How do I care for and clean my Moon products?Updated 3 years ago

Like any sunshade, awning, or other hardworking piece of gear, giving your MoonShade a little TLC from time to time will help extend its useable life.

The Basics: Wash it when it’s dirty. Let it Dry. Store it Dry.

CLEAN

Keeping MoonShade's fabric and poles clean will help to extend the life and performance of MoonShade. Clean your shade after each trip or periodically/seasonally depending on the amount of use. Take special care to clean MoonShade if it’s been exposed to especially grimy and gritty things like tree sap, bird droppings, fine dust, sand, or salt/sea-spray from the ocean air. Salts can be particularly damaging, so always wipe down your shade, all poles, and any other accessories after leaving an ocean environment.

Often an easy wipe down with a damp cloth is all that is needed; however, below are some additional tips for cleaning.

To Clean:

Never machine wash or dry MoonShade fabric. Hand wash only!

Use a mild, non-detergent soap and a soft bristle or non-abrasive brush or sponge.

Avoid using any harsh household cleaners such as bleach, harsh dish soaps, spot removers, or other laundry pre-wash products. Also avoid perfumed products.

Don’t forget to wipe down the poles! Use a washcloth or soft sponge to wipe any dirt, grime, etc. off the poles.

Rinse everything with cool/cold water.

Allow all MoonShade components to completely air dry before storing. See below for more drying info and tips!

TREAT

It’s not a bad idea to reapply UV protectant annually* to MoonShade's fabric canopy. While MoonShade fabric is constructed of a heavy UV-coated polyester, reapplying UV protectant annually will help to extend the life of the fabric. When searching for a fabric UV protectant, make sure the protectant is made for polyester and not other materials.

*How often you need to reapply will depend on how often you are using MoonShade. If it’s something you are busting out quite a bit (hooray!), reapply annually. If you only use MoonShade from time-to-time, you won’t need to reapply as often.

DRY

If it has rained, you’ve washed MoonShade, or it’s otherwise gotten wet in a massive water balloon fight or sprinkler storm, make sure to let everything, especially MoonShade's fabric, dry out before packing it away.

Never pack MoonShade away when it is still wet!! Storing while wet is one of the quickest and easiest ways to damage your MoonShade. Storing the fabric while wet, especially in hot or warm weather, can cause the fabric to mildew. Not only will mildew give your tent a particular funk, it can also break down fabric coatings and may leave stains. Stains from mildew are often permanent and the use of harsh chemical cleaners to remove mildew or other stains can damage MoonShade's fabric and fabric coatings.

Mildew, dirt, stains and/or damage from improper use of sprays, coatings, cleaning agents, or other non-recommended substances are not considered a manufacturer’s defect and are not covered under the product warranty.

To Dry:

Unfold MoonShade completely.

Drape or hang it indoors or in a shaded outdoor spot. Shaded, you say? Yes. Your MoonShade works hard to keep you in MoonShade. Whenever possible, give it a break from UV rays and dry it out in a shaded area.

Allow to air dry completely.

STORE

Ensure the entire shade and all components are dry before folding it up and storing it away. It’s equally important that you store your shade in a cool dry place. Storing in a warm, damp, or musty location, such as a basement, attic, or car trunk, can also cause mildew. If can't store MoonShade in a cool, dry place, consider storing it in a sealed plastic tub, bin, or another container. Moisture absorbing packets can help keep the contents of storage bins safe from moisture damage.