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Awning Cleaning Tips for the Winter

October 25, 2016

​The weather is starting to cool down and winter is coming. For homes, businesses, and offices with awning structures, it’s time to think about how to care for and clean your awning and prepare it for the cold season.
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​Remember, while cleaning your awning is a year-round task, it’s especially important to remember in the winter. You might be thinking, the rain will clean my shade structure, why should worry about it? But that’s just it, the water, cold, and debris that comes with inclement weather is exactly why you should worry about your awning. 
During the winter here’s what to expect:
 

  • Debris will gather on your awning. Wind will blow leaves, twigs, and other random bits of nature onto the surface of your shade structure.
  • Pools of water will gather on the top of your awning. This is bad because if left to stand, the water can encourage mold and mildew to grow or worse yet, become a breeding ground for mosquitos.
  • Possible tears or damage to the fabric or frame of the structure. Remember, wind can blow debris that can potentially rip or tear the textile of the awning. Even small rocks or pebbles can get blown around and damage the frame. 
Now here’s what you can do to clean and care for your awning:
 

  • Clean it after a storm or bad weather. Be sure to remove any debris so your awning’s fabric or frame don’t get damaged.
  • Retract your awning if you have one that is able. Be sure to clean it periodically during the rainy season so mold and mildew don’t grow from moisture that gets trapped.​
  • Make sure there are no pools of water on the surface of the fabric. Talk to your local awning shop to see how you can clean your awning’s fabric without damaging it.
  • Keep backyard or front yard foliage trimmed and clear of your awning or shade structure. During windy, inclement weather, branches can break and fall on your awning and damage it.
  • If your awning is old and already damaged, replace it! Remember, you can actually reuse your awning frame if it’s not damaged too badly; all you have to do later is replace the fabric.
Remember, cleaning and caring for your awning is essential in helping to ensure it will last. Always talk to your local awning supplier about how to take care of your awning and keep in mind, it’s a year round task.
 
Now that you know a little more about how to care for and clean your awning, let us know how we can help you. For more information about awnings and shade structures contact American Awning & Blind Co. today. You can also visit us at http://americanawningabc.com. Or call us at 800-654-5933. Or email us at info@americanawningabc.com.