More than just being clean, your RV awning is about protecting your investment and making sure that you can go on camping trips without any nasty surprises.
When dirt, grime, or even mold starts to build upon the awning, it can weaken the fabric and ultimately lead to costly repairs or replacements. A clean awning is a strong one, ready to provide shade and shelter for many adventures ahead.
Regular cleaning isn’t only for appearance purposes but also to keep your RV awning working well and make it last longer. That’s why, today we will share all the tips and tricks about how to clean an RV awning. Let’s go in!
What You Need To Clean An RV Awning?
To clean your RV Awning, you don’t need a bunch of supplies to work with. Here’s a list to get you covered.
- Brush with a Soft Bristle: A soft brush helps remove dirt and grime without damaging the awning fabric.
- A Mixture of Mild Soap and Water: You don’t need a fancy cleaner to work with your awning. A simple mixture of soap and water does the trick.
- Water Hose with a Spray Nozzle: A spray nozzle helps to get stains and soap suds removed with minimal water waste. Adjusting the nozzle also helps to target hard stains.
- Ladder: You might need one to reach the awning depending on its size.
- Buckets and Sponge: Buckets are handy for mixing solutions and sponges to wipe down excess moisture.
- Protective Gloves: An extra step of protection for your delicate hands.
How To Clean An RV Awning: Step-By-Step Guide
It may not be the most glamorous part of your camping trip but for sure one of the most important. Dirt, grime, and even mold can accumulate on your awning over time leading to unattractive stains and possible damage. We will outline each step on how to clean an RV awning below so that it can be easily followed.
Step 1: Extend the Awning For Better Access
First, extend the RV awning. It allows you to have better access to clean it. Make sure it’s locked in place for no accidents. If you have dust or debris flying off the moment you pop it open, brush it off thoroughly, and remove the leaves and any excess dust.
Step 2: Gather Supplies And Cleaning Materials
Get the prescribed materials mentioned in the beginning and get to work! You would also want to be in a shaded location since you will be working for a long while. Wear a hat and protective clothing too.
For your awning, a simple mix of water and soap does the trick. However, if you are in doubt, you can buy awning cleaners available in the market. But soap and water just as well.
Another tip you can use is to apply a small amount of cleaning solution to your awning for a test run. Similar to skincare, a test patch helps to ensure you have a useful product for your RV awning.
Step 3: Apply The Cleaning Solution
Now that you know the type of cleaning product to use, spray it all over your awning. You can also use a brush to dip it in your solution and apply, or even a sponge as well.
However, make sure to not cause damage to the fabric. Some people tend to use a pressure washer to get in tough stains. A good tip to get through stains is to do spot cleaning. Get a brush to go over the stain and scrub it lightly.
You can make use of rubbing alcohol to get rid of bird sap and droppings as they can be tough to remove with just soap and water.
Step 4: Let The Solution Sit
After you are done foaming up the cleaning solution, it’s time for it to sit and work its magic. The cleaning solution goes in to break down stains as you let it sit which helps to better remove any stains and dirt.
In the meantime, you can catch a break too. Allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes before you scrub in further.
Do not let the solution dry in the awning as it can leave streaks in or make it harder to rinse off. But if you’re seeing it dry, go over it again with the solution to stop it.
Step 5: Wash It Off Properly And Wipe It Down
Once you’re done with the cleaning solution, it’s time to wash it off. Rinse the awning thoroughly with a hose or a bucket of water.
For quick cleaning, use a spray nozzle with a significant water pressure to get in all the suds to remove it. However, don’t be too rough about it. Start from the top and work your way down.
After you’re done rinsing, wipe the awning with a microfibre cloth to remove any excess water to speed up the drying process. Excess moisture can make the fabric prone to bacteria growth and weakness.
Tips: Let your awning air-dry completely. If it’s sunny in your area, make use of it and leave it there as the sun can help speed up the drying process. It also helps to make it antibacterial too. Ensuring that the awning is completely dry helps to increase the longevity of it.
How To Clean RV Awnings Made Of Vinyl?
Let’s know the cleaning process of cleaning up different materials of RV awnings. One of them is vinyl. Below are the steps to clean them.
Step 1: Get Done With The Basics
Start with your usual stuff of inspecting the fabric, and see if it has any wear or tear. Vinyl fabrics tend to be delicate and can be prone to small tears. It can be fixed with a vinyl patch kit. When the quality is checked, move on to the cleaning process.
Step 2: Vinyls Only Need Soap And Water
If you keep up with your maintenance, the only thing vinyl fabrics need is a spray of water to be clean. A spray-nozzle hose does the work.
However, if you haven’t cleaned it in a while, a mix of soap and water can help you tackle the stains. Do not go for commercial cleaners as it can be harsh.
Step 3: Rinse With Cold Water And Dry It Off Completely
Lastly, rinse it off with your jet spray nozzle, however, don’t put too much pressure, just enough to tackle the set-in grime. Wipe the excess moisture with a cloth and allow it to air-dry completely before retracting it.
