At the beginning of every garden season, the topic of cleaning awnings is introduced again. A little neglected in the winter, it doesn't exactly shine at us when we drive it out again for the first time. It has a grayish appearance, maybe a few spots here and there - it's not really something to enjoy or for a garden party with friends. Don't ignore them, because it won't make things better, experts advise. Quickly get the ladder out and in no time it shines fresh, well maintained and like new again. With our tips, you can clean the fabric with non-toxic and inexpensive home remedies and enjoy the sunny garden vibes without annoying stains.
Cleaning the awning: Prevention instead of stains – with these tips you can save yourself a lot
We have some tips that can save you a lot of work in advance:
- Always retract the sun protection when you don't need it. This way you don't expose it to environmental conditions unnecessarily. Rain, branches or leaves and sometimes bird droppings, which are particularly aggressive on fabric.
- Do not retract the sun protection when it is wet, because thenmold can formor green spots and mildew spots. Always let it dry in the sun before retracting the awning.
- You should always retract them, especially overnight.
- If fabric is caught by a bird, you should remove the dirt if possible before it dries, otherwise you run the risk of the dirt etching the fabric and you not being able to get the area clean again.
Start of the season: Clean the fabric with household remedies and start the gardening season cleanly
For easy cleaning at the start of the season, we recommend you proceed as follows. First remove dust and small twigs from the sun awning with a large broom. Take a small bucket and mix the following products together:
Recipe with home remedies to clean fabric
- 4 liters of lukewarm water (up to a maximum of 40 degrees)
- 50 ml liquid core soap
Get a large soft sponge and, generously saturating the sponge, go over the entire fabric in a circular motion. Feel free to scrub a little because the sponge is soft and cannot scratch the material. You can use a sponge mop for hard-to-reach areas. Then go over it again in the same way with clear water in a second round to rinse. Now let the fabric dry completely in the sun before retracting it. Voilà – the gray haze is gone and it shines again.
Steam cleaners and high-pressure cleaners are not suitable
Especially with the privacy screen variants made of fabric, which are mounted high up and not so easy to reach, it is tempting to assume that they would be a good application for the steam cleaner or high-pressure cleaner. Unfortunately, this is not the case, because although these devices are practical and non-toxic, they can clog the material and damage it. Therefore – stay away from it!
Stain alarm: This is how you can clean mildew stains, green stains, etc. with home remedies such as baking soda
For more stubborn dirt, you don't have to reach for the chemical box straight away, as there are simple, inexpensive and non-toxic remedies for this too.
Cleaning the awning: This is how you can remove mildew stains
Mold stains are yellowish discolorations that do not look particularly attractive in an idyllic garden. They are not harmful to the material itself, so they do not eat into the fabric. For mildew stains, the magic remedies are baking soda and vinegar. So stir together the following:
- 2 liters of lukewarm water
- 100 ml apple cider vinegar
- 50 ml liquid core soap or a mild liquid detergent
Again, use a large soft sponge and treat the areas with the liquid, gently working it in with the sponge. It can be wet here too. Leave the liquid on for at least 15 to 30 minutes. In the second step you create one
- porridge outbaking soda and waterher
and work this into the material with the soft sponge. Then rinse again with clean water, again using the soft, wet sponge. Let the fabric dry in the sun, as UV light also helps against mildew stains. Repeat the procedure if necessary.
Remove green stains, mold stains and algae with these home remedies
The following recipe is effective for successfully eliminating green stains:
- 2 liters of water
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 100 ml apple cider vinegar
- 50 g liquid gall soap, liquid curd soap or liquid mild detergent
Work the liquid mixture into the fabric with the soft sponge so that it is wet. Leave it on for about 20 minutes. The vinegar will help prevent future mold growth. If theStains particularly stubbornHere too, make a slurry of baking soda and a little water and work it in as well. Rinse everything off with the sponge soaked in clear water and let the awning dry completely in the sun. When it's dry, don't forget to roll it up if you no longer need it and even overnight.
Also interesting:Removing bird droppings from the awning: the right means
