Awning Frequently Asked Questions

1. What will awnings do for my home?
2. How long will fabric awnings last?
3. Is there any maintenance required to an awning?
4. How do you clean Sunbrella and Dickson fabric awnings?
5. How do you clean Calabana Cloth and Pee Gee fabric awnings?
6. Dos and Don'ts of Fabric Awnings.

What will awnings do for my home?

Awnings offer both beauty and function to your home.

• Awnings will dress up any home by adding style, character and color.
• Awnings will help to keep your home cool by keeping the sun’s heat outside.  Your drapes, shades and blinds will stop the sun’s heat but only after it’s already inside your home.  Plus you loose your view when the shades are closed.
• A home with awnings has been found to be 7 to 15 degrees cooler inside then the same home without awnings.
• Awnings will save you money if you run your air conditioner because it won’t have to work as hard to keep your home cool.
• Awnings will save you money by keeping the sun’s harmful rays from fading your drapes, carpets, hardwood floors and furniture.
• Awnings will help to keep the rain off your windows.  This means that you should be able to leave your windows open and not have to worry about rain coming in and causing damage.  You won't have to wash rain spots off your windows as often, too.

How long will fabric awnings last?

Normally the metal support frame should last your lifetime.  The life of the fabric will varies with the amount of sun and wind it sees.  In general the fabric will usually looks good for about 5 years and then begins to show it's age.  Realistically 7 to 10 years is a good life for the fabric.  But with proper maintenance and care the fabric could last longer.

Is there any maintenance required to an awning?

It is a good idea to inspect your awnings every spring and fall for normal wear and tear.

• Check the frame to see if it is still attached to the house properly.  Usually just a screw driver or pair of pliers will be needed to tighten any loose hardware if necessary.
• Check to see if any stitching on the fabric has come loose.  Often the cover can be re-sewn and this will extend it’s life.
• To further extend the life of your awning try to keep your awning clean.  Mildew will grow on the dirt that can collect on an awning, even on a mildew resistant fabric.  Hose your awning down a couple of times a year on a hot, sunny day, to help keep the dirt from setting into the fabric.  Brush off the underside with a clean broom.

How do you clean Sunbrella and Dickson fabric awnings?

Sunbrella and Dickson fabrics should be cleaned regularly before substances such as dirt, roof particles, etc., are allowed to accumulate and become embedded in the fabric.  The fabric can be cleaned without being removed from the frame.  Simply brush off any loose dirt, roof particles, etc.; hose down and clean with a mild natural soap (like Ivory Snow) in lukewarm water at no more than 100 degrees F.  Rinse thoroughly to remove soap.  DO NOT USE DETERGENTS like Tide!  This will remove the water repellency and require expensive retreating or replacement to restore.

For stubborn stains soak the fabric for approximately twenty minutes in a solution of no more than ½ cup (4 oz.) of bleach and ¼ cup (2 oz.) natural soap per gallon of water at approximately 100 degrees F.  A non-chlorine bleach is recommended for "Sunbrella Plus" because of the urethane coating.  Rinse thoroughly in cold water to remove all of the soap.  Note: Excessive soaking in bleach can deteriorate sewing threads.

Sunbrella and Dickson fabrics can be machine washed if it will fit in a washing machine.  You can use your own washing machine for small awnings.  But for larger awnings you need to use a larger machine found at most laundry mats.  Take down the awning then remove the frame from the awning much like a curtain rod by sliding the frame out of the awning pockets.  Brush off any loose dirt and debris with a rag or soft brush.  Wash the awning in warm water using the normal wash cycle.  Use the recommended amount of a mild natural soap (like Ivory Snow) for the machine that you are using along with an equal to double the amount of non-chlorine bleach.  Example: If you use 1 cup of soap, use 1 to 2 cups of bleach.  The bleach will help to kill any mildew and may also whiten the boarder's binding if it is white.  DO NOT USE DETERGENTS like Tide!  This will remove the water repellency and require expensive retreating or replacement to restore.  Line dry the awning or just put it back on the frame then back on your house for drying.  Sometimes the awning my need to be re-sewn after washing.  Check the pockets and seams by lightly pulling on them.  If the thread brakes loose just bring the awning fabric in to us to be re-sewn.  Re-sewing doesn't cost much and will extend the useful life of your awning.

Sunbrella may be dry cleaned but a water repellent treatment must be applied to the fabric after dry cleaning to re-establish water repellency.  Sunbrella is made from 100% acrylic fiber and is heat sensitive.  When washing or cleaning, DO NOT SUBJECT TO EXCESSIVE HEAT as the fabric will shrink.  DO NOT STEAM PRESS OR DRY IN ELECTRIC OR GAS DRYERS.  Allow the fabric to air dry.

Be careful not to get petroleum based insect sprays on the fabric.  They will stain them!

Do not wait too long to clean your awnings or it may end up looking like this awning.

  This Sunbrella fabric awning was not hosed off regularly on a warm sunny day.
Dirt was allowed to accumulate on the awning.
 Then mold and mildew began to grow on the dirt when the awning got wet.
The only way to remove this layer of mold and mildew was to carefully scrap it off.

