An awning is a beautiful addition to the exterior of a home, but it needs to be taken care of to keep up its appearance. Follow these simple cleaning instructions and your awnings will remain the talk of the neighborhood.
With summer fast approaching, the sun & rain will cause your awning to take a beating and age prematurely. It would be wise to give the awning’s a cleaning to help minimize the damage done each year and to maximize the lifespan of your awnings.
Remembering to clean your awning’s fabric regularly will preserve its life, delay the need for more thorough cleanings, and help keep your outdoor living space in pristine condition.
According to awning manufacturers, one of the best ways to keep your awning fabric looking good and to delay the need for deep or vigorous cleaning is to rinse fabrics off on a monthly basis with clear water-simple as that. This practice will help prevent dirt from becoming deeply embedded in the fabric and counteract the buildup of pollen, plant matter, and other debris. In most environments, a thorough cleaning will only be needed annually.
When the time comes for a thorough cleaning (recommended annually) you should definitely consider getting an expert to undertake that task for you. The benefits are obvious and the cost of effective awning cleaning is relatively cheap.
However if you are the DIY type, fabrics can easily be treated while still on the awning frame, and smaller units may be removed and cleaned in a washing machine.
When cleaning the fabric of your awning in the washing machine it is important to: Always use a natural soap (Never detergent), wash in cold to lukewarm water (never more than 100 degrees), and never apply heat when drying (air dry only).
To clean the fabric of your awning while still on the frame, follow these simple steps:
1) Brush off any loose dirt.
2) Hose down both sides of the fabric
3) Prepare a cleaning solution of water and mild soap such as Dawn (no detergents).
4) Use a soft bristle brush to clean.
5) Allow cleaning solution to soak into the fabric.
6) Rinse thoroughly until all soap residue is removed.
7) Air dry.
Whether cleaning in a washing machine or with the awning still attached to the frame, the fabric will naturally air dry very quickly. Never dry clean fabrics.
If, after completing the cleaning steps above, any stubborn stains persist, a diluted chlorine bleach/soap mixture can be used for spot cleaning of mildew, roof run off, or other similar stains.
When tough stains get set into your awning , however, it will require a thorough cleaning, using stronger chemicals than just bath soap. These chemicals will most likely damage the fabric’s protective finish and subsequently you should reapply the fabric’s protective finish.
This is obviously a more labor intensive and specialized process, and you will be better off letting a professional take care of it. But it can be prevented by remembering to clean your awning regularly.
So take the time to clean your awning today and save yourself the headache tomorrow!
Regular cleaning of awnings is quick and easy, keeps them looking good, and delays the necessity of more thorough cleanings.