Making sure that your caravan and its accessories are cleaned regularly is a big part of being a caravan owner. This includes ensuring your caravan awnings are kept clean. Caravan awnings will inevitably become dirty over time as they are exposed to things like rain, wind, and mud, which is why it’s vital to keep your awning clean as it will help them last longer. One common issue that many people will find is that if your awning hasn’t been cleaned for a long time, mould may begin to grow in certain areas of the awning. Many people’s first instinct when seeing mould is to use bleach on it; however, you need to be mindful of the products you’re using to clean your awning.
If you don’t have any previous experience in cleaning awnings, it can be quite a challenge the first time you do it. The most crucial part of the entire process is to ensure you’re using the right products and a brush for any stains. The best way to remove mould from your awning is to use a solution of 80% white distilled vinegar and 20% water. In this blog post, I will go through each step of removing mould from your caravan awning and how you can prevent further mould from growing.
This blog post will cover the following:
Why you need to clean your awning
One of the most important tasks to carry out as a caravan is keeping your caravan clean and in good condition. This applies to all of your caravan accessories, including your awning. Clean your awning means removing all the dirt and residues that are on your awning, which can cause permanent stains. You will find stains such as mould, mildew and even bird droppings on your canvas if you don’t clean it regularly enough. These stains can be tough to remove if left on your awning for a long time, which can deteriorate your awning over time, especially the sewing threads, which can cause the fabric to come apart eventually.
Another thing to keep in mind is that when your awning is in use, It is exposed to many things such as dirt, dust particles in the air and grime. When all these become embedded into the fabric of your awning over time. They can have the same effect as tiny razor blades that slowly cut away at the fabric, especially if the weather is windy or if you keep taking your awning down and putting it up again regularly. This can cause the material to become weaker and tear. This is why keeping your awning clean is essential.
How to remove the mould
There are many different methods of removing mould from your caravan. Before I looked into these methods, I asked online forum users on Practical Caravan which methods of removing mould from caravan awnings worked the best. User ‘otherclive’ explained that the best solution for him was “to use some awning cleaning solutions, or depending on the make [and awning material], is there a proprietary solution recommended by the maker.”
The other users who replied to this thread explained that they haven’t ever experienced mould on their awnings. User ‘Beachball’ said, “So far [my awning has been] mould free, but we always wipe it down after use”. Another user (‘Raywood’) added, “We have not had mould on the awning but have always made sure it was absolutely dry before storing”. This shows that the users who keep their awning clean and ensure that it’s fully dry before they store it don’t experience any mould on their awning, making the cleaning process as quick and easy as simply wiping it down. If you leave your awning unclean for an extended period of time, you will likely find mould or other tough stains.
To learn more about the process of keeping your caravan awning clean, read our blog post ‘How to clean a caravan awning‘.
Cleaning product
As explained previously, there are several different methods of removing mould from your awning. The first and most common method is to use an awning cleaning product. These products have been designed specifically to use on awnings making them safe for any awning material. Most of them are chlorine-free and mild, which prevents any damage or discolouration to your awning material. These cleaning solutions are straightforward to use; spray a generous amount on both sides of the awning, leave it for a few minutes, use a brush to scrub at the mould and the stains and then rinse it clean. I recommend the Fenwicks Awning and Tent Cleaner Spray, which works well on all awning materials. This cleaning solution is available to purchase from the Winfields Outdoors website. Click here to purchase or to learn more about the product.
Vinegar and water solution
If you prefer to make your own cheaper solution at home, another effective way to rid your awning of mould is to make a solution out of vinegar and water. Follow the steps below to find out how to use this solution:
- Mix 80% white distilled vinegar and 20% water in a spray bottle
- Ensure the awning is completely dry
- Wear a protective mask, goggles and gloves to protect yourself from mould spores
- Spray the mix onto the entire awning
- Let it sit for at least an hour
- Scrub the surface with a microfibre cloth or soft-bristled brush and rinse off the awning
- Let it completely dry before rolling the awning up again
Baking soda
Baking soda is excellent for killing mould and neutralising the musty odours that come with it. Follow the steps outlined below to use baking sade for mould removal on your caravan awning:
- Mix equal parts water and baking soda until it forms a paste.
- Apply the mixture all over the awning using a microfiber cloth.
- Let it sit for at least an hour
- Rinse with water
- Let the awning fully dry before storing it away
Causes and prevention of mould
Awnings do not grow mould or mildew directly on the fabric themselves. The mould on your awning grows on the dust and dirt accumulated over time if left uncleaned. In addition to this, moisture and sunlight may be other factors that contribute to mould and mildew growth. By regularly cleaning, rinsing, and drying your awning, you can avoid mould and mildew growth by getting rid of the dirt and dust that causes it to grow.
If you wipe down your awning after every use and give it a deep clean using a product or self-made solutions once to twice a year, you can avoid the growth of mould and ultimately prolong the life of your awning.