This is the above awning after cleaning.

It took about an hour to scrap the mold and mildew off this awning.
Then the awning was washed in a washing machine using a natural soap (Ivory Snow) and bleach.
As you can see the mold and mildew may be gone but the stains will not come out.
This is why you should keep your awning clean.  A clean awning will never mildew.

How do you clean Calabana Cloth and Pee Gee fabric awnings?

It's always a good idea to hose down the top side of your awnings a couple of times a year on a warm sunny day.  This will help to prevent surface dirt from collecting.  If dirt does collect you risk the dreaded "green stains" (mildew).  A clean awning will never mildew.

Calabana Cloth fabric can be cleaned using any general purpose cleaner as long as it is not abrasive.  First wet the top vinyl side to loosen the surface dirt then apply the soap.  Use a non-abrasive sponge or rag to further remove the surface dirt.  Rinse with clean water and let air dry.  When cleaning large areas clean one panel of material at a time (from seam to seam).  

Pee Gee fabric really can not be cleaned that well.  You can try wetting the top side of the fabric and using a non-abrasive sponge or rag to loosen the dirt.  Then rinse with clean water and let air dry.  "Green stains" (mildew) usually can not be removed.

Clean the underside of Calabana Cloth and Pee Gee using a soft brush or broom to clear away cop webs and insect nests.

Be careful not to get petroleum based insect sprays on the fabric.  They will stain them!

The appearance and life of your awnings depend a great deal on the way you use and care for them.  Your awnings are made from the finest awning fabrics available and have the best available water repellents and mildew retardants built into them.

Even the most durable materials require a certain amount of care.  Fabric awnings are no exception.  But with only a minimum amount of attention the beauty and serviceable life of your awnings can be extended.  Here is a list of Dos and Don’ts to help you care for your awnings.

Do:

• Do keep your awnings clean.  You wash your clothes to keep them looking good, so should you clean your awnings.  This is also the best protection against mildew.  Even on mildew resistant fabric mildew can grow on accumulated dirt or foreign materials.  If left on the surface mildew will eventually damage or stain the fabric.  We cannot be held responsible for such damage.

• Do wash down your awnings.  If they are vinyl coated, brush lightly with a cloth or soft brush to prevent scratching the vinyl.  You can use a natural soap (like Ivory Snow), but rinse thoroughly and immediately.  A little bleach on the white binding of the awning border may help to keep it looking new.

• Hose off your awning with clean water occasionally, every month or so, to help keep the dirt from building up.  We recommend that you do this on a hot sunny day so they will dry faster.

• Do keep the underside of your awnings clean.  Simply brushing them with a clean household broom.  Watch out for wasp nests.  They like the shade under awnings.

• Do keep your shrubbery and vines away from your awnings.  Many contain an acid which can be harmful to your awnings.  And any branches that rub on your awnings will only cause the fabric to wear out sooner.

• Do check the condition of your awning frames.  Rust is not likely to form, but if it should it might cause deterioration or staining of the fabric.  Also check to see that the hardware is tight.

Don’t:

• Don’t cook or have fires beneath or near your awnings.  Even flame retardant fabrics will be damaged by heat and smoke.

• Don’t get insect spray on your awnings.  Some may impair the water repellency of the fabric and also cause staining.

• Don’t force or yank your awnings if you raise or lower them.  Do it gradually.

• Don’t drag your awnings across any abrasive surfaces, such as cement, asphalt, or the awning frame.

• Don’t allow leaves, twigs, dirt, etc., to remain on your awnings.  They will cause staining and mildew.

• Don’t allow water to stand on your awnings.  This can cause pocketing which will stretch the fabric and also cause staining.

• Don’t allow excessive snow to build up on your awnings. Your awnings are designed to handle a "normal" snow fall.  But if a heavy snowfall is allowed to stay on your awnings, it can change to ice adding tremendous weight.  This added weight can damage the awning, frame, and possibly even your house if the hardware pulls out.  Carefully brush off the snow before it can change to ice.  But do not use the end of a stick or broom handle from underneath.  You may poke a hole in the fabric.

• Don’t overlook small rips, tears or holes.  They should be repaired to prevent farther damage.  If left alone, they will only get worse making a minor repair into a possible major replacement.

• Don’t wash your awnings with a harsh or strong detergent.  This will remove the water repellency of some fabrics and require expensive retreating or replacement to restore.

• Don’t fold or roll your awnings in cold temperature.  Vinyl coated awnings are especially susceptible to cracking in cold weather.

• Don’t store your awnings when damp or wet.  Mildew is a fabric’s greatest enemy.  Mildew can grow on the surface of a damp awning and permanently stain the fabric in as little as 24 hours

Copyright © 2003 by The Blake Co., Inc. - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Stuart Barlow the Awning Cleaning Specialist has written permission to use said Copyright © 2003 without RESERVED as of November 20,2003
Last modified: November 21, 2003