Yuck! Bird droppings, leaf stains, mildew, tree sap, squashed bugs. Time to clean the RV awning!
RV awning repair is costly, so a little care and cleaning is well worth the time. When the rig is de-winterized, it's time to open the awning, inspect it carefully (both fabric and hardware) and clean it thoroughly as a good start to the season. For best results, clean it periodically during the summer and clean and dry it well before it is put away in the fall.
Tools for Cleaning the RV Awning
Assemble all the tools and materials for the job. Remember to work safely.
- Stepladder
- Soft cloth or sponge
- Extensible car-wash brush attached to hose
- Extensible windshield cleaner (an alternative to the above)
- Soft-bristled hand brush for tough stains
- Hand-held sprayer*
- RV Awning Cleaner
*Though the hand spray bottle in which the awning cleaner comes will of course suffice, for a large awning, it might be helpful to transfer the cleaner to a larger sprayer for speedier coverage.
Choosing an RV Canopy Cleaner
There are a variety of commercial cleaning solutions, and most of them will do a good job on either vinyl or acrylic awnings. Some may also work on fabrics such as canvas or nylon and may be useful for the side panels on pop-up tent trailers.
The ideal RV awning cleaner will
- Do a good job of cleaning dirt, leaf stains, bird droppings etc.
- Be environmentally friendly (phosphate free, contain natural ingredients).
- Remove tree sap (a tough job).
- Remove mildew and mold and the resulting stains.
- Maintain the waterproof condition of the awning.
- Provide additional UV blocking.
and will not
- Cause discoloration of the awning.
- Cause the awning to stiffen (lose flexibility).
Deep-set mold and mildew stains or hardened tree sap may resist a standard cleaner and might require a product specifically formulated for the purpose.
"In any case," reminds Chris Dougherty in Caring for your RV's Awning on RVTravel.com, "be sure to carefully follow the awning and cleaner manufacturers' directions for care and cleaning."
Cleaning RV Awning Hardware
"Caring for the hardware is pretty simple," says Dougherty. "Basically keeping it clean, and inspecting it for wear is the most you'll ever have to do." He recommends that the RV owner check for
- Rusted or broken adjustment knobs.
- Broken springs and/or lock assemblies.
- Any parts that are difficult to open or close because of dirt or wear.
Replace any defective or worn parts. Clean the hardware with any good RV or standard cleaner (and a brush if necessary), rinse well, and allow to dry thoroughly. Lubricate any springs, threads, or moving parts with a moisture-absorbing lubricant such as WD-40.
How to Clean the RV Awning
Glenn Mitchell, a sales rep for Boss Technology of St-Hyacinthe, Quebec (manufacturer of Magic Boss™ RV cleaning products) shared some awning cleaning tips with Suite101 at the 2010 Edmonton RV show. According to Mitchell and Boss, what follows is the simplest and most efficient way to wash an RV awning.
- Extend awning to the fullest extent and rinse it thoroughly
- Spray it on the top surface with cleaner
- Roll the awning up (this will wet both surfaces and keep the cleaner in contact with the fabric while preventing the cleaner from drying out)
- Allow to sit for 60 minutes to allow the cleaner to act on dirt and mildew on both sides
- Extend the awning again
- Scrub lightly and hose down on both sides
- If stains persist, spray again with cleaner and scrub with a soft brush
- Allow to dry completely before retracting.
Regardless of the method used, it is advisable not to clean the RV awning in bright sunlight or extremely hot weather, as these conditions will dry the cleaner before it can be effective and may cause spotting.
Regular RV Awning Inspection and Maintenance
An occasional inspection and cleaning of the RV awning hardware and fabric during the season (every couple of months, or perhaps more in dusty or dirty conditions) will help to keep the awning looking bright and working smoothly.
Thomas Alan Gray - Tom has been writing for over 30 years; curiosity leads him to dig into a wide variety of topics.
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