How To Clean RV Awnings Made Of Acrylic?
Acrylics need a bit of love and extra attention to clean. But like any fabric, they also follow similar rules. Below are the steps to make it less complicated.
Step 1: Shake The Dirt Off!
Just like Taylor Swift’s Shake It Off song, you have to shake it off before you begin the cleaning. The less interaction acrylic awnings have with cleaning products the better. So we’ll handle it step by step.
Start by shaking off any loose dirt, dust, or debris from the acrylic awning. Use a broom or a soft brush to help you with it. You can also get up there and wipe the dirt with a cloth. At times, you won’t need to clean it with any products to keep it in good condition.
Step 2: Soapy Water To The Rescue
If you see stains only then do you begin cleaning. For this, you follow the similar steps as vinyl awnings. Get your soap and water solution. For a fabric like this, choose a mild soap and stay away from detergents. Castile soap works wonders!
Go over the stain with a cloth gently wash the awning with soapy water and rinse it off with the hose with a gentle pressure setting. If you see tougher stains only then you should begin scrubbing.
As you can see, it’s a step-by-step process. Go over the stain with a soft brush and scrub the stain gently in a circular motion.
Step 3: Air Dry Completely And Apply The Fabric Guard
Air dry the awning completely, and leave it in the sun for a bit to avoid any mold growth. An extra step that you can take to ensure the longevity of the fabric is to apply an acrylic protective coating.
Manufacturers apply a protective coating known as a fabric guard on acrylics that can be removed as you scrub the fabric. So, reapplying the coating helps to preseRVe the quality of the awning.
Fabric guards help maintain the awning’s appearance and extend its lifespan by repelling water, dirt, and other elements.
How To Clean RV Awnings With Mildew Or Mold?
Vinyl and acrylics have great resistance to mildew or mold but if you found yourself with a case of it, no need to worry. By following the steps below you can clean RV awning mildew with no worries.
Why it Occurs?
Mildew and mold grow on the fabrics if you retract or roll up the fabric while it is still wet. It promotes mold growth, hence the unfortunate case we’re dealing with. Another reason for this is humidity. If you’re living in a humid area, chances are you will have mold or mildew growth no matter how efficient you are with the maintenance.
Step 1: Get A Mold-Removing Solution
There are solutions available in the market for mold growth. You can use those to get started with spot cleaning. However, it can be costly and hard to access. An easier approach is cleaning RV awning with vinegar.
Vinegar has the power to remove mold or mildew just as effectively as commercial solutions. It can clean up to 85% of mold species. Use undiluted vinegar with a spray bottle.
Step 2: Spray On The Solution And Clean With Soapy Water
After allowing the solution to sit, gently scrub the awning with a soft-bristle brush. This helps lift the mold and mildew from the fabric without damaging it.
Be thorough but gentle, as too much pressure can tear or wear down the material. Scrubbing is essential to remove all traces of mold and mildew, which could otherwise return if not fully eradicated.
Spray the vinegar on the mold growth and allow it to sit for 10-20 minutes. Go over it a few times depending on the intensity. Afterward, wash the awning with soap and water to remove the pungent smell and vinegar residues.
Step 4: Dry It Well
After you’re done with mold cleaning, you have to ensure not to make it happen again. For this, please dry the fabric in the sunlight and make sure it is completely dry. In this way, you can prevent mold growth from occurring. Let it dry for a couple of days.
Bonus Tip: Mold, Mildew, and vinegar can leave the fabric smelling awful and to combat it you can use baking soda. Just sprinkle some all over the fabric after it’s been air-dried and leave it there for a whole day. Brush off the powder before wrapping up.
Post-Cleaning Protection Tips
After washing your RV awning thoroughly, there are a few extra things you need to do to protect it and maintain it well in the long term. The following are a few tips to remember:
Apply A UV And Fabric Protectant
Applying a UV and fabric protectant helps to protect the fabric from the sun and other damages caused by water, excess humidity, or dirt. Some fabrics are prone to UV ray damage and to protect their longevity, a protectant is a must. Always apply it right after you’re done with the deep cleaning with soap and water or follow the manufacturer’s guide.
Deep Clean It At Least Twice A Year
While regular maintenance is key, deep cleaning ensures you have an awning that is long-lasting. Deep cleaning involves proper inspection, removing tough stains, and cleaning with solutions. It’s not something that is advised to do every day as it can be damaging.
However, if you are a regular RV user, then doing it 3 or 4 times a year is preferable. A deep clean helps to get rid of tough stains and keep the fabric safe from any mold growth.
Store The Awning Properly
Always retract the awning when it’s not in use to protect it from sun damage. It is helpful if you are a full-time RV user. You should also store it away from a humid area. Humidity causes mold to grow. Proper storage also helps to keep it away from any wear and tear.
