Cleaning a Caravan Awning
Cleaning a Caravan Awning
Regardless of the material used, all awnings should be cleaned periodically using warm water and a soft brush or sponge. Chemical cleaners may be used providing they are specifically designed for use with the type of fabric used in your awning, and various products are specially formulated for use on awnings.
General maintenance tips
After using your awning for some time, it will naturally become slightly grubby, if only from laying the fabric on the ground to fold it up. On a dry day, lay the awning out on a clean surface, and gently wash the mud walls with warm water. Don’t forget also to clean the draught skirt and wheel arch cover with warm water.
Whilst these are drying, take time to check the peg down points for stress or damage. Note any eyelets, rubber straps or webbing tension straps that are damaged and replace them. Now turn your attention to the pegs, cleaning them thoroughly with warm soapy water, before allowing them to dry.
Inner tent
Light cotton inner tents can also look a little sad after a time, and these can usually be cleaned in a washing machine, providing care is taken not to damage any clips, zips and ties. This can normally be achieved by ensuring that all zips are done up, and then place the whole inner tent in an old pillowcase before putting it in the machine.
Larger inner tents may not fit in the machine and will have to be washed by hand.
Frame
Finally, turn your attention to the frame. Whether this is lightweight aluminium or glass fibre, or heavier steel construction, the treatment is the same. Simply wipe over with a damp cloth to clean. Whilst cleaning, check for any broken springs or plastic connectors, and replace them now, or you will regret it the next time you want to use the awning.
Oil and Grease
This can normally be removed by gently rubbing warm soapy water on the affected area, but remember this will also remove the waterproofing, so ensure more is applied to this area.
Bird Lime
It is best to remove this when it is dry by scraping gently with a spoon. The remnant can then we gently washed out with warm water. Stubborn contamination can be removed either with warm soapy water, or an approved chemical cleaner.
If soap or chemicals are used remember to reproof the area again afterwards.