Best cleaner for fabris awnings

[Jarrod]

I have searched the forums for a clear choice for a fabric awning cleaner & I can't seem to find one. The awnings I'm doing are very dirty, & loaded with bird poop. They are made out of canvas or some kind of fabric. What is the best cleaner for this job? Thank you in advance.

[CCPC]

I clean a Sweet Tomatoes restuarunat annually, and I clean them with my regular house wash solution (bleach and Emulsifer Plus) and they look great everytime. I've heard people say that bleach can weaken the stitching and what not, but I've been cleaning these this way for a couple of years without any problems.

[karlosdaze]

I prefer winsol products. I have cleaned upteen awnings with them. I like a few of the starbrite poducts such as "black streak remover". Bleach is never good for an awning unless you want them to degrade & die in a couple of years. Go to the Winsol website for guidance on application & sealing. Typically canvas awnings are harder to clean than the vinyl. I did have a few photos on this site a couple of years a go (before & after). I think they have vanished with the website being updated a few times.
Try & pick off the bird poo before starting, as wetting it leads to more problems. I never use a pressure washer, just a soft brush and water fed pole cleaning equipment. Pressure washers will stretch the fabric and will lead to unslightly bulges in the fabric.

[Aplus]

You mean dirty like this????

[Aplus]

Or like this....????

[CarolinaProWash]

EEuuuwwwww. Tony what was that?

[Jarrod]

Yes Tony, both of them put togather. What did you use on them?

[karlosdaze]

I think Tony is saying he cleaned them with a pressure washer.
Its o.k. if you reduce the pressure washer down to a level where it is not damaging the awning. As I stated, eventually the pressure will make the awning sag over time. These relatively small awnings are stretched quite close together so the effect is not noticeable. Try doing a 6 metre stretch of awning with a high pressure washer & see it go!
Most manufacturers recommend never to use pressure washers on them, just a pressure similar to what comes out of the faucet.

[CCPC]

Originally Posted by karlosdaze

I think Tony is saying he cleaned them with a pressure washer.
Its o.k. if you reduce the pressure washer down to a level where it is not damaging the awning. As I stated, eventually the pressure will make the awning sag over time. These relatively small awnings are stretched quite close together so the effect is not noticeable. Try doing a 6 metre stretch of awning with a high pressure washer & see it go!
Most manufacturers recommend never to use pressure washers on them, just a pressure similar to what comes out of the faucet.

................

[Ron Musgraves]

karlosdaze vbmenu_register("postmenu_59535", true);
TGS Newbie
I appreciate your insight, your right. But i really didnt hear that.

the statement above is correct other than the Tony part because he never said that. Does tgs have a signature requirement?

[karlosdaze]

Hi Ron, you are correct, he never wrote that he power washed them thats why I wrote "I think".
He also has a huge power washing wand next to his name & only promotes pressure washing on his web site. Perhaps you are right...who knows...Tony?

What signature would you like?

[CarolinaProWash]

karlosdaze.....please review the rules of the bbs for instructions on how to construct your signature.

Thanks,

Celeste

[Ron Musgraves]

Thanks for your response,

[karlosdaze]

Originally Posted by CarolinaProWash

karlosdaze.....please review the rules of the bbs for instructions on how to construct your signature.

Thanks,

Celeste

Thanks for the info, now updated my signature. I've left my direct contact details out to due to spamming on a huge level on other similar forums. Anyone who wishes to contact me can by pm or through an easy search on google with the details on my signature.

[Big Bill]

I have cleaned LOTS of awnings over the last couple of years. The best advice I can give to you is to research & learn about the different types of material used for awnings. Awning Cleaning is not really easy work, you have to use a scrub brush & rinse with low pressure.Some are vinyl, some are canvas type (Sunbrella brand) etc. I have used different chemicals. If you check out Sunbrella's web site, they have a recipe for cleaning. I have tried several of the cleaners on the market, like pw chems, some worked better for me than others did. The biggest sales point you need to make with awning cleaning is SEALING. Without sealing the fabric, the customer is only getting a job that is half done. Emphasize to the customer that after cleaning the fabric, there is no sealer left on the fabric, so deterioration of the fabric will be accelerated.