Rain, and awnings.

TurnThePage wrote:
Just to drift the subject a little bit, how do you guys with power awnings clean them? Especially if it's been collecting garbage and bird poo from trees immediately overhead?

I tilt my manual one down and can beat the bottom of it with my hand or broom to remove all the loose stuff before closing it, and it's easy to quickly wash off if necessary.

Cleaning the underside is no problem. I use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on the mop handle and it cleans great.

For the top side, I'll take advantage of campgrounds that have 2 picnic tables. I'll open the awning and set both picnic tables in front on the awning so I can walk back and forth on them like a scaffolding.

I then use a long painters handle with a soft RV brush attached and using a Mr. Clean and a soft dish towel, will simply slide it back and forth over the top of the awning. Yes, it's work, but it cleans the top pretty good. I'll then wipe it off, same way with a clean soft towel. I don't rinse. It takes off all the dirt.

When NOT washing the top, I have my wife stand inside the camper with her finger on the button. I'm outside with my long handle and soft brush. She hits the button for a second and I wipe down with the brush anything on the roller. She hits the button again for another second, I walk the brush back the other way, brushing off the roller (top side). She hits the button again for another second, and I walk the brush to the other end, brushing off anything that's sticking. I repeat this over and over until the entire awning is brushed off and rolled up.

I can also do this with the Mr. Clean magic eraser mop to clean it when I don't have picnic tables to stand on. I've been doing it this way for 5 years and my awning is spotless, top and bottom. I always brush off the top. If she is not there to help me, I'll tilt both sides of the awning, use the long handle and soft brush and brush down the top of the awning. I do the slide out roofs the same way. The only time I don't brush it down when I roll it up, is if it's actually raining! Then the rain water will pull all the leaves and such down.

FYI also... If you get a long painters pole and a soft RV brush, the best time to clean the top side of the awning is when it rains! Sure, you get wet with rain, but all the dirt is softened by the rain, and if you use the Mr. Clean or even just the brush alone, you'll be amazed how much cleaner it gets topside.

To answer your immediate question, I walk back and forth with the brush while she rolls the awning in, one roller roll at a time.