Guide to Awning Maintenance: How to Clean Aluminum Awnings

Aluminum awnings are an excellent addition for businesses. These structures can create comfortable environments and boost outdoor aesthetics. However, like any other structure, you must regularly clean and maintain aluminum awnings to ensure longevity and long-lasting appeal. This guide provides some top tips and tricks for cleaning your awnings and advice on how to navigate some more complex issues.

The Importance of Cleaning Aluminum Awnings

Keeping your awnings clean is a matter of functionality and necessity. While everyone loves a sparkling appearance, there are several other reasons to implement a regular cleaning schedule. Benefits of clean awnings include:

• Ensuring longer life spans: Cleaning can prolong the life of your awnings. Regular cleaning removes dirt, debris and other elements that can damage some awning components.
• Saving time and money: Extending your awning’s life span can save you time and money. Cleaning prevents damage, translating to fewer problems. Regular cleaning can result in fewer service requests, longer-lasting materials and fewer replacements over the awning’s life span.
• Catching problems early: Regular cleaning schedules offer the opportunity to catch minor problems as they occur. Small issues can quickly become costly repairs, highlighting the need for fast action. Catching these problems early empowers you to administer the necessary service to avoid unnecessary stress on components or structure failure.
• Boosting curb appeal: A clean, vibrant awning is eye-catching and can help your business stand out. Clean appearances are an excellent way to entice new customers to your doors and encourage existing customers to return.

How to Clean an Aluminum Awning

Cleaning your awnings involves proper preparation, gathering the necessary tools and implementing proper techniques for safe and effective processes. Here’s what you need to know about the cleaning process:

Cleaning Products and Tools You’ll Need

Learning how to clean metal awnings begins with understanding the necessary products and tools. While various aluminum cleaning products are available, it’s important to understand your awning needs, follow manufacturer instructions, and avoid harsh or abrasive cleaning materials that can negatively impact your structure.

Recommended cleaners for aluminum awnings include mild detergents that you dilute with water. Harsh cleaners and chemicals such as bleach, sodium hypochlorite solvents and ammonia can cause corrosion on aluminum awnings. Always read the ingredients before purchasing a cleaning product and refer to your owner’s manual or contact the manufacturer for instructions regarding your specific model.

Other tools you may need for cleaning include:

• A mild soap
• Specialized products for tough stains
• Soft-bristle brushes
• Microfiber cloths
• A ladder
• A pressure washer for industrial applications

Step-by-Step Cleaning Process for a Sparkling Awning

After gathering the necessary tools, it’s time to prepare your awnings and administer proper cleaning techniques. Follow these steps for a sparkling shine:

1. Use a broom to sweep the underside: Use a soft-bristle broom on the underside of your awning to remove loose debris accumulated in corners and hard-to-reach places.
2. Prerinse to remove loose dirt and debris: Spray the awning with a hose on a low-pressure setting to remove any loose cobwebs, dirt, leaves, and debris.
3. Grab your cleaning solution: Use your soft-bristle brush and mild detergent solution to scrub the awning gently. Start from the bottom of your structure and work upwards to prevent a streaky appearance from forming.
4. Rinse thoroughly: After you’ve scrubbed your awning, grab your hose again. Spray the structure to remove any remaining cleaning solution to prevent residue buildup.
5. Ensure proper drying: Use proper drying techniques to prevent water from accumulating on your awning. After cleaning, use a clean, dry microfiber cloth to remove excess water from the awning surface. Consider allowing the structure to air dry completely before retracting it or adjusting the awning angle, if possible, to create a water runoff.

Pressure Washing Your Aluminum Awning

For some businesses, such as those in industrial settings, soft-bristle cleaning strategies are inadequate for washing an awning. These environments often face an influx of dirt, debris and pollutants and experience stubborn stains or similar issues. While hiring a professional pressure washing service is generally best, you can complete this step on your own if you implement the right strategies.

• Apply the proper pressure: High pressure can damage your awning. Always operate your pressure washer on a low setting and avoid treating the same spot for prolonged periods.
• Use the right detergent: Like hand-cleaning methods, it’s important to use the right cleaning products when pressure washing. A mild detergent over the entire awning surface is the best way to treat your structure.
• Rinse from the bottom: To avoid streaks, rinse the structure from the bottom to the top. Moving in an upward motion prevents your cleaning products from running.

Maintenance Tips: How to Maintain an Aluminum Awning

There are several ways you can ensure awning longevity. Check out these tips for maintaining your metal awning:

• Follow a cleaning schedule: Every structure can have different needs depending on the environment, exposure to debris and similar factors. However, a regular cleaning schedule is the best way to keep your awnings in good condition. Generally, you should wash weekly and do a deeper clean monthly. However, if these frequencies are not enough to combat your environmental factors, consider altering your schedule to wash your awnings more often.
• Protect aluminum surfaces: Applying protective coatings to prevent corrosion and enhance aluminum’s weather resistance and durability helps ensure a sparkling look and a long-lasting structure. Avoid abrasive material when cleaning, and consider using protective coatings or finishes to meet your environmental needs.
• Understand weather effects: As the seasons change, it’s natural for your cleaning strategies to change as well. Depending on your environment, your cleaning techniques may change significantly. For example, places that experience high snow levels or harsh rain should consider storing their awnings for the season to avoid weather-related damage.

Troubleshooting Common Cleaning and Maintenance Challenges

Despite your best efforts, some spots may be more difficult to clean than others. Here are some common cleaning challenges you might face and how to overcome them:

• Stubborn stains: Some stains refuse to budge with regular cleaning techniques. For example, algae, mold and mildew stains can cause unsightly appearances that your mild detergent may not be able to handle. For these issues, consider laundry detergent and water with a splash of bleach. Spot treat the area, avoiding the solution in non-stained areas.
• Restoration projects: Faded aluminum awnings can benefit from specialized paints or polishes to restore their shine. Following the manufacturer’s recommendations, you can find appropriate products for restoration.
• Industry standards: For some businesses, clean awnings are a matter of complying with industry standards. Recommended care practices for commercial settings include trimming shrubbery away from the structure, lubricating moving parts, implementing a routine cleaning schedule and requesting a professional inspection or service at least once a year.
• Replacements: Like all structures, aluminum awnings will eventually succumb to wear and tear or old age. Although these structures can last for decades, there will come a time for replacement. If you notice significant problems during your cleaning routine, such as multiple intense stains, significant discoloration, or wear and tear that cleaning cannot address, consider replacing your awning.

Contact Sharchs Corporation for Expert Awning Guidance

If it’s time to replace your awning, consider aluminum awnings from Sharchs Corporation. Leveraging high-quality materials, industry best practices and comprehensive training, our team has the knowledge and experience to design and manufacture the perfect solution for your property and deliver an exceptional installation experience. Contact us online to learn what we can do for you.