Top 5 Awning Maintenance Tips

Frame Cleaning and Maintenance

It is recommended to start the maintenance process by cleaning up the frame. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it very often, a few times a year is enough depending on the weather in your area. Another great thing about frame maintenance is that it is far from complicated. Frames are usually made out of aluminum, so it is more difficult for them to get dirty. All you have to do is brush off the loose dirt, wipe it with a damp towel, and let it dry out.

General Fabric Cleaning

The fabric cleaning process doesn’t involve many steps as well, and it can actually be cleaned without removing it from the frame. First, you need to get rid of any dust and debris on the awning and hose it down with water. It is recommended to do it on a warm day so that you can air dry it before retracting it. Next, you can use a dishwashing liquid or a mild soap and clean the fabric with a soft brush. Rinse it, and you are done. It is recommended to clean the fabric of an awning at least two times a year, in the spring and fall.

Deep Fabric Cleaning + Stains Tips

If your awning is very dirty and has a couple of stains on it, water and mild soap might not be enough to get it cleaned. Here are the most common types of stains and tips on how to get rid of them:

• oil - use acetone 100%,
• bird droppings - use a concentrated industrial-strength cleaner, like the Clean Rite Purple Power or Greased Lighting,
• mildew - use a small amount of bleach,
• rust - use Coca-Cola directly on the stain.

Lubrication

Apart from cleaning, another important part of awning maintenance is regular lubrication. Depending on the type of your awning, you might need to oil its moving parts once a year. The best product to complete that process is a dry silicone spray lubricant. Keep in mind that you should avoid getting the lubricant on the awning fabric, as it can cause some stains.

Take Care of Your Awning Remote

Lastly, try to remember that a remote is also a part of an awning and should also be taken care of. To check whether the batteries inside your remote need replacing, you have to press any button and see whether a red light appears, if not, it means the time has come to buy new batteries.

When replacing the battery, you need to remove the backing of the remote with a screwdriver and replace the old battery with a new one. Then, press the down arrow button on the remote to make sure it is working and put the casing back on.

Final Thoughts

Awning maintenance is far less complicated than you probably thought. It requires cleaning a few times a year and making sure there are no stains on the fabric of your awning. If you think about it, it is far less work than if you had to wash the windows under an awning every single time the weather gets bad. Regularity is the key to the longevity of your awnings.