How To Clean Your Retractable Awning? (Step By Step Guide)

Do you use retractable awnings in your home? They can certainly be quite attractive, but cleaning them can be tough, particularly if you’ve never done them before. Aside from being relatively large, most retractable awnings are also made from rather sensitive materials, most of which require a gentle touch. Don’t let their tough-looking appearance fool you.

The truth is that cleaning your awnings with the wrong tools or methods can easily ruin their appearance, which of course, ruins the whole point of cleaning them in the first place. So if you need help cleaning up your home’s retractable awnings then the following information will guide you through the process.

Preparations and Overview
When it comes to retractable awnings, cleaning and maintenance generally mean cleaning them once per year and checking up on them every month. In order to keep the fabric material clean and fresh, you will need to remove all of the loose debris, preferably with the use of a soft brush, some mild soap as well as some lukewarm water. Dirt and stains are your primary concern in cleaning up your retractable awnings, everything else is secondary. So focus on the identifiable stain first before moving on to less obvious problems.

Also, it’s worth mentioning that you should never use detergents in cleaning your awnings, as they will only damage the fabrics in the long run. Instead, you should only wash them using soap and brush, preferably in a gentle manner. Remember, awnings are made from sensitive materials, and using very strong cleaning products will only ruin your work. This is the general overview of how to clean an ordinary retractable awning using ordinary cleaning items found at home. We will discuss the step later, but for now, it’s important that you get a general idea of what you need to do.

Additional Tips On How to Keep Your Retractable Awnings Clean
Aside from the steps mentioned here, it’s also worth mentioning that there are other things that you can do to make the cleaning process easier. Here are several tips that you can try.

1. Take a broom and brush off as many loose fabrics from your retractable awnings before cleaning them. Not only will this make the washing process easier, but it will also allow you to pick out sensitive areas on your awning’s surface before the actual cleaning process begins.

2. When cleaning the fabric, be sure to start from the bottom and then gradually make your way up.

3. Always wash all of the parts of the awning. Missing or overlooked areas often appear unpleasant once the fabric is dry.

4, For minor maintenance, rinse your awning using a garden hose or a similar tool. You can also try cleaning the underside area by brushing it with a simple broom.

5. If you have a lot of trees and shrubs nearby, be sure to keep them away from the awning, as they can harm its surface.

6. Check your retractable awning frames for signs of rust. If there are then you may want to cover the affected area in order to keep the rust from staining your awning’s fabrics.

7. Carry out inspections on your retractable awnings at least once a month. This will help you to prevent unnecessary problems later on.

The Different Steps On How to Clean and Maintain A Retractable Awning
Now that we’ve discussed the general ideas behind awning cleanings let’s move on to the details. To clean your retractable awnings, you will need to perform the following steps.

Step 1 – Carry Out A General Inspection On Your Awnings
Check the fabric for signs of wear and tear, and the joints for squeaking or creaking. If you suspect that such areas exist then you should contact a professional for advice on how to handle the situation. Different problems require different solutions, particularly if sensitive parts are involved. For example, if your retractable awning’s joints are damaged then cleaning them will only make things worse.

Step 2 – Pre-Rinse Your Awnings
Assuming that all of your awning parts are not in danger of getting damaged, your next step will be to pre-rinse it. To do this, you will need to take some warm water and then rinse each part of the awning. If you have a low-pressure power washer, be sure to use it as well, as it can help make your work a lot easier.

Step 3 – Begin Washing The Awnings
After you’ve pre-rinsed your awnings, it’s time to start the washing process. Take your soap, warm water, and cleaning brush, and wash every part of your awnings. Start from the bottom and then slowly make your way up. This way, you’ll be able to prevent the soap from running down the awning. Wash each area or component methodically, but don’t overdo it. Also, don’t forget to give the awning a thorough rinsing after you’re through. Rinsing should be carried out gently, as the delicate surface of your awnings may get damaged with too much pressure.

Step 4 – Awning Protection
After you’ve cleaned your awnings, you may also want to carry out a few extra steps in order to provide them with additional protection. A few options that you can try include sealers, waterproof products as well as ultraviolet ray protectants. These additional steps may require additional time and effort, but they can help to ensure the long-term survival of your retractable awnings.

Also, if your awnings frames seem like they’re in danger of catching rust then you have the option of buying a few protective agents for them as well. This way, you’ll be able to maintain the efficiency of your awnings frames.

Once all this is done, you can set your awnings back up again. Congratulations. You’ve just successfully cleaned your retractable awnings. Barring unforeseen calamities, it will likely stay in good condition for the next several months, until such time that it requires new maintenance. So if you have retractable awnings at home, remember these tips, and you’ll have little problem keeping them clean.