Awnings give every home extra protection and comfort against sunlight. That’s why it is essential to know the ways on how to clean an awning with mold and other stubborn stains.
Sunshades made of relatively durable materials such as vinyl and acrylic fibers can last up to years of providing protection (with proper care and maintenance).

However, it doesn’t have any free pass to destructive elements outside the home, such as Penicillium mold. To find out more, here is an informative article you can read on where does penicillium mold grow.
So, it is also equally important to determine what methods you can do to prevent molds and mildew from damaging the looks and the purpose of your awning. In this article, we will tackle the mold living on your awning covers and stop them from further destroying your home’s canopy.
6-Step Guide To Clean Molded Awning
Molds indeed live everywhere, and your home or store awning cover is no exception. Fortunately, there are easy and cost-free ways to clean your molded awning.
Step #1. Know your material
Before treating the awning, you’ll want to know first what type of material composes your sunshade. Two common kinds of a home canopy are the covers made of vinyl polymer and ones manufactured using acrylic fibers.
Vinyl awnings have non-porous surfaces and are naturally mold-resistant. With vinyl awning’s structure, it can be easy to clean off any dirt such as molds and mildew.
While acrylic fiber-made awnings are woven fabric, therefore, giving them natural porous features. Due to potential mold hideouts, you’ll have to exert more effort in cleaning an acrylic awning.
Step #2. Apply your cleaners
If you have an acrylic awning, you have to do a deep cleaning. You can use a bleach mixture to soak the area for a relatively long time.
However, other more robust deep-cleaners can do a better job in getting rid of molds that have penetrated the pores of your acrylic awning.
On the other hand, in cleaning vinyl awning, bleach mixed with thinned water is good enough to wash away mold stains. Let the mixture sit for 10 to 15 minutes before scrubbing the molded area.
Remember that when using bleach, you shall proceed with caution as it contains very harsh chemicals that can damage and wear out the color and quality of your awning fabric.
In case you don’t have bleach cleaner present, you can resort to using Borax. Here’s a helpful guide on how to clean mold with Borax.
Step #3. Scrub away molds and mildew
After giving the cleaner some time to sit and penetrate in the awning cloth, it’s now time to scrub it. Using a strong-bristled brush, clear out all the bleach from the mold-stained areas.
For vinyl awning, you’ll have less time scrubbing. While cleaning acrylic awning with woven fibers, you may need to scour harder to eliminate the roots in the cloth burrows.
Brushing acrylic awning can be an optional step if you have used a robust antimicrobial cleaner.
Step #4. Rinse area to remove residue
For this step, after ensuring that you have disjoined all the dirt through scrubbing, wash the awning with clean water to take away any remaining bleach.
Step #5. Air dry awning cover
Always let your awning naturally dry after washing. If you cleaned it in the frame, then dry it as is.
If removed in its shell, line-hang it to dry.
Step #6. Re-treat awning and return to frame
Re-treating or reapplying fabric guard to your awning can be an optional step. However, if you have an acrylic one, it’s best to reapply a layer of waterproof coat after cleaning it.
Ensure to dry the coating afterward. After accomplishing all the cleaning and drying steps, you can now return the awning to its frame.
Can I Remove Mold From Awning Without Using Bleach?
Yes, cleaning with other disinfectant agents can be your option when removing molds off your awning.
If you want a strong chemical cleaner, you can buy a commercial antimicrobial soap online or from household care stores. It can be a supreme disinfectant against molds and mildew.
However, if you want an all-natural remedy, you can use vinegar and baking soda to clear out the molds. To do this, immerse the affected part in vinegar and then scrub the dirt out with baking soda.
How To Prevent Molds On My Awning
The key to keeping the molds at bay is to clean the awning regularly by rinsing it down at least once a month. You can also cleanse your awning annually by following the steps in removing molds from it, but with the use of a mild detergent.
After completing the monthly and yearly cleaning process, be sure to totally air dry the awning. Then, keep it in well-ventilated storage if not to be used for extended periods.
Conclusion
It’s a good thing that steps on how to clean an awning with mold won’t require you to spend hefty amounts. Apart from them being easy to follow, they’ll help you preserve the quality of your canopy, and therefore, keep the primary purpose and benefits of a sunshade.