Travel for both work and leisure has been made difficult lately, but we assure you that you still need to know how to prevent mildew on RV awning. After all, if you can’t go to crowded places, you can still camp out in your van, right?
Vans have been a huge attraction and must-have for people who love the outdoors. Not only for adventure but recreational vehicles(RVs) are also widely used whenever people want to stay somewhere comfortable, away from home.
If you have an RV, you’ll know that it gets better with a sturdy and stylish set of canopies and awning. While the RV itself is built to withstand almost all kinds of weather and attack, awnings and the like are mostly not.
Tips For Preventing Mildew In RV Awning
Your awnings will get subjected to rain and shine, with changes depending on the region you plan on staying in. For such cases, you should check the following tips to ensure your awnings don’t get attacked by mildew.
1. Keep them dry
First and foremost, you need to keep in mind that mildew and almost all kinds of molds thrive and are good at finding well-moisturized areas. Sticking and reproducing by feeding on whatever can be decomposed on their chosen surface is how they survive and multiply in the first place.
If you don’t want your RV’s awnings to ever get mildews in them, then don’t ever let them get wet.
However, that would be a tad bit impossible(because RVs without rain nearly never happen); make a note to either pull your awnings in when it starts pouring or dry it well afterward.
2. Keep any item with mildew away from them
The next item for your list of how mildew survives and spreads is their seeds, also known as spores. These spores are so tiny; they can get easily suspended and carried to new surfaces by air that you can find mildew and mold almost anywhere.
Never place or clean anything infested with mildew to keep mildew from the precious awnings since spores blown to usually wet awnings are a disaster. If your awning is somehow tied with rubber you’re suspicious of mildew infestation, here’s how to remove mildew from rubber.
You can also check this article on how to get rid of mildew on exterior of car or RV in this case.
3. Store them properly when not in use
Along the lines of keeping the spores away, you also need to pay attention to where your awnings are stored after you use them. Different kinds of awnings present other storage states; make sure yours keep them in the best condition possible.
Check that there is no leaking water in the storage or mildew infestation. You can cover the folded awning with another fabric, so it doesn’t get stained, scraped, or torn when not in use.
4. Clean and maintain them regularly
Regardless of whether you use your awning frequently or not, it would help if you make sure they are always clean and patched for any damage. This is imperative if you want to keep organisms like mildew-producing fungi away from your property.
Before storing your awning, make sure you clean it properly with mild detergent and water. Pull them up for checking every month and cleanse them at least 3-4 times a year.
Note that keeping mildew away from your awning also entails keeping them away from your RV.
5. Let them out in the sun
This tip can be treated as a leg of keeping your awning dry and maintaining them regularly. However, we wanted to discuss them separately so you can remember them well.
Another best practice in caring for an awning is spreading it out in the sun once in a while.
Letting them out like this will double with keeping them dry and inspecting for damages. Since almost all materials deteriorate with time, you can keep an eye on your awning like this, plus the sun is a mildew-killing thing.
6. Coat them with anti-mildew solutions
Somehow keeping them clean and dry may feel like it’s not enough, so this last tip we have for you requires a bit of spending. The final information is to get an awning cleaning solution dedicated to killing and preventing mildew.
You can also use diluted bleach or vinegar, but make sure you check that the solution will not damage the awning material. Coat your RV awning with such a solution before storing it, but be careful not to use too much or rinse less than the smell sticks on it.
How to protect your RV awning
Protecting your RV awning requires only a few things and a bit of your attention. Make sure you follow all the tips we mentioned above, which apply to almost all damages.
Avoid putting out the awning when harsh weather happens, and don’t use it irresponsibly. Doing all these should keep your shelter in good condition.
Conclusion
There! You’ve now discovered how to prevent mildew on RV awning in easy-to-follow and remember tips.
Make sure you do them regularly, and you’re sure to have the awning for a long time.