What’s the first thing comes to your mind after setting up everything for camping? Taking a break and relax awhile, right? So, you pull out the awning over the head, but oh no…there’s mold on it! Suddenly you remember that last time when it rained, you rolled the awning without drying it off. To nip that mold in the bud, you need to learn how to clean RV awning.
Though RV awning fabrics are usually mold resistant, leaving it in a wet and humid condition for too long means the fungus will find a way to grow. To avoid this situation, keep the awning dry and clean it regularly.
Apart from taking care of mud and dirt, clean mold off RV awning for its longer lifespan.
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How to Clean RV Awning in Less Than 30 Minutes
No joking!
The whole cleaning process may take around an hour, but it needs your labor for about 30 minutes. It means you can also clean a camper awning while playing with your kids or relaxing on your own. The whole process consists of 5 simple steps that anyone can perform without any professional help.
Pick a sunny day to clean RV awning because the awning needs to be dried out under the sun post-cleaning. The best way to clean RV awning is to rinse and dry it before starting the process but you can also start the task straight away.
Here is the step-by-step process for how to clean RV awning.
Prepare the cleaning solution
Check if you have an old sprayer (pump sprayer) in your home. Insect or weed sprayers will also work great, but you need to make sure those are properly cleaned or never used before.
Make a solution of RV awning cleaner by mixing cleaner and water at a 20% and 80% ratio. You can use any cleaner, but most people prefer using dish soap because it is soft and does not harm the RV paints. However, hydrogen peroxide, car soap, green soap, or bleach can also work as a cleaning agent in the RV awning cleaning solution.
After preparing the solution, put it in the sprayer. Remember that bleach will reduce the awning’s life. So, use it only when you have to remove some hard stains.
Spray the RV awning
Spraying the awning comes next in the list. Spray the entire underside of the using the spray bottle. Cover the whole Camper awning and be liberal while spraying. If you are using a manual spray bottle, it is better to get a step stool. It will save you from straining your back and help you reach all parts of the RV awning.
It’s possible to cut the spraying time in half just by using a sprayer. A sprayer works quicker than a spray bottle. Just remember that you have to spray the entire awning underside without a miss.
Roll up and wait
It is the most time-consuming part. However, you have to put the least effort here. Roll up the awning and wait for 1 hour for the mixture to sit. Whether you have a manual/retractable awning or an automated one, this step is mandatory for both.
If you choose to do the cleaning at the beginning of the seasons, enjoy the sun when the awning cleans itself. You can spend this one hour just chilling, listening to music, or playing with your kids.
Unroll the awning to rinse it off
After waiting for an hour, it is time to unroll the awning and rinse it. Use a hose to rinse off its top and backside. Washing the awning should not take much of your time. Nevertheless, do a thorough wash to make sure that no soap particles remain in the RV awning.
In this step also, you may need to use a step stool if you are not so tall or do not want to hurt your back. The target here is to rinse the top part of the awning properly. Do not hesitate to use a step stool if you have to.
Let the awning dry out
Again comes the stage when you do not have to do anything. After washing the awning, dry it completely in the sun by keeping it open.
The drying process may take a few hours, depending on the awning material and the heat of the sun. After drying, roll it back. Now, it is ready for the next ride.
This is how to remove stains from RV awning. If you follow the recommended steps, you can finish the cleaning process in a few hours. The good news is that the task does not involve much labor.
How Often Should You Clean Your RV Awning?
Besides knowing how to clean RV awning, you should also have a clear concept about how often to perform the cleaning task. The general practice is to do it once in a few months, or even more often, depending on the frequency of RV use.
At a minimum, you have to clean the motorhome awning once a year, preferably before storing the RV for the winter. Also, cleaning is necessary whenever you spot molding or stains on it.
Apart from these, you should also clean a camper awning in the following situations if:
- The awning appears to be dirty
- It gets stained due to bird droppings
- Tree sap gets stuck to the awning
- It gets mud stains due to driving in the rain
Conclusion
Owning a camper means you have to keep it clean like your home. This work of cleaning the awning may seem time-consuming, but it keeps the RV safe against all types of molds. Also, this is not something that you have to do every week. The cleaning process becomes effortless when you know how to clean RV awning. Follow this guide to do the cleaning in the easiest way possible and ensure the prolonged and functional life of your RV awning.