Caravan awnings are an excellent addition to your caravan setup. Whether you enjoy touring or taking occasional weekend trips, cleaning your caravan awning can prevent deterioration and extend its lifespan.
Not sure where to start? Here, we'll take you through tips on cleaning a caravan awning and keeping it in prime condition.
How often should you clean your awning?
You should 'spot-clean' your caravan awning after every trip. This process involves:
- Wiping off the mud skirts
- Brushing off any dust or loose debris
- Cleaning off marks, including tree sap or bird droppings
Taking the time for a quick spot-clean will keep your awning in good shape throughout the season, and can prevent mould from forming.
It’s also important to give your awning a complete clean once a year, ideally at the start or the end of the caravan season. If you notice unpleasant smells or stubborn stains forming, you may need to clean your awning thoroughly more than once a season.
Your caravan awning cleaning guide
The best way to clean a caravan awning is to prepare in advance. That means sourcing suitable tools and caravan awning cleaning products before getting your hands dirty.
Caravan awning cleaning tools and products checklist
To clean your caravan awning properly, you’ll need:
- A large sturdy bucket
- A reliable hose and water source (ideally an external tap)
- A sponge
- A soft bristled brush
- Specialist caravan awning cleaning solution
When choosing a cleaning solution, look for products compatible with your awning’s materials or fabric type. We also recommend reading product reviews to ensure your potential product is trustworthy, reliable, and delivers on its promises.
It’s also worth noting that caravan awning windows can be delicate. To avoid potential damage, we advise investing in a specific caravan awning window cleaning solution.
How to clean a caravan awning: essential steps
Once you’ve gathered your tools and cleaning products, you’re ready to start cleaning. Here’s a process you can follow for the best results:
- Prepare your awning: Feed your awning onto the awning rail, C-Rail or Keder rail and drape it down the side instead of laying it out on the floor. It is best to avoid windy days as strong winds can cause damage to your awning, and potentially even your caravan.
- Brush away debris: Use your soft bristled brush to wipe away any dust, dirt, and debris. We recommend doing this twice to ensure you don’t miss anything.
- Spray and wipe: Spray your awning down with your hose and wipe it down with a clean brush or sponge.
- Apply your products: Apply your caravan awning cleaning products according to the directions outlined on the bottle. Next, gently rub over your awning with a wet brush to create a foamy lather.
- Rinse: Rinse off the foam with a hose until all the residue has washed away.
Dry thoroughly before storage: Make sure your awning is completely dry before storing it away to prevent odours or mould from forming.
Dealing with stains and mould
Cleaning mould or stains off caravan awnings can be challenging. However, with the right products, you can easily tackle stubborn stains or mould and extend the life of your awning.
To deal with stubborn stains, carefully dab the problem areas with a wipe or sponge to remove the excess. Then gently rub the area with specialist tent or awning stain removal product.
As a living organism, you need to kill mould and clean it off. You can follow the same cleaning process as we recommend for stains, but you’ll need to be a little more thorough to ensure it doesn’t return.
You can tackle mould by making a cleaning solution from vinegar, baking soda, and water. However, using a dedicated mould cleaning product that suits your awning’s fabric will get the best results—make sure you follow the instructions carefully to avoid unnecessary discolouration or damage.
Caravan awning maintenance tips to extend life
Spot cleaning your caravan after every use will maintain its condition and prevent stubborn stains or odours from forming. To help prevent mould, you should also ensure your awning is completely dry before folding and storing it away.
Always pack your awning methodically, making sure you place your pegs and poles into bags before folding or rolling your awning. Packing each component carefully will reduce the risk of breakages or fabric tears.
After giving your awning its big annual or seasonal clean, treating it with a reliable reproofing product will also significantly extend its life.
A good reproofer can preserve the integrity of your awning's fabric while protecting it against potential UV damage. When applying a reproofing product, always follow the instructions carefully and use it on a dry day.
Common mistakes to avoid
When it comes to caravan awning repairs and cleaning, there are some mistakes you should avoid. These include:
- Using a high-pressure washer or steam cleaner
- Stowing away your awning when it’s still damp or wet
- Cleaning your awning with domestic products or harsh chemicals
- Rubbing your awning with hard bristled brushes or abrasive tools
- Ignoring early signs of mould, damp or odours
Keep your caravan protected on and off the road with Lifesure
Now you know what to do and what not to do, you can keep your caravan awning clean, hygienic, and ready for every adventure.
However, that’s not the only consideration to keep in mind. At Lifesure, we know protecting your caravan with suitable insurance can help provide added peace of mind. With over 50 years of experience, we offer caravan insurance tailored to your specific needs and RAC touring caravan breakdown cover to help keep you protected on the road.
Get a quote for touring caravan insurance, by calling us on 01480 402 460. You can also manage your policy and send us secure messages using the MyLifesure customer portal.
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Disclaimer: The sole purpose of this article is to provide guidance on the issues covered. This article is not intended to give legal advice, and, accordingly, it should not be relied upon. It should not be regarded as a comprehensive statement of the law and/or market practice in this area. We make no claims as to the completeness or accuracy of the information contained herein or in the links which were live at the date of publication. You should not act upon (or should refrain from acting upon) information in this publication without first seeking specific legal and/or specialist advice. Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited trading as Lifesure accepts no liability for any inaccuracy, omission or mistake in this publication, nor will we be responsible for any loss which may be suffered as a result of any person relying on the information contained herein.
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