When shopping for a patio umbrella, your plastic and steel frame umbrellas are your budget-friendly options. Steel or plastic umbrellas can typically survive a season but are prone to rust and damage when left uncovered and exposed to the elements. A quick glance at the pole will tell you the primary material used, but it's not uncommon to find plastic fixtures or even fiberglass umbrella ribs in lower-quality umbrellas.

Fortunoff Backyard Store does carry some umbrellas with steel ribs, but we avoid plastic. We also strongly encourage our steel umbrella customers to invest in an umbrella cover to prevent rusting. Rust is less of a problem with higher-quality umbrellas, but it's still best practice to keep your umbrella closed and covered when not in use.

Aluminum is often the primary material used in high-quality umbrellas and is our first choice for umbrella bases, poles, and ribs. We prefer aluminum because it cannot rust, and the likelihood of an umbrella rib breaking or base failing is minimal due to the strength of the material. Aluminum especially shines in umbrella ribs because of its weight-to-strength ratio. We've found it holds up better in strong winds compared to fiberglass, plastic, or steel umbrella ribs. Customers choosing the best umbrella materials is one way to ensure they get the best value but to guarantee it, it's necessary to follow best umbrella use practices.

Now that your umbrella base is secure–let's discuss umbrella maintenance. A responsible umbrella owner will invest in an umbrella cover. An umbrella cover is essentially a furniture cover; it will protect your umbrella from the elements when it's not in use.Suppose you purchased a solution-dyed polyester umbrella instead of a Sunbrella umbrella.

In that case, an umbrella cover protects the fabric from fading and the elements. We recommend covers for all outdoor furniture purchases, regardless of the material, to extend the life of your purchase. Washing your umbrella canopies is another excellent way to maintain and extend the life of your umbrella. Follow this step-by-step breakdown to get started:

Umbrella Canopy Care
Caring for the canopy is easy. All you need to do is follow these simple steps:

• Unscrew the finial and detach your umbrella canopy.
• Brush off loose dirt from the canopy. A soft bristle brush works well.
• Fill a large bucket with two parts water to one part mild soap. Place your umbrella canopy in the bucket and swirl it around.
• Allow the cleaning solution to soak into the fabric for 15 minutes before rinsing.
• Rinse until the water runs clear.
• Allow the canopy to air dry before reattaching.

Treating Mold & Mildew Stains on an Umbrella Canopy
Umbrella canopies may develop mold and mildew if grime settles on the fabric. To remove mold or mildew, follow these steps:

• Unscrew the finial and detach your umbrella canopy.
• Prepare a solution of 1 cup of bleach and 1/4 cup of mild soap for every gallon of water used.
• Spray the mixture on the infected area and allow it to soak into the fabric for 15 minutes.
• Clean the surface area with a clean sponge, towel, or soft bristle brush.
• Rinse thoroughly to remove all solution residue.
• Fill a large bucket with two parts water to one part mild soap. Place your umbrella canopy in the bucket and swirl it around.
• Allow the cleaning solution to soak into the fabric for 15 minutes before rinsing.
• Rinse until the water runs clear.
• Allow the canopy to air dry before reattaching.

For severe mold or mildew growth, increase the bleach ratio.