What a bummer when you take down your awning on a sunny day and it turns out to be full of dirt. If this dirt has been there for a long time, you can no longer remove it with warm water. For example, bird droppings can be very stubborn. Or perhaps deposits have formed. Not only does this give an unsightly sight, such dirt can also damage the material. Using our professional products, you can easily clean your awning. This will prevent permanent damage and allow you to enjoy the sunny days again.
Cleaning and impregnating awnings: the 3-step plan from Ultramar
You don't have to lose the battle with the dirt. Sometimes people think that you just have to accept the dirt on an awning. After a few years, awnings just don't look clean anymore. I absolutely disagree. If you clean the awning regularly and impregnate it every year, your awning fabric will last a very long time. In addition, it will also look fresh. Proper treatment absolutely guarantees a longer life. By using Ultramar's 3-step plan, you can be sure that you are treating the fabric in the best way possible.
Step 1: cleaning the awning with Sprayhood & Tent Shampoo
- First, clean briefly with lukewarm water.
- Apply Sprayhood & Tent Shampoo to the wet canvas. Brush off the dirt well. Use a plant sprayer to distribute it well.
- Let the shampoo take effect for about 20 minutes.
- Remove shampoo and dirt with brush and plenty of water by rinsing and brushing. Rinse well.
- Now let the cloth dry a little.
- Is there still dirt to be seen? Then clean further with Power Cleaner. See step 2.
Step 2: Remove heavy soiling with Power Cleaner
- Apply Power Cleaner to the awning and rub in with a soft brush. Use a spray or plant sprayer.
- Leave on for approximately 1 hour. See no change? Spray additional Power Cleaner, brush and again leave on. Repeat these steps until the stains are gone. This can sometimes take several hours. After this, rinse well.
- Now let the canvas dry thoroughly.
Step 3: impregnate the awning with Sprayhood & Tent Protector
- Apply Sprayhood & Tent Protector liberally and evenly. Also use on the inside of the roof! This gives you better protection on the inside against mould and weather spots.
- Do not let Sprayhood & Tent Protector dry on windows or paintwork etc., but remove it immediately with a damp cloth.
- Let the roof dry thoroughly. If necessary, repeat the treatment.
- Are there still drops of impregnating agent on the windows? Simply wipe off with a little benzine.
- Then clean the windows with Ultramar Sprayhood & Tent Shampoo.
Sunshade cleaning & impregnation: types of soiling
Do you have a Sunbrella awning? Or are your awnings of the Markilux brand? Many well-known brands ultimately involve the same type of awning fabric. Or, almost the same, I should better say. There are sometimes minor differences. However, maintenance is the same for all of these cloths. The step-by-step plan always works. If you have chosen one of the above brands, then the quality is absolutely good. Unfortunately, this says very little about the degree of soiling. Each cloth is susceptible to the types of soiling listed below:
Dirt on the screen occurs precisely when you are not using the screen. If the fabric is rolled up and stored for an extended period of time, you run the risk of these annoying types of soiling. So clean the awning correctly before storing/rolling it for long periods of time. Usually late summer is a great time to give the awning an extensive cleaning. Also, impregnate the fabric before you roll it up all winter. That way you can enjoy a fresh and clean awning during the first new day of spring!
Awning cleaning & impregnation: general tips!
The fabric of your awning is treated with a protective coating. This coating prevents dirt, mildew, algae and bird droppings from adhering to the fabric. The awning fabric should thus stay clean.
Unfortunately, this protective coating disappears fairly quickly. UV radiation attacks the coating. This can sometimes be the case within just a few months. From then on, the fabric is exposed to everything that comes into contact with it.
There are then two things you need to do:
- Regularly clean your awning fabric with water.
- Protect with an impregnating agent at least once a year.
Awning fabric cleaning; what is the best time?
If you look down the street, you will see many awnings that are dirty.
Bird droppings, of course, can only get on the fabric when the awning is off.
Mold, green deposits and weather spots occur precisely when the awning is not in use. When it is stored and rolled up for long periods of time. So the awning fabric gets dirty when not in use!
This is also why we recommend the following:
- Make sure you clean the awning before storing it for long periods of time (this prevents mold and algae from growing on).
- Provide additional protection for the fabric. Impregnate the fabric before leaving it rolled up all winter.
This way you can enjoy a beautiful awning in the spring!
Do not use a pressure washer
Of course I understand the temptation. A brush and a bucket of suds always seem like more work than grabbing the pressure washer. Yet this is strongly advised against. Why? It can damage stitching, coating and even the fabric itself. Also be careful if you have the awning cleaned by a company, because even then a pressure washer is sometimes used.
Do not use green soap or soda
Green soap has a big disadvantage. It contains vegetable oils. These oils leave a greasy film on the awning fabric. And it is precisely this greasy layer that easily attracts mold, dirt and algae. At first, the fabric may be nice and clean. However, it will also become dirty again more quickly. Another disadvantage: The remaining soap residue clashes with impregnating agents. So it is almost impossible to protect the fabric.
Prevent dirt
If possible, place the awning under the gutter. You can avoid a lot of dirt this way.
Do not let the fabric get wet
Always raise the awning in strong wind and rain. If the fabric does get wet, let it dry before rolling it up. This will prevent mildew.
Don't forget the hinges!
Maintain not only the fabric itself, but also the hinges. Treat the rotating parts once a year with silicone spray. Do not use oil and grease-containing products.
Awning cleaning tips for longer life
- Cleaning an awning on time prevents dirt from adhering.
- Between major cleanings, you can clean your awning with lukewarm water and a soft brush.
- Only if the awning is again more heavily soiled, for example by bird droppings, is it necessary to use a product.
- Impregnate the fabric before storing it all winter.
- Also impregnate the inside/bottom of the fabric.
Use professional cleaning products from Ultramar
All of our products have been extensively tested by ourselves. In our laundry, we have years of experience cleaning and waterproofing all kinds of awnings. As a result, we know exactly what the best methods are. So the products have already proven themselves. Of course, we have continued to develop the products. As a result, they are now also great to use at home. Especially when you use the step-by-step plan, the result is guaranteed to write home.
Some advantages of our products
- Extensively tested
- Have been used for years
- Used by royalty
- Simple and fast operation
- No experience is needed
- Not you, but the products do the work
- Even suitable for heavily soiled cloth
Recommended quantity
If you want to purchase the products, it is useful to know approximately how much you need. An exact answer cannot be given, but I do have some indications for you:
- Quantity depends on the type of awning.
- When impregnating, it is always better to use too much than too little.
- Be sure to consult the labels on the product as well, you will find a lot of useful information here.
- An older awning requires more impregnation agent than a new awning.
- I often use the following example:
- 1 x Sprayhood & Tent Shampoo 2.5L
- 1 x Power Cleaner 1L
- 1 x Sprayhood & Tent Protector 2,5L
Note: I then assume that the awning has a standard size; 20 square meters. The age, type of fabric and degree of soiling are also important factors.
Guaranteed safe
The products are guaranteed safe, but I recommend testing them beforehand. Try a small piece of fabric first to make sure there is no discoloration. I rarely hear of this, but it can happen with cheaper fabrics from abroad.