Virtually all products in our collection are made of aluminium. We consciously choose this material because of its high resistance to corrosion. This is due to the protective oxide layer that naturally arises on aluminium, this layer protects the aluminium against the open air. This makes corrosion a thing of the past.
The coating on the aluminium gives it a subtle shine, to maintain that shine and the coating it is important to clean the material with a soft cloth.
Most articles you will find online about cleaning aluminium recommend an abrasive and acidic solution. Because your parasol has a coloured platinum coating, we strongly advise against this! This abrasive and acidic solution can damage the paint and even cause scratches.
Rinsing
To prevent already attached sand or dirt from causing scratches when cleaning, we recommend that you first rinse the aluminium to be cleaned thoroughly with water. This way, the excess dirt and sand will run off the material before you get to the canvas. We do not recommend a high-pressure cleaner, as this can damage the material. Warm water makes it easier to soak stuck dirt.
Getting 2 buckets of water
We recommend the use of 2 buckets. 1 with lukewarm water (the rinsing bucket) and 1 with lukewarm water and aluminium cleaner (the washing bucket). Use a good cleaner that does not affect the paint protection, be careful not to use too much cleaner, but stick to the recommended dosage. Avoid using detergent, which will remove the protective coating.
Part for part
Work in a structured manner and per part, such as a rib, the pole and the rotation mechanism. Use plenty of water and work from top to bottom so that dirt at the top does not drip over a cleaned area due to gravity. Apply as little pressure as possible and do not scrub hard. Rinse the cloth in the bucket with the rinsing water after each part. Then you can take water and shampoo from the other bucket again. The dirt remains in the bucket with rinsing water, and the washing water remains clean and therefore does not scratch. Then rinse the frame with plenty of water at low pressure, so preferably not a high-pressure cleaner, but a garden hose. Keep the hose close to the pole. The water thus slides off the material more easily and this makes drying easier.
Touch-up pen in case of damage
Your parasol is almost ready for use, just put the tiles in the tile base and you’re all set. In an off-guard moment, the tile slips from your hands onto the tile base and “oops”, there is a small damage on the base. Now what? We have a touch-up pen in the right paint colour to match real paint damage.
Lubricating
Cleaning the parasol may have accidentally removed some lubricant. This can cause the moving parts of your parasol to slide more rigidly than when you bought it. We, therefore, recommend that you lubricate your parasol annually with a silicone spray such as WD40 or Brunox. On the moving parts and the winch, a drop is often enough to make the mechanism run smoothly again. If you have any doubts about the parts to be lubricated, please contact us. Our technician will be happy to explain where the parasol can be lubricated.
Important
In general, it is advisable to remove bird droppings or tree resin and other contamination as soon as possible. Doing this at a later time is often a lot more difficult. This kind of dirt is corrosive to the material.
If you have any questions about cleaning your parasol, please call or email us. We are happy to advise you on the correct method.
