Effortless Care and Keeping of Virtually Maintenance-free Retractable Awnings

Part of the appeal of retractable awnings, and one feature which makes them a practical asset for both home and business owners, is how easy it is to keep them looking beautiful and functioning smoothly. For a retractable awning, “maintenance” boils down to occasional washing and routinely closing it to keep the awning fabric and frame in prime condition.

Gentle Cleaning

The major concern for retractable awning fabric is stains caused by leaves, vines, tree sap, and other elements like smoke, particularly in autumn as leaves fall and plants begin to die back. Cleaning an awning has only two steps:

1.    Use a broom to gently remove leaves and debris.

2.    Hose down the awning, making sure to avoid the end of the awning with the motor, if motorized.

For a more thorough cleaning, use a soft-bristled brush and dish soap, working from the bottom up. If there is a persistent stain, mix a quarter cup of soap and a half cup of bleach in one gallon of lukewarm water, and soak the stain for 20 minutes, then rinse.

There are some things to avoid when cleaning a retractable awning:

·        Do not use a pressure cleaner, as it will damage the fabric.

·        To prevent mold, mildew, or water stains, make sure that the awning is completely dry before closing it, unless there are high winds.

·        Never use detergent on retractable awning fabric and avoid using the bleach-soap cleaner when possible. Most high quality retractable awning fabrics have several fabric treatments to prevent mildew and stains; harsh cleaners remove that treatment.

·        Avoid heat. Some solution-dyed acrylic fabrics are heat-sensitive and can shrink in steam-cleaning, dryers, and hot water.

Seasonal Storage Means Keep It Closed

Most awning frame damage comes from some kind of stress, either high winds or gusts which twist the frame or weight from heavy rain, snow, even lots and lots of leaves, which can distend the fabric and bend the frame.

It is not necessary to take down a retractable awning to protect it in winter. Just close it. Many retractable awnings have an optional hood, a shield which covers the awning when it is retracted and offers additional protection for the fabric. In winter, it can also be helpful to remove the valance, the strip of fabric which hangs at the front of the awning.

What Makes the Difference

Retractable awnings are much easier to maintain than fixed awnings or canopies for two major reasons: the fact that the awning retracts and the materials that make it.

UV rays, high wind, gusts, and rain – basically, normal weather – cause the most damage to awnings. Fading, molding, and tearing fabric. Twisting fixed frames from high wind damage or the weight of snow or pooling rain. In only two or three years, fixed awnings and canopies already show substantial wear, which is why the lifetime of most fixed awnings and canopies is only five or six years before the awning need to be replaced.

Retractable awnings are closed when not in use, which cuts weather damage. That makes the maintenance much easier on retractable awnings compared to permanent awnings and canopies – there is no need to hunt down replacement parts, replace fabric every couple of years, or attempt to wrangle awnings down and into storage for winter.

How easy an awning is to maintain depends a lot on how it is made, and there are differences between retractable awnings. The fabric on low-quality awnings, particularly cheaper fabrics like canvas and vinyl, is the component most vulnerable to damage: rotting or mildew from rain and humidity, sun exposure, frayed seams, cracking, and fading. Quality retractable awning companies use solution-dyed acrylic, a chemical fiber with the color embedded into it. Solution-dyed acrylic is a woven fabric, so it dries quickly, avoiding mold or mildew. Since is a synthetic fiber, it doesn’t rot. And, since the color is part of the fiber itself, it lasts as long as 15 years before being replaced.     

Other retractable awning features impact how well the awning wears, and, therefore, how easy it is to maintain:

·        Electro-statically powder-coated aluminum frames to resist corrosion and chipping

·        Sealed and self-lubricating retractable awning motors

·        Weather-sealed wind, motion, rain, and sun sensors and other accessories

·        Stainless-steel mounting hardware to prevent staining or bleeding from rust

·        Kevlar® brand straps in the arms, not steel cables which will rust

·        TÜV product approved and Eurolab certified frames

These components make the average lifetime of a retractable awning 12-15 years for fabric and 25 years for the frame – almost five times longer than most fixed awnings or canopies, and without the need to professional cleaning or seasonal storage problems. With retractable awnings, the keyword for maintenance is effortless.