RV Awning Care

An RV awning is a great convenience. It can provide a covered space in the rain, and a shady spot during a hot day. You may have seen RVs pull into parks that have an awning that looks like a Halloween decoration. These are the awnings that have seen their day. An awning that is falling apart is not always the fault of the owner though. Many factors that are out of our control can add wear and tear on an awning. Eventually all awnings will need to be replaced but there are things one can do to prolong the life of them. The following are some awning care tips that might help your portable shade last a little longer.

Air It Out

If it rains while your awning is rolled up, water will seep into it. Once this water finds its way into the awning, it has a difficult time drying out. When the water sits in the awning for a prolonged period of time, it has a tendency to grow mold or mildew. If you have ever unrolled your awning to discover a strong unpleasant odor, it means there was water trapped in it for too long.

Many RV manuals will say that the material the awning is made out of is mildew resistant. This is true. A perfectly clean, new awning should resist mildew and smells quite well. The dirt and dust that get on the awning while it’s out is not mildew resistant.

Not only will standing water cause unpleasant odors, standing water on the awning will speed up the process of breaking down the material. When the material starts to break down, it hardens and cracks which eventually causes the Halloween awning mentioned above.

To avoid this problem, it is a simple matter of opening your awning after it rains or periodically if you are in a moist environment. The best case is having the awning open while it rains so it will dry naturally once the sun comes out. That is not always possible as with many storms come wind. Many RVers know a heavy enough wind can rip an awning off in no time. Ultimately, if you can’t have it out while it rains, be sure to put it out to give it some drying time afterwards.

Related Read: Awning Care and Maintenance-Just Like New

Keep It Clean

Dirt can coat a vinyl awning which can increase the chance of mildew and break the material down faster. It is therefore a good idea to clean your awning about once a month. Most vinyl awnings clean up pretty easily. Spraying them down is sometimes the most you will have to do. If there is a stubborn stain a little mild detergent usually does the trick. They do make cleaning products specifically for awnings. If you use one make sure it doesn’t have bleach or other harsh cleaning chemicals as this may break down vinyl.

On top of cleaning it, it is a good idea to protect your awning by applying a protectant every year or two. There is a product called 303® AEROSPACE PROTECTANT that is intended to protect outdoor material such as vinyl. Here is an article that talks about how one person cleans and uses the 303® AEROSPACE PROTECTANT to protect their awning.

Watch Extreme Weather

Above I said that a broken down awning is not always the RVer’s fault. Weather is a large factor in wear and tear on your awning. Both extremes can wreak havoc on your awning whether it be hot or cold. Extreme heat can cause the fabric to break down, and extreme cold can cause vinyl to get brittle and crack.

Direct scorching sunlight can fade and crack the material, as well. The only real way to avoid damage do to the weather is to stay out of extreme weather in the first place. That is not always possible, however. Taking the above steps, making sure to use a protectant, and keeping your awning clean can go a long way to keep it in one piece.

Related Read: Easy RV Repairs You Can Do Yourself!

Another aspect of extreme weather is wind. A hard enough wind can rip an awning clean off. They do make products that are intended to anchor your awning to the ground, but I wouldn’t trust them in anything more than a stiff breeze or a strong gust every now and again. If you are staying in a location that can have unpredictable heavy wind periods then it is a good idea to only have the awning out when you are home and can put it in if the weather gets to breezy. One rule of thumb we use is to look around the park when we get to a new one. If no one has their awning out, we assume it’s for a reason.

Check It Over

Your awning spends a lot of time outside in the weather and vibrating around as you drive down the road. Vibration has a tendency to cause screws and fasteners to loosen over time. It is therefore important to check any screws and fasteners that might have come loose periodically. A good time to do this is every time you wash the awning.

There are several brands of awnings so it is a good idea to check the manual of your RV to see if it has any awning maintenance suggestions such as lubricating any parts, etc.

Conclusion

Overall, an awning does not require an extensive maintenance plan. Keeping it clean and getting a coat of protectant on it every once in a while is most of the battle. Always remember to try and avoid exposing it to extreme weather for prolonged periods of time and if you must, take steps to keep it dry and out of heavy winds. Following these tips will help keep your awning providing shade for as long as possible.

Are there any awning maintenance tips I missed? Let us know how you keep your awning in tip top shape in the comment section below.