst case, can no longer be removed. Dirty umbrellas are also more susceptible to mould.
The problem can be prevented by thoroughly wiping both the fabric and the pole of the umbrella with a damp cloth.
As always, ensure that the umbrella is completely dry before folding it up again.
Tip 4: Major stains and mould
If you have problems with more stubborn stains or mould, try the following:
If the umbrella is badly stained, you can also clean it in the bathtub or in a larger basin. To do this, add a little detergent to the warm water. Open the umbrella as far as it will go and carefully move it back and forth in the water. Leave the umbrella in the water for a short time (about 5 minutes). Then take a cloth and clean the umbrella with the warm water. Once you are done, keep the umbrella open as usual until it is fully dry.
If you are trying to remove mould, we recommend treating the umbrella with high-proof alcohol (preferably from a pharmacy). Alcohol ensures the mould can no longer live. We recommend using a small amount of alcohol and wiping it several times over the mould-infested areas. Since the liquid alcohol evaporates very quickly, the umbrella can be closed again shortly after cleaning.
Tip 5: Hairspray instead of oil
You can oil the moving parts of your umbrella, but be very careful! Although this approach is often well-intentioned, you risk creating undesirable oil stains on the fabric. These are then hard to remove, if they can be removed at all. As a simple alternative, we recommend that you spray the umbrella with a small amount of hairspray in the appropriate places. This contains lubricant, meaning you do not risk the formation of oil stains.
Regardless of whether you have a walking umbrella or a pocket umbrella, you should avoid twisting open umbrellas back and forth. The umbrella can eventually be damaged by the centrifugal force acting on the upper end of the umbrella. If the wind is too strong, you should also take care that the umbrella and its ribs do not bend over.
Tip 8: Opt for premium quality
When making your purchase decision, you should pay attention to the quality of the umbrella, otherwise even the best care tips won’t help! High-quality umbrellas break much less often in strong winds and are also much less susceptible to wear, dirt and rust.