Awnings can up the charm factor of any residential or commercial property. But, a poorly maintained awning accomplishes the opposite — making your property look run down and driving away potential customers. What you need is to learn how to clean an awning.
How to Clean an Awning on a House or Commercial Property
Awning cleaning is an important part of maintaining any type of property. Finding the best method and cleaner, though, can come as a challenge without proper knowledge. Here are instructions for the general cleaning of four different types of awnings: Canvas, vinyl, acrylic, and aluminum.
How to Clean a Canvas Awning
Cleaning Supplies:
- A bucket of water (cold or lukewarm)
- Three ounces of mild laundry soap
- A ladder (if necessary)
- A garden hose or spray bottle filled with water
- Stiff brush
Cleaning Instructions:
- Combine the water and mild laundry soap together. Make sure not to swap in detergent for this as a detergent is too harsh for canvas fabric.
- Use a broom to sweep off as much debris from the canvas awning as you can.
- Wet the awning using a garden hose or spray bottle filled with water.
- Dip a stiff brush into the solution you mixed. Alternatively, you can use a commercial canvas awning cleaner for this step. Then, scrub the awning using circular motions.
- Make sure to work in small areas at a time. This way, the soap will not dry as you work on other areas.
- Rinse off the soapy mixture using a garden hose or a bucket of water.
- Allow the canvas awning to air dry.
- Repeat the steps for the underside of the awning fabric.
How to Clean a Vinyl Awning
Cleaning Supplies:
- A garden hose or bucket of water
- Commercial vinyl cleaner or fabric cleaner (non-abrasive)
- A ladder (if necessary)
- A sponge or medium-bristled brush
Cleaning Instructions:
- Use a broom to sweep off as much debris from the vinyl awning as you can.
- Spray the commercial cleaner in an even mist over the whole awning, starting from the bottom and working your way up. Do not wet the awning beforehand.
- Scrub the entire area using a brush or sponge.
- Rinse off the soapy mixture using a garden hose or a bucket of water.
- Allow the canvas awning to air dry.
- Repeat the steps for the underside of the awning fabric.
How to Clean an Acrylic Awning
Cleaning Solution:
- A bucket of water (cold or lukewarm)
- Mild laundry or dish soap
- A ladder (if necessary)
- A garden hose or spray bottle filled with water
- Soft-bristled brush
Cleaning Instructions:
- Combine the water and soap together.
- Use a broom to sweep off as much debris from the acrylic awning as you can.
- Wet the awning using a garden hose or spray bottle filled with water.
- Dip a soft-bristled brush into the awning cleaning solution you mixed. Alternatively, you can use a commercial acrylic awning cleaner for this step. Then, scrub the awning using circular motions.
- Make sure to work in small areas at a time. This way, the soap will not dry as you work on other areas.
- Rinse off the soapy mixture using a garden hose or a bucket of water.
- Allow the acrylic awning to air dry.
- Repeat the steps for the underside of the awning fabric.
How to Clean an Aluminum Awning
Cleaning Supplies:
- A garden hose or bucket of water
- Dissolvable solvent for aluminum materials
- A stiff brush
Cleaning Instructions:
- Combine the dissolvable solvent with water according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure to look for a solvent specifically designed for aluminum cleaning.
- Wet the entire aluminum awning using a garden hose. Alternatively, you can use a bucket of water or a spray bottle.
- While the awning is still wet, dip the brush into the cleaning solution and start scrubbing.
- Rinse off the cleaning solution using a garden hose or a bucket of water. Make sure to rinse it thoroughly to prevent a film from forming on the surface of the awning.
- If the cleaning solution got on other materials such as wood or concrete, rinse it off properly.
- Allow the canvas awning to air dry.
- Repeat the steps for the underside of the aluminum awning.
How to Clean RV Awning
Cleaning Supplies:
- A step stool (or long brush)
- Dish soap
- A bucket of water
- A garden hose
- Brush
- A rag or sponge
How to Clean Camper Awning:
- Open and extend your RV awning as far as you can.
- Mix water and dish soap together. Alternatively, you can use a commercial awning cleaner.
- Use a broom to sweep off as much debris from the camper awning as you can.
- Wet the entire awning (including the underside) using a garden hose or bucket of water.
- Using a brush, scrub your DIY solution or commercial cleaner onto the topside and underside of the awning. You can also use a spray bottle to apply the cleaning mixture.
