Wet and moldy awning

PieGuy · 04-25-2016, 07:16 PM

Since I sold the popup I have room to move the 160 out and open the awning.
I've never had a roll up awning so I watched a couple of YouTube videos. Rolled it out and water came running out and there is green mold in several places.
Can water get in while it is rolled up or was it put away wet?
What is the best way to clean it?
It is showing wear (or rot) close to one end close to the trailer. Won't last long in a strong wind.
Where can I get parts? I need the knobs to tighten the upper arms.
It's a Carefree Colorado which is about 10 miles from me. I'll call them about parts.

profdant139 · 04-25-2016, 07:47 PM

Sounds like it was put away wet. Simple Green or 409 work well for scrubbing off the mold. Dilute bleach might be ok, but it is tough on the fabric.

Where I live, it rains so seldom that I don't know if water can get in when it is rolled up -- I don't think so.

Here is a hint to protect the awning fabric from UV rays when it is parked -- a section of vinyl rain gutter should fit over the rolled up awning, and then I secure mine with two bungee cords. Just remember to remove the gutter before you hit the road. Please don't ask me how I learned that particular tip.

GrandpaX10 · 04-25-2016, 09:13 PM

Cleaning: Geeks On Home: How to Clean Dometic RV Awnings

Parts: search Carefree awning parts. There are several sources.

gmw photographics · 04-26-2016, 07:09 AM

A lot of folks on the net recco using bleach to clean the awning. I personally don't like to use anything harsh on it, so I just use a bucket of water with some RV/auto soap mixed in. I have one of the extendable poles with a microfibre mitt on the end "for washing RV's" ( from walmart ) and it works well for this task. Rinse it off with a gentle spray from the garden hose and it's good as new again.
And yes, my awning seems to somehow magically get wet in the rolled up part when it rains. I usually try to roll it out to dry after it rains ( which it does quite a bit here in the midwest ).

Kafn8td · 04-26-2016, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by profdant139

Just remember to remove the gutter before you hit the road. Please don't ask me how I learned that particular tip.

These are words to live by...I still don't know where I lost mine.

twinster2 · 04-26-2016, 07:54 PM

On awnings of previous campers, I used a mold preventing cleaner. I would spray it on, clean it, then respray it and allow it to dry.

profdant139 · 04-26-2016, 08:04 PM

kafn8td, I know exactly where I lost my first rain gutter -- on the onramp to the freeway near my house. It went spinning off into the bushes -- I could see it in my right hand mirror. Not a good feeling.

John_C · 04-27-2016, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PieGuy

Since I sold the popup I have room to move the 160 out and open the awning.
I've never had a roll up awning so I watched a couple of YouTube videos. Rolled it out and water came running out and there is green mold in several places.
Can water get in while it is rolled up or was it put away wet?
What is the best way to clean it?
It is showing wear (or rot) close to one end close to the trailer. Won't last long in a strong wind.
Where can I get parts? I need the knobs to tighten the upper arms.
It's a Carefree Colorado which is about 10 miles from me. I'll call them about parts.

Hi PieGuy,
My FF came with a Dometic awning; It collects water during a rain and I try to open it as soon as practicable after the rain and weather permit, and let it dry before rolling it back up. I am currently using RV Awning Cleaner purchased from Camping World (They are close, answer my questions, and usually have what I am looking for). The cleaner worked very well for my awning, their advertisement says: It has a UV blocker for maximum protection... Non-bleaching formula that won’t discolor or stain fabrics & surfaces... is Nontoxic... Nonflammable... and is a 100% biodegradable liquid... Anyway, it worked well on mine to remove dirt and helped to brighten the color... As instructed, I let the awning dry before rolling back up.
I am not affiliated in anyway with Camping World, but will say they have answered many questions and freely give advice when needed. BTW, Carefree of Colorado has a great online site and if they are only 10 miles away, they are close enough to ask them all the questions you have regarding your awning, from care to maintenance to replacement... I am the type of person that would take my wife to lunch and visit Carefree of Colorado...

N&K · 04-27-2016, 07:31 PM

I tried a couple of different products to clean my awning this spring. The thing that worked the best for the awning was Tide laundry detergent. I put about a cup of the granular version of Tide in a five gallon bucket, added water. The sudsy product was put on both the top and bottom of the awning, rolled the awning up and let it sit for 20 - 30 minutes. Then I unrolled the awning, used a long handled car brush to "scrub" a little, then hosed it off. The result was so good that I also used the same mixture to clean the roof. It worked great in both uses.

Of course all of this was done after reading about others using Tide for cleaning RV awnings and roofs, and trying a spot before I went further.

I also should say that I cleaned the awning after a surprise similar to what PieGuy found. The awning was wet and green/black when I opened it.

profdant139 · 04-27-2016, 09:39 PM

N&K, now that is clever right there -- soap it, roll it up, let it sit, unroll, and scrub. It makes total sense to me. I am putting this in my tips and tricks folder!! Thanks.

Eagle · 04-30-2016, 08:11 AM

Last year, my awning seems badly stained/dirty and like bugs had been rolled up in it and died ~ leaving blotches on the white underside.
I scrubbed it with car wash soap/water and a car wash brush, It came clean and no noticable stains/dirt spots thru the summer.
This spring when I got it out of winter storage, it was windy and rainy for several days plus cool so didn't do anything with the camper.
Yesterday, it was warm (70's), no wind and sunshine. I ran out the awning as was disappointed the dark sports/stains were evident again on the underside of the awning.
I picked up a bottle of Camco Pro-strength Awning Cleaner. It says it's OK to use on any awning material.......vinly, nylon, acrylic and fabric awnings. Mix 4oz w/5 gallons water and scrub, rinse and let the awning dry.

I haven't used it yet but will this week. I hope it does the job.