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5 Quick Tips for RV Awning Care

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    The RV awning is the unsung hero of the RV lifestyle. It enables you to stay outside in inclement weather, including during rain and snow when you so choose. It also helps keep the sun out of your eyes on clearer, brighter days.

    Without the proper care, you won’t enjoy the best mileage you can get from your awning. Luckily, basic care for your RV awning isn’t difficult, and with these 5 great tips, you’ll be affording your awning most of the care it needs.

    1.Don’t Leave It Open
    This is probably the best advice we can give you for RV patio awning care. Leaving your awning open when you are not present or not using it is just asking for a problem. For one thing, leaving it open exposes it to more UV radiation, which is not good for awnings (even those that are UV resistant). Secondly, leaving it open when you are not present will expose it to the risk of storms and wind damage, and you won’t be there to close it.

    2.Use RV Awning Stabilizers, De-Flappers or Tie-Downs
    The use of camper awning stabilizers, tie-downs, and de-flappers, where necessary, can all help to prevent damage to your awning due to wind or other stressors. Sudden gusts of wind can catch your awning and stress or break the arms that support and control it. Luckily, the use of a stabilizer kit can help you prevent most of these issues.

    3.Periodically Rinse It Down
    Every once in a while, you should rinse down your camper awning to keep it clean, even if it doesn’t look like it needs it. There will be pollen, spores, and other dust and debris on it that you can’t see. Most of the time, all you need to do is hose it down, let it dry and store it. That’s all it takes. However, if you’re dealing with a specific discoloration or stain, you can use a mild detergent as well - although there are also specialty cleaners for awnings.

    4.Never Store It Wet
    This is important - never store your RV awning wet, whether after cleaning it or after rain. Always allow it to fully dry before rolling it up and storing it. If you need to store it hastily because of a storm, open it back up after the storm and let it dry completely. If you don’t you will hasten the growth of mold and mildew which will break it down.

    5.Keep Your Eyes on It!
    Finally, perform a periodic visual inspection of your awning to make sure all of the parts are working as intended and that there isn’t an undue buildup of moisture, dirt, mold, or anything else on its surface. That will help you keep one step ahead of any problems that might develop.

    Want to learn more about how to care for your camper awning, or to find specialty stabilizers, locks, kits, and cleaners for it? Visit RVUpgradeStore.com, where you’ll find a huge collection of products and accessories for your RV, as well as a staff that knows how to use them. Whenever you have any questions, just hop on a call with them at 866-332-7881 and they’ll help you sort it out!