Dry It Completely, Every. Single. Time.
We can’t stress this tip enough but it is important. You must dry your awning completely before storing it. This is where you have to rely on patience. It’s one of the core reasons why awnings get damaged. To dry it properly, leave it to dry in the sun.
However if you live somewhere where sun exposure is a lucky person’s day, you can let it sit outside to air dry but provide a lot of surface area.
Make Adjustments For Certain Weathers
For your awnings, you have to make certain adjustments. For example, keeping it away when there is high heat, strong winds, and heavy rains. For high heat, there can be a risk of sun damage, although some sun exposure is okay for a short amount of time.
For strong winds, there is a risk of wear and tear to occur or even cases where the awning flies away!
For those, we recommend using a stabilizer kit. It will help to keep your awning from flapping around in the wind, which can damage the fabric and the mechanical parts.
And for heavy rains, it is a dead giveaway to producing mold and mildew. In these cases, keeping the awning away is a better choice.
Inspect The Awning
Awnings will be prone to wear and damage, as time goes on, so getting on with the inspections, helps to keep up with the care. For starters, open the awning and see how it feels. If there is creaking or resistance, get it checked by a professional.
Second, once you open it, look over the mechanical parts such as the roller tubes. See if there is any warping or any damage.
Third, check the arms and see if it’s missing a screw or whether the poles are bending properly. See if it is sturdy enough to hold up.
Fourth, check the fabric, and see if it has significant wear or tears, damages or stains. Get it changed if the damage can’t be fixed.
Lastly, roll it up and see if it makes any unusual or loud sounds. Once it is put away, check if the safety locking mechanism is working properly or not.
Get Professional Insight
It is recommended to get an expert’s help to learn more about awnings and how to take care of them for maximum longevity and service. A professional has the right mechanics, tips, and tricks to handle tough stains, repairs, and mold growth.
You can learn from them and get their expertise on your RV awning care. For the best results, get a professional maintenance service to get everything checked out once in a while. With these tips, you can ensure to have the best condition for your awnings.
Why It’s Important To Keep Your RV Awning Clean?
To keep your RV awning in proper working condition and make it last long, you have to maintain its cleanliness. Your awning can wear out significantly due to exposure to the sun, rain, and dirt over time hence it may get damaged or fail to perform at its peak. Regular cleaning helps avoid the following mishaps:
Prevents Mold Growth
Keeping your RV awning clean ensures no mold growth. Mold growths are one of the leading reasons people have health problems, fabric gets damaged and significant loss occurs. So, keeping it spotless helps to keep growth away and allows the fabric to thrive better.
Increased Longevity
Dirty awnings decrease the longevity of the awning. It also causes premature wear and tear to occur. By keeping up with the cleaning, you can help yourself save money on repairs and purchasing a new one.
Maintains The Aesthetic
A dirty awning ruins the vibe of your RV. If you’re hosting a picnic or inviting a few friends over, a clean awning makes it look inviting and creates the impression of happy and positive vibes. Furthermore, if you are willing to sell it, it also helps to enhance the aesthetic and intrigue the buyers.
Better Functionality
With a clean awning comes better functionality. Dirt and debris can mess with the mechanism and clog the retractor. It also invites wear and tears to form which decreases the functionality of the awning. With a clean awning, you can have better shade and protection.
Resale Value Increases
Speaking of selling the awning, a clean awning helps to raise the resale value of the awning. The buyers will appreciate the vehicle being taken care of and will willingly offer the amount you were asking, gaining a good profit. So, keeping up with the cleaning not only helps you during the experience but also when you’re ready to give it away.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to clean RV awning with magic eraser?
Moisten the sponge with a Magic Eraser, and then wipe a small section of the awning gently. Do not scrub. Dry this region with a towel. If stains persist, wipe repeatedly without scrubbing and let dry. This method works and results are long-lasting.
How to clean an awning with mold and water?
Combine ¼ cup mild soap, 1 cup bleach, and 1 gallon water together. Apply the solution to your awning fabric for a maximum of 15 minutes. Scrub using a soft bristle brush then rinse well. Allow the awning to dry completely.
Can awning windows be removed?
With screwdriver unfasten window frame bolts that attach the frame to the window tightly. Undo some bolts from one side of it while holding it in place still intact. Slide down towards its bottom; at this point pull out from the track at the bottom.
How do you clean a drive away awning?
Wash down your awning using clean water and also a soft brush ensuring there is no scrubbing or detergents involved here. Only using mild powder as a cleanser like washing soda is required. If you need more soiling away products available at supplier stores or fixing centers.
Bottom Line
It is important to know how to clean an RV awning if you want it to last for a long time and look good. Regular cleaning should be done ideally after every camping trip or at the end of each season to prevent mold and mildew growth.
Proper maintenance ensures that your recreational vehicle is ready for travel all year long.
