Do's and Don'ts The life and good looks of your awnings depend a great deal on the way you use them and how you care for them. Your awnings are made from either a cotton or synthetic fabric, either of which is the finest awning fabric available. We use only the best available water repellants and mildew retardants in Tri Vantage awning fabrics, and you can rely on our experience and quality. Even the most durable materials require a certain amount of care, and fabric awnings are no exception. With only the minimum amount of attention, your awnings will remain bright and serviceable.

The following do's and don'ts are presented to help you in the proper care of your awning. The life and beauty of an awning can be preserved by following these general tips.

Some Do's

Do keep the awnings clean. This is the best protection against mildew. Even on mildew resistant fabric, mildew can grow on accumulated dirt or foreign materials which remain on the top or bottom surface and eventually damage or stain the fabric. Tri Vantage cannot be responsible for such damage.

Do wash down your awnings. If they are vinyl coated, brush lightly with a cloth or soft brush. You can use a mild soap, but rinse thoroughly and immediately.

Do hose your awning with clean water occasionally, every month or so. We recommend that you do this on a hot, sunny day.

Do keep the underside of your awnings clean by simply brushing with a clean household broom.

Do keep shrubbery and vines away from the awnings, as many bushes contain an acid which can be harmful to your awnings.

Do check the condition of awning frames. Rust is not likely to form, but if it does, it might cause deterioration or staining of the fabric.

Don'ts

Do not fold or roll the awning in cold temperature.

Do not drag your awning across any abrasive surfaces, such as cement, asphalt, or the awning frame.

Do not get insect spray on the fabric, as some solutions may impair the water repellency of the fabric and cause staining.

Do not allow water to stand on the awnings, causing pocketing and possible stretching.

Do not overlook small rips or tears. If a sharp object punctures the fabric, it should be repaired.

Do not wash your awnings with a harsh or strong solution, or scrub too vigorously with an abrasive cleaner.

Do not force or yank your awnings when raising or lowering them. Do it gradually.

Do not cook food or have fires beneath or around the awning.

Do not store awnings when damp or wet. Mildew is a fabric's greatest foe and is caused by dampness. Mildew may grow on the surface of a damp awning and permanently stain the fabric.

Do not permit leaves, twigs, dirt, etc. to remain on your awnings as they might cause a staining of the fabric.

Note – Tri Vantage offers several cleaning and protection products for industrial fabrics. Contact your nearest Tri Vantage Distribution Center for more information.

Care of Sunbrella® Fabric
Sunbrella® is made of 100% solution-dyed fiber, which gives it color brightness that is unsurpassed. Being a woven fabric, it breathes and is translucent. It is guaranteed for a period of five years against loss of color or strength from normal exposure conditions including sunlight, mildew, rot and atmospheric chemicals. Sunbrella has a fluorocarbon finish which provides excellent water repellency.

Sunbrella fabric should be cleaned regularly before substances such as dirt, roof particles, etc. are allowed to accumulate and become embedded in the fabric. The fabric can be cleaned without being removed from the frame. Simply brush off any loose dirt, roof particles, etc. hose down and clean with a mild soap in lukewarm water (no more than 100° F.) Rinse thoroughly to remove soap. DO NOT USE DETERGENTS!

For stubborn stains, soak the fabric for approximately 20 minutes in a solution of not more than 1/2 cup (4 oz.) of bleach and 1/4 cup mild soap per gallon of water at approximately 100° F. A non-chlorine bleach is recommended for Sunbrella "Plus" because of the urethane coating. Rinse thoroughly in cold water to remove all of the soap. Note: excessive soaking in bleach can deteriorate sewing threads. This method of cleaning may remove part of the water repellency. If water repellency is a factor, the fabric should receive an application of an air-curing water repellant treatment.

Sunbrella may be dry cleaned, but a water repellant treatment must be applied to the fabric after dry cleaning to reestablish water repellency. Sunbrella is made from 100% acrylic fiber and is thermoplastic or heat sensitive. When washing or cleaning, DO NOT SUBJECT TO EXCESSIVE HEAT as the fabric will shrink. DO NOT STEAM PRESS OR DRY IN ELECTRIC OR GAS DRYERS, but allow to air dry.

In cases where a Sunbrella awning is taken down and stored during the winter season, it should be cleaned, allowed to air dry, and stored in a dry, well-ventilated area. Many fabricators offer a reasonably priced removal, cleaning and storage and rehanging service on a yearly basis.

Sunbrella® is a registered trademark of Glen Raven, Inc.

Care of Dickson® Awning Fabric
Dickson Awning Fabrics are made from 100% solution-dyed acrylic fiber. Dickson Awning Fabrics are designed and manufactured for outside use and the following care instructions should be observed:

Awning frames must provide constant tension that will stretch the awning fabric and avoid rubbing. This tension will prevent formation of water pockets on the awning.

In case of strong winds, lateral arm and other retractable awning systems should be retracted.

If an awning is retracted while wet, open it as quickly as possible and allow the fabric to dry. Although the fabric is mold, mildew and rot proof, this procedure is necessary because atmospheric pollution deposits on the surface of the fabric can mold and mildew under damp conditions.

Dickson Awning Fabrics have a special finish that delays the formation and accumulation of dirt. To preserve this finish, cleaning of the fabric must include the following:

Standard Maintenance

Thoroughly remove the dust from the dry awning fabric by vacuum cleaning, gently beating or brushing.

Then clean with a prolonged spraying of lukewarm water and a mild soap while gently brushing. Rinse thoroughly to remove soap.

Stain Removal

For more stubborn cases, a general solution of no more than 1/2 cup of bleach and 1/4 cup of mild soap per gallon of water is normally recommended. The fabric should be soaked in this mixture for no more than 20 minutes.

Note: Excessive soaking in bleach can deteriorate sewing threads. The fabric should be rinsed thoroughly in cold water to remove all of the soap. This method of cleaning may remove part of the water repellency of the fabric. Therefore, if water repellency is important, the fabric should receive an application of any air-curing fluorocarbon water repellant treatment.

Dickson® is a registered trademark of Glen Raven, Inc.

Care of Vanguard® Awning Fabric
Since no material is impervious to all hazards, proper maintenance is important if maximum life of the product is to be realized. The following maintenance suggestions are offered:

Keep clean. Occasional hosing will prevent dirt accumulation. Most dirt accumulation can be removed by soap, water and a soft scrub brush. Rinse thoroughly. In extreme cases, most dirt can be removed by applying a full or half strength bleach and brushing softly to thoroughly cover the necessary area. Allow to remain for two to three minutes, then thoroughly hose-rinse, protecting surrounding material or plant growth that might be damaged by bleach.

In areas particularly conducive to mildew, brush away any visible accumulation of dirt on underside. Mildew cannot attack Weblon®, but it can grow on dirt.

Avoid dragging over rough or hard areas that can puncture Weblon fabric or develop frictional heat at the folds.

Do not use barbecue grill under the awning or top or allow any ignited material such as cigarettes on top. Weblon fabric will not support combustion, but it might melt away from a hot coal or a similar heat source.

Material should be thoroughly dry before prolonged storage.

Vanguard® is a registered trademark of Aberdean Road Company. Weblon® is a registered trademark of Herculite Products, Inc.