Ideal Awning Cleaning Product

[jkelly66]

I’m sure this is due to rolling up the awning when it’s still a little wet on pack-up days. I’ve used a few different kinds of cleaning products on this to try and remove the white stains. No luck. I’ve even taken a brush to the stains (as best I could while standing under the awning) and they just won’t come off. Can someone recommend a cleaning product for this that actually works? Thanks!

 

[RobbieH]

I've never found anything that works. Funny thing is, mine have all been white on the underneath, and I saw some of these black ones like yours and I thought that's a good idea, but I guess you just have the opposite problem of what we get.

I will say, my last RV was a big Monaco coach, and the awnings on it were original, it was a 2006 with over 109,000 miles, and the awnings were still perfect. I think the brand was "Colorado" or something like that, certainly on that coach the awnings cost a lot more than what they do on our travel trailer.

 

[cboss]

I've been using Wet & Forget for years. It works well. Spray it on top and bottom, let it dry. Follow the instructions and be patient. Over time your stains will disappear. I apply it twice a year. They also make it for the shower walls, DW swears by it. I found it is easier to apply with a garden sprayer rather than the sprayer on the bottle, so I by the concentrate and mix it myself.

https://www.amazon.com/Wet-Forget-O...t&qid=1730135525&sprefix=wet+&,aps,239&sr=8-5

 

[5picker]

Like Craig,, I've used the regular Wet & Forget (not the bathroom/shower version) for about 6-7 years and it does a great job on mold/mildew.

Unfortunately, like Robbie, I've had some black/brownish spots on a whiteish awning twice that I could never find anything to remove those spots. I tried every cleaner/concentrate known to mankind, both consumer and commercial and even used the oft touted Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to no avail.

On our current Solera awning, we had a tremendous amount of pollen last year in FL and we had to roll up the awning a few times in short order because of weather and I wasn't able to clean the awning before retracting. I have two areas on the underside of my current awning that nothing will remove those spots.

People say the spots can be removed if they are on the surface of the awning material but I believe these to have penetrated and stained the material.

Best of luck. I hope you find something.

 

[jkelly66]

Thanks for the tips folks. Sounds like these kinds of stains and stubborn and common. Worst case, I'll get up underneath the awning with some black shoe polish on a sponge and re-color it black. If that's what it takes.

 

[5picker]

Thanks for the tips folks. Sounds like these kinds of stains and stubborn and common. Worst case, I'll get up underneath the awning with some black shoe polish on a sponge and re-color it black. If that's what it takes.

Well... just remember, whatever you use on the bottom will get rolled onto the top as the awning retracts onto itself. Don't use something that makes a bigger mess elsewhere.

 

[RobbieH]

I would not use shoe polish. We owned a roller rink for over 35 years, so I've been around my share of shoe polish. Some are water-based and are going to run the second they get good and wet, some are wax based and as you can guess will run when they get hot, and that's especially going to be a problem with a black awning.

 

[Chazman]

Awning stains

Krud Kutter, straight. Don't cut it, spray it right on and give a few minutes to work, then wipe and rinse it off. The stuff is amazing. I used it on my smaller travel trailer after a cross country trip and I couldn't believe how clean it came out. It does strip any finish so it's a good idea to wax, ceramic coat, or whatever your preferred finish is after, and BTW, it didn't hurt my decals either. As others have mentioned, Wet & Forget is a great product too.

 

[D W]

Whenever I have to roll it up wet I always make it a point to roll it out and dry it once I get home. As far as cleaning goes, I use Mr. Clean Multi-Surface concentrate and a "spin brush" that they make for cleaning home showers. I apply the Mr. Clean in a water diluted mix with a garden hose spray bottle, let it sit for 5 minutes, then get after it with the spin brush. Rinse it, then let it dry. I use the Febreze-Meadows variety of Mr. Clean for that fresh smell. A gallon of Mr. Clean lasts me 5 years.

 

[bikendan]

Moved thread from the General Community Discussion section to the Tech and Repair section's Windows, Awnings and Doors sub-forum since the OP's questions are specific to that particular sub-forum and are not general community questions.

 

[sailorsam20500]

I've gotten good results using LA's Totally Awesome Cleaner from Dollar General. For some really bad stains, I used it full strength. Good cleaner with a really low price.

 

[jimmoore13]

Simple Solution.

 

[Aussieguy]

I just used a product bought at camping world
thetford awning cleaner
https://www.campingworld.com/premiu...V_Up_AB3RoSZxEAQYASABEgLYQfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds


sprayed it on direct from bottle
use soft bristle RV broom to spread it around
left it on there for 5 minutes
rinsed with hose

stubborn areas had to do it twice.... just make sure leave cleaner ON for enough time to work.......... no good rinsing too soon



I got a white color material with brown/dark mold ... worked good

I suspect the main ingredient will be hydrogen peroxide
have used similar mold cleaner Starbright for boat


have also use bleach , dawn soap mixture but it left streaks
after cleaning the awning noticed a lot of the streaky appearance of the wall went away ... ended up using the awning cleaner DILUTED in a bucket with a soft broom to wash the whole side
LOOKS NICE

 

[Bob K4TAX]

I open the awning, generously spray the underside with the foaming bathroom cleaner and immediately roll it back up. Allow it to sit overnight. Then roll it out fully and use a hose with moderate pressure to wash the underside and the topside.

Bob

 

[Sunseeker16]

I use Simple Green undiluted for tough awning stains.

 

[lbnt18]

Had the same problem. I tried several products. Everyone had a solution, but they never worked. At least for me. Finally the wife brought home this cleaner called StarBrite. Sprayed it on, with a soft brush spread it around lightly and waited 10 - 15 minutes. Then rinsed it off. Honestly looked like new. Now, this is all I use. Good luck.

 

[RobbieH]

@lbnt18, there are 3 different StarBrites on Amazon, do you know which one specifically? Even just the color of the label will help.

 

[TitanMike]

One year I made the mistake of buying a "Costco sized" bottle of 409 cleaner. A big fat gallon sized bottle.

One day I looked at the bottom side of my awning and wondered if the 409 would work.

Rolled out awning squirted (stream setting not spray) on bottom, then brushed with long handled car wash brush. Didn't roll up but went back over the darker spots.

After about half an hour hosed all off with hose nozzle on strongest stream setting. Didn't realize how white the underside was until this cleaning.

For me the 409 worked great but I'll wager that most cleaners in it's class will work just about as well. Reading labels they all seem to use the same surfactant, emulsifiers, etc, just colors and scents vary.