Awning Cleaning and Sealing

At Awning Rejuvanation Systems International we are very proud of our products. Why? Because they work. It's just as simple as that. Our awning cleaners clean the first time, whether you are cleaning a canopy, tent, awning, flag, tarp, or banner you'll be able to get them clean. You can follow up a good awning cleaning by using our awning sealers. They don't wash off in the rain and they leave behind a non-stick surface on the fabric. This makes for easier maintenance cleaning on your next visit. Think about it this way, you have just cooked yourself some eggs for breakfast. It's now time to wash the skillet. Would you rather clean the cooked on egg residue from a plain cast iron skillet or a Teflon coated skillet. Yes both skillets get dirty just like your awnings will, but the sealed skillet is by far easier to clean just like your awning will be.

Dirty backlit vinyl awning

Same awning cleaned and sealed

Basic Awning Cleaning Instructions

The first thing that should be done is an inspection of the awning or fabric structure. Make sure that it is structurally sound, has no rips or tears, and that the seams are tight. Next choose the correct type of cleaner for the type of industrial fabric you will be cleaning. Universal Vinyl Cleaner cleans most vinyl (plastic) materials. Universal Fabric Cleaner cleans most open weave (cloth) materials. Safe Wash is used on fabrics that require a gentle pH 7 cleaner. Once the correct cleaner has been chosen, simply spray the cleaning solution on the material working from the bottom to the top. This way you won't get streaks that are caused when the cleaner wants to run down the material. Let the cleaner stand to soak in. Sponge or brush the material. Rinse with water from the top down. You're done.

Only Basic Equipment Is Needed To Get Started.

Dilution Suggestions:

Determine exactly how dirty the awning is. When was the last time it was cleaned? Is the awning new? Has the dirt been allowed to bake on. Are there molds and mildews growing?

For extremely dirty awnings use our cleaners full strength or dilute with water 1 to 1. This will give you between 600 to 1200 square feet of cleaning solution.

For maintenance cleaning or awnings that are not too dirty, dilute the cleaner between 5 parts water to 1 part cleaner out to 8 parts water to 1 part cleaner.

For newly installed awnings dilute the cleaner out to 20 parts water to 1 part cleaner. Some people ask, "Why do I have to have my new awning cleaned it's not dirty yet?" There are two reasons for this. The first reason is fabric warranty concerns. There are fabric manufacturers that have in there warranty "must be cleaned and sealed within 90 days after hung". The Fabric Manufacturers know that to keep the fabric looking good for the life span of the material it must be protected from the beginning. The second reason is for easier down the road maintenance cleaning. An awning that has been properly cleaned and sealed from the beginning will be easier to clean and maintain during it's life span. Think about it this way. If you change your oil in your car every 3 thousands miles the engine is going to go the distance. An awning is the same. Clean it and keep it sealed and it's going to last it's expected life span or longer.

NOTE: Before doing any work on an industrial fabric always spot test your cleaning and sealing products in an out of sight place. This way you know they are safe for the surface you are working on.

Basic Awning Sealing Instructions

Sealing is even easier than cleaning. For vinyl (plastic) materials simply wipe the sealer on clean dry vinyl. Our vinyl sealers will give you about 1000 square feet per gallon of sealer. For open weave (cloth) materials spray the sealer gently onto the fabric from the top down. Let it penetrate and dry. You're done. By applying the correct sealer to the industrial fabric you can help protect it from sun damage, pollution, acid rain, and other environmental problems.

What Not To Do :

1. Don't use cleaners that are not rated for industrial fabric use. Janitorial, floor cleaners, bathroom cleaners, and cleaner degreasers are not meant for cleaning industrial fabrics. They are too HARSH . You want a cleaner that will remove the dirt and grime, not damage the fabric. Cleaners with butyl cellusove (EB, the stuff that gives glass cleaner its' smell) are too harsh or caustic for the material. Using them will cause the materials to lose their essential oils that keep them flexible. They will dry out and become brittle. This will shorten their life span.

2. Don't use water based sealers. The water based silicone formulas never dry. They attract dust from the air like a magnet or wash off in the next rain. The acrylic water based sealers will go white and hazy every time it rains. They also hate to be cleaned with anything other than a pH of 7 cleaner. Otherwise they frost up, and the haze will never go away.