Cleaning van awnings

RobCol · Senior Member

Cleaning van awnings

ibbo · Guru

Hi Colleen.We recently have had the same problem.I used bleach,car wash in a bucket,weaksolution of bleach.We spread the awning as low as possible and then scrubbed the cack off(bird poo,tree droppings,pollen etc).I believe that bleach is not always used but it certainly cleaned our awning and caravan roof.Gave it a good hosing,dried off with a towel and a bit help from the Sun.Rolled it up and we are ready for the next meander.Hope I have been a help.Cheers.Ibbo.

Firefly · Guru

We used Sards fabric spray, washed all the dust etc, sprayed liberally with Sards, gave it a good scrub with a soft broom and hosed it off really well then gave it a Morning Fresh scrub to make sure there was no Sards left on and it came up a treat. The red dirt disappeared. smile

Vic41 · Senior Member

Hi Colleen,

Some use sugar soap diluted in water, but make sure you wash it off thoroughly. Best not to scrub the awning too hard (broom and rag wrapped around ok) as it can destroy the UV coating.

There is also a thing in Coles etc where the kitchen sponges are called a Kitchen Eraser I think, this is excellent for getting off spots etc that are hard to move. It is sort of a bit like those small sponges with the rough side to them, but these are not rough, white block with a chamois surface on one side.

Vic

RobCol · Senior Member

Thanks everyone - very useful and economic solutions!!!!

xina · Guru

RobCol wrote:

Hi all, I've done a search for awning cleaning as I'm sure I read something on here before but search results were a post re cats!!
Besides the commercial product available, any ideas re cleaning - awning is very grubby as we have been parked under a tree for months; and I want it cleaned before we pack to go south in a couple of weeks.
Cheers
Colleen

Hi Colleen,
If you go to the following pages on this site, you will find [hopefully] what you're looking for.
Page 23.
Page 38.[Vinyl?] Bird and Insect droppings.
Page 55. Stains etc.
Page 62. Mildew and Mould.

Cheers,
xina.

Cruising Granny · Guru

Weak Sugar Soap or mild dish detergent with vinegar to deter the mould. The water can be warm or cold, but warm works a bit better - less elbow grease required.
I just did some of mine this morning.
The awning roof is only 3 years old but has already begun to oxidise and has shrunk a little and faded quite a bit. I don't use the walls all the time, but they have been up for 12 mths now, but doing ok.
I scrub the mould off the inside with the same washing method using a soft brush, such as a shoe polish brush - not too big for buggered hands, not too heavy and not too harsh. A grat cleaning tool. Just wet, scrub gently and wipe off. The warmth and the vinegar will do the rest.
Living in a van in just like living in a house - maintenance, cleaning and home improvements, only on a smaller scale. Cheers Chris

ibbo · Guru

We live and learn on this Forum.Thanks for the tips you have sent Colleen they are a great help to me as well.Goodbye Bleach.Cheers.Ibbo.

Terro · Guru

I clean my awning using the Cheeses Enjo mop with the appropriate colour cover. I can't remember what the colour of the cover is but make sure it's not the one for cleaning a concrete surface. Just spray with some water and mop away. rinse off and hey presto! No danger of doing any damage with chemicals affecting the vinyl. Nice and easy. The mop handle has a setting that allows the mop head to be used at any angle. I don't sell Enjo but the Cheese bought plenty and I must say it works!!!

Terry.

Basil Faulty · Guru

I have tried just about everything and discovered that the best way to get the Awning clean was to leave it out (unrolled) when there is frost then when you get up in the morning hose off and all the stains and muck just rinse away.....
One of the benifits of travelling in Winter I guess....