Pushing a button to create your own shaded patio is one of the many luxuries of modern RVs. RV awnings protect you from light rain and sun and create an outdoor patio space perfect for grilling, relaxing, or hosting RV tailgate parties. That said, RV awning maintenance is an essential part of RV life.
Luckily, it isn’t complicated. But you don’t want to wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of a ripping RV awning because you forgot to retract it before bed. So, we have a few RV awning maintenance tips to help you care for and maintain your RV awning.
How To Clean an RV Awning
Open your awning before each camping season and visually inspect it for damage. This can be done from the ground, but you should also use a ladder or climb onto your RV’s roof (if it’s fully walkable) to inspect the top. This is also a great time to conduct a full RV roof inspection.
During your awning inspection, look for tears, holes, or mold and mildew growth. The risk of mold increases when you store your RV in a humid climate. To help prevent it, open your awning completely at least once a month. This allows it to dry if moisture has accumulated on the fabric.
At the end of your camping season, clean both sides of your awning and let it dry completely before retracting it. Follow these steps to clean an RV awning:
- Open the awning completely.
- Spray the top and bottom with clean water using a clean garden hose and spray nozzle.
- Use an approved cleaner and soft-bristle brush to gently scrub the top and bottom.
- Rinse the awning to remove the cleaner and debris you’ve loosened.
Technician Tip: A soft brush with an extension is best for reaching the full extent of your awning, whether you’re cleaning it by standing on your RV’s roof or a ladder. To avoid damage, do not place much downward force on the awning.
What Is The Best Cleaner for RV Awnings?
When searching for a quality, safe RV awning cleaner, look for a product with UV protection. This safeguards the fabric from sun damage. Also, choose a cleaner without bleach, as this chemical may cause discoloration and lead to the need for replacement RV awning fabric.
The Thetford RV Awning Cleaner is one of the best products for cleaning an RV awning. It’s available in a 32-ounce spray bottle or a larger gallon container. It’s easy to use and effectively cleans dirt and stains. It’s also safe to use on both fabric and vinyl awnings.
How To Remove Stains from RV Awning
Many things can cause unsightly RV awning stains – bird droppings, tree sap, decaying plant life, and more. An approved RV awning cleaner should remove most of the residue from your RV awning.
If it doesn’t, try using isopropyl alcohol. It’s relatively affordable, easy to find, and won’t remove your awning’s color. Mix one cup of isopropyl alcohol with one gallon of water. Apply that solution to stains and scrub with a soft brush. Then, rinse the spot to remove the stain. Repeat the process for particularly hard-to-remove stains.
Learn more about washing your RV here:
How To Adjust RV Awning Arms
As the afternoon goes on, the shifting sun may motivate you to change your awning’s position for optimal shade. Sometimes, you’ll want to adjust the awning’s pitch to remove excess water after rain.
First, choose the side you want to adjust. Depending on your awning design, you may need to unlock the pitch arm to allow for tilt adjustment. If that step is finished (or not required), you can then pull down or push up on the RV awning pitch arm to adjust the angle. Keep your fingers clear of the pinch point. If you’re raising the RV awning arm, be careful not to overextend it. If it starts to bend upward, you’ll stress the strut and add tension, which may cause it to break.
Finally, if you’re lowering the RV awning arm near the entry door or an adjacent slide room, be careful. Don’t lower it so much that you can’t safely open the door without rubbing it against the awning fabric.
Can I Leave My RV Awning Out in the Rain?
Most RV awnings are built to withstand light rain – with an emphasis on the word “light.” To be safe, retract your awning when the rain begins. Consider investing in a pop up canopy if you need additional shelter for your RV’s outdoor patio. Learn how to choose the best canopy tent for your RV needs.
Technician Tip: Never leave your RV unattended with the awning deployed. Weather, neighbors moving their RVs in or out, and other factors can damage the awning. Anything can happen in the campground. If you are out hiking, shopping, sightseeing, or otherwise engaged, and something goes wrong at the campsite, you will not be there to respond.
How Windy is Too Windy for an RV Awning?
The threshold for most RV awnings is 20 to 25 mph (32-40 km/h). The risk of awning damage increases significantly if your campground experiences sustained winds above this threshold.
That said, “wind speed” and “wind gusts” are two important distinctions. When your trusty weather app tells you wind speed is below that threshold, there’s always the possibility of a stronger wind gust damaging your awning.
To be safe, retract your RV awning whenever the wind begins to bounce or shake it. Luckily, RV manufacturers have innovated to create “smart” awnings that retract when wind speeds over a set limit are detected, helping you avoid having to learn how to replace an RV awning.
Does RV Insurance Cover Awning Damage?
The short answer is that it depends on your level of coverage. If you choose Good Sam’s Permanent Attachments Coverage, your awnings, tow kits, levelers, antennas, and other permanent RV attachments are covered for the full amount it would cost to replace them—not a depreciated amount.
Enjoying on-demand shade is one of the many benefits of RV life. We hope these RV awning maintenance tips help you care for one of the most popular exterior awning accessories in your modern RV. Bookmark the following resources for future reference in case you need them:
- Choosing an RV Awning Replacement
- Common RV Awning Problems
- Is Your Retractable RV Awning Not Working?
Is there anything else you want to know about RV awnings? Let us know in the comments below.
Where is Camping worlds technical training class i would like to refresh my knoledgeof some of the systems on AC,Heatind Instant Hot etc.. can Mobil technicians come there?
Hi Bob!
You can learn more about the Camping World Technical Institute and find their course schedule here: https://www.cwtechinstitute.com/
Hope that helps!
do you get better support on an awning, if you detach leg at camper and install at ground? I’m on a slab where i can mount a anchor and bolt leg to slab.
Hi Steven,
This was at one time referred to as “patio mode”. One problem is that there is so much lift that the only anchor points that are guaranteed are the ones on the RV. Also, the manufacturers require that the awning be closed if it rains or if the wind exceeds +/-24 mph. If it is anchored to the ground, it is not convenient to open and close the awning frequently. Leaving the awning deployed at all times may also void the warranty.
Hope this helps, but let us know if you have any follow up questions!
Where is the video reference in Tucker’s comment?
Here you go Donald!
https://youtu.be/OmCxsHPKzBY
We have some contentions in our RV. My husband will put the awning out 1/2 way, I think it should be fully extended and taut. Which is correct for our girard awning?
Hi Karen,
I apologize for the delay, but I wanted to reach out to our technical service team to get their insight on your question. Here’s their reply:
Girard makes many different models, but in the operator’s manuals for all, they say the awning can be partially deployed temporarily for service or adjustments only. Otherwise, it should be fully opened or fully closed in order to work as designed. They also state that while their awnings are capable of withstanding light wind or rain, they should be closed in the event of anything stronger.
Hope that helps resolve your contentions!
How do you close a power awning if motor goes out while open
Hi Phil!
Here’s our video on troubleshooting common awning issues: https://youtu.be/OmCxsHPKzBY
Starting at the 2:42 mark, Ian details the process for manually retracting an awning, for both Lippert and Dometic models.
Let us know if you have any follow up questions!
Hi Tucker. I have a 2008 Fleetwood Bounder 38F. You seem to be the go to guy since you have if not the same, a similar RV. I have some issues with my RV, and maybe you can provide some good advice for fixing my fixable.
Hi Richard!
Can you tell me more about what fixes you’re looking to make?
For what it’s worth, you can also call our Technical Service Hotline at 1-866-838-5304.