- Roll the awning up and allow the solution to soak for five minutes.
- Open up the awning again and use a rag or sponge to wipe both surfaces gently.
- Rinse off the cleaning solution using a garden hose or a bucket of water.
- Allow the awning to air dry.
Best Awning Cleaner for Every Type of Pollutant
Sometimes, your awning will need more than just general care and cleaning. Since awnings stay extended for long periods of time, they are susceptible to different kinds of pollutants. From paint and rust to algae stains and bird droppings, here are the cleaning solutions you should use for every type of awning material.
Latex Paint
To remove latex paint from canvas, vinyl, and acrylic awnings, a simple mixture of soap and water will do. If you have an aluminum awning, though, rubbing alcohol works great.
Oil Paint
For oil paint, canvas and acrylic awnings will require the use of commercial paint, oil, or grease remover. With vinyl awnings, you can get away with just dish soap. Finally, for aluminum awnings, you will need to apply a paint solvent to the area with the oil paint.
Mold and Mildew
Exposure to mold can lead to a number of health problems. If you want to know how to clean mildew from canvas awnings and acrylic awnings, all you need is a mixture of water, bleach, and dish soap. For vinyl awnings, you can use a commercial cleaner or a combination of water and vinegar. For aluminum awnings, a simple bleach and water solution will work.
Algae Stains
You can remove algae stains from canvas and acrylic awnings using water and hydrogen peroxide. But, if you have them on vinyl awnings, you will need to use water and vinegar in a 7:3 ratio. For aluminum awnings, you can start off using laundry detergent and water. If that does not work, you can take it up a notch with bleach and water.
Rust
Cleaning canvas awnings with vinegar is a normal thing. If you have rust stains, though, you will need to mix vinegar with water. Alternatively, you can use a mixture of water and citric acid or water and oxalic acid. This applies to canvas, acrylic, and vinyl awnings. You can also use vinegar and water for aluminum awnings, though you will need to scrub the solution in with a metal brush or aluminum foil.
Fruit Stains
To clean fruit stains on canvas, acrylic, and vinyl awnings, use a solution of 3 to 6 percent ammonia, dish soap, and water. For aluminum awnings with fruit stains, use dish soap and warm water. If that does not work, try vinegar and baking soda mixed with warm water.
Cooking Grease/Oil and Sunscreens
For cooking grease or sunscreens, use cold water and dish soap on canvas and acrylic awnings. On the other hand, vinyl and aluminum awnings will need warm water and dish soap.
Automotive Grease
If automotive grease somehow gets on your canvas, acrylic, or aluminum awning, you can clean it off with the help of acetone or dish soap. Acetone will hurt vinyl awnings, though, so stick to dish soap to remove automotive grease from them.
Bird Droppings
Bird droppings are easy to clean no matter your awning material. For all four types, you can clean bird droppings using dish soap and water.
Leaf Tannins and Oils
To remove leaf tannins and oils from canvas, acrylic, and vinyl awnings, you can use an organic stain remover or a combination of water and ammonia. Canvas and acrylic materials can also take bleach and water mixtures, but not vinyl.
Tree Pitch
If you have tree pitch on your canvas and acrylic awnings, you can apply a mixture of dish soap and turpentine to clean it off. For vinyl awnings, though, use rubbing alcohol or a grease remover. Lastly, for aluminum awnings, use rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer.
Is Pressure Washing an Awning Recommended?
It is generally best to avoid using a pressure washer to clean awnings by yourself. Relying on the expertise and knowledge of pressure washing specialists will be helpful in cleaning your awnings using a pressure washer. The pros will know how to prep them and the right amount of pressure to clean them, too.
How Often to Clean an Awning
It is best to clean your awning regularly to prevent dirt build-up and extend its lifespan. Ideally, you should clean residential awnings once or twice a year — at the beginning and end of summer. This is because you usually use awnings during the summer season. As for commercial property awnings, it is a good idea to clean them every month or every two months. Awnings in commercial properties usually get more use.
A Professional’s Touch
Cleaning your awning can be a time-consuming job, but it nevertheless remains an essential part of property care and maintenance. If you don’t have the time or patience for it, though, you can always call expert services. Professional cleaning technicians will know exactly how to clean an awning, even with a pressure washer.
Washh provides pressure washing and cleaning services to residential and commercial properties in the Charlotte, NC area. Give us a call today at 704.321.8000 or contact us online for a free estimate.
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