It’s more than just a bit of shade or extra storage space; once you’re pitched up at one of the best caravan sites, your caravan awning is the heart of your outdoor setup, a space to relax, eat, or escape the sun. But after a few uses, especially with unpredictable weather or dusty pitches, awnings can start to look tired. Being stocked up on the best caravan awning cleaner can keep your kit looking its best.
Once you’ve carefully chosen from caravan awning manufacturers and invested in the best caravan awning for your needs, it’s important not to neglect its maintenance. It’s easy enough to stay on top of your caravan exterior with the best caravan cleaners, there are awning-specific products to make cleaning your awning easier, along with some good tools to prevent damage. We’ve picked up some useful tips on what really works when it comes to getting them back to their best.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most effective caravan awning cleaners and some top tips for getting your awning looking summer-ready.
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What is the best caravan awning cleaner?
Camco 41024 Pro-Strength Awning Cleaner
Fenwicks 1820 Awning and Tent Cleaner
HLS AT-55 Awning & Tent Cleaner
Caravan King Awning & Canopy Cleaner and Waterproofer Spray
Nikwax Tent & Gear Solarwash
The best caravan awning cleaners:
Camco 41024 Pro-Strength Awning Cleaner
Reason to buy:
-
Safe for vinyl, acrylic, nylon, and fabric
Reason to avoid:
- May require multiple applications for heavy buildup
This professional-grade formula is designed to safely and effectively remove mold stains, dirt, tree sap, and road grime, helping you breathe new life into your awning or tent. Specially formulated for use on vinyl, acrylic, nylon, and fabric awnings, it’s also ideal for tents and pop-up campers.
The powerful yet fabric-safe solution comes in a 32 oz (909ml) bottle and penetrates tough stains without damaging delicate materials or protective coatings. Whether you’re prepping for a trip or maintaining your setup between adventures, Camco’s cleaner makes it easy to keep your awning looking like new.
Fenwicks 1820 Awning and Tent Cleaner
Reason to buy:
- Formulated for stubborn stains
Reason to avoid:
- Smaller bottle makes it more suitable for spot cleaning
Fenwicks Awning & Tent Cleaner is formulated specifically to target black streaks, green algae, road grime, diesel fumes, and overwintering dirt with ease. Suitable for synthetic and colour-fast cotton materials, it’s also the ideal preparation before applying a re-proofer.
Supplied in a high-quality 1L trigger spray bottle, this cleaner makes application simple and effective. Thanks to the durable bottle and trigger head, you can reuse it again and again with Fenwick’s other concentrated cleaning products.
HLS AT-55 Awning & Tent Cleaner
Best caravan awning cleaner for high-volume jobs:
Reason to buy:
- Suitable for a wide range of outdoor fabrics
Reason to avoid:
- Requires dilution, which may not suit those wanting a ready-to-use option
HLS Supplies have formulated the AT-55 Awning & Tent Cleaner to power through tough outdoor grime and help extend the life of your tents, awnings, gazebos, and parasols. Whether you’re cleaning caravan awnings or prepping a parasol for summer, the solution keeps your outdoor fabrics fresh and ready to use.
We love that it’s easy to apply and pretty versatile – you can spray, brush, or wipe on the cleaner, agitate with a brush, let it work for 10 minutes, then rinse. For general cleaning, you can use a 50:1 or for heavy-duty jobs, a 20:1 makes a stronger mix.
Available in 1L, 5L, 20L, and 25L sizes, there’s an option for every job, big or small.
Caravan King Awning & Canopy Cleaner and Waterproofer Spray
Best caravan awning cleaner for waterproofing:
Reason to buy:
- All-in-one cleaning and protection solution
Reason to avoid:
- You might only need a cleaner
The Caravan King Awning Cleaning Kit Bundle is a complete solution for maintaining and protecting caravan awnings and canopies.
The awning cleaner removes tough grime, including bird droppings, moss, mud, cobwebs, leaving a streak-free shine and refreshed appearance. It’s designed to tackle the stubborn dirt that builds up over time, helping to keep awnings looking their best throughout the year.
We like the inclusion of the protector, which comes in a spray that forms an invisible, breathable barrier against water, dirt, grease, and harsh weather. Its anti-microbial formulation helps prevent mould and mildew, ensuring textiles stay clean and dry without affecting the fabric’s fibres or flexibility.
Nikwax Tent & Gear Cleaner
Best caravan awning cleaner for adding UV protection:
Reason to buy:
- Also provides essential UV protection to extend fabric life
Reason to avoid:
- Not specifically formulated for awnings
Nikwax Tent & Gear SolarWash is a spray-on technical cleaner that removes dirt while adding UV protection and revitalising water repellency. Designed for synthetic outdoor fabrics like tents and backpacks, it helps prevent sun damage and can prolong fabric life by up to 2x.
Ideal for maintaining strength and waterproofing, it’s easy to apply to a caravan awning as well as your gear, and comes in a 500ml bottle for everyday use or a larger 5L option. We really like that regular use protects your awning fabric while cleaning it and the water-based formula can be used on dry or wet fabric.
What’s the best way to clean a caravan awning?
Keeping your caravan awning clean not only improves its appearance but also extends its lifespan and helps prevent pesky afflictions like mould and mildew If you’re wondering what the best way to clean a caravan awning is, these simple steps will work for both fabric and vinyl awnings.
First, fully set up your awning so you’re able to access all areas and assess any spots that need more attention. Begin by brushing off loose dirt, leaves, and debris using a soft broom or brush. Avoid using harsh tools that might damage the material.
Next, mix a mild cleaning solution using warm water and whichever you product your decide is the best caravan awning cleaner for you. Apply the solution using a soft sponge or spray bottle, letting it sit for 5–10 minutes on any stubborn stains.
Gently scrub the surface with a soft brush, focusing on seams and stitching where grime tends to build up. Rinse thoroughly with a hose on a low-pressure setting to remove all soap residue. Never use a pressure washer, as it can damage the fabric or strip waterproof coatings.
Allow the awning to dry completely before packing it away. Ideally, leave it open in sunlight to prevent mould or mildew. For fabric awnings, consider applying a waterproofing spray once dry to maintain water resistance.
To treat mildew, a mix of one part white vinegar to ten parts water can be effective, but we recommend that you test a small area first.
Regular maintenance and gentle cleaning are the best ways to clean a caravan awning and keep it in great condition for many trips to come.
Future Publishing Limited, the publisher of practicalcaravan.com, provides the information in this article in good faith and makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Individuals carrying out the instructions do so at their own risk and must exercise their independent judgement in determining the appropriateness of the advice to their circumstances. Individuals should take appropriate safety precautions and be aware of the risk of electrocution when dealing with electrical products. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither Future nor its employees or agents shall have any liability in connection with the use of this information. You should check that any van warranty will not be affected before proceeding with DIY projects.
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