Choosing the correct awnings for your home can be quite an overwhelming process. That’s because there are so many different options to choose from. Everything ranging from the awning shape, size, materials, and even the colours and designs.
Some people prefer keeping things simple by going with white awnings. Others might avoid that option entirely because of the common assumption that white awnings get very dirty, very quickly.
But is that true?
That’s what we’re going to explore in this article. In the following few sections, we’ll be looking at all the facts about white awnings and whether or not they get dirty. On top of that, we’ll even show you a few simple tips on how to keep white awnings clean.
Let’s get to it.
Do White Awnings Get Dirtier Quicker Than Other Colours?
Well, yes and no. Over time, all awnings get dirty regardless of their colour. The problem with white awnings is that any dirt is much more visible, even from a distance. As a result, most owners of white awnings will have to clean them more often to avoid turning their home into an eyesore for the neighbourhood.
Just like awnings of any other colour, white awnings can get dirty for many different reasons. They include:
- Dirt – Dirt floats around in the air and can naturally settle on window awnings.
- Mold And Mildew – Awning materials that retain moisture are particularly vulnerable to mold and mildew growth over time.
- Debris – Typically, debris like tree branches and leaves may get caught on window awnings.
- Rust Stains – Metal awnings or any other metal fixtures that allow water to flow onto the awnings can leave behind nasty rust stains.
- Bird Or Other Animal Droppings – Awnings are meant to cover and protect windows from many things like sunlight and rain. Unfortunately, that also means that droppings from birds and any other animal might land and stay on the white awnings.
- Material fading – With prolonged exposure to sunlight and rain, awning materials will suffer from fading. Fading might be less visible on white awnings, but it’ll still be noticeable up close.
Does The Material The Awning Is Made Of Make A Difference?
Yes, the material the white awning is made of makes a huge difference. Some fabrics are naturally more stain-resistant than others. While there is a wide range of materials you could choose from, let’s take a look at two very popular options: vinyl-coated fabric and cotton awnings.
Vinyl-Coated Fabric Awnings
Vinyl-coated fabric awnings are probably one of the most naturally stain-resistant options you could choose from. That’s a particularly popular option if you’re living in an area with very high humidity levels.
“Simply put, that kind of material doesn’t absorb and retain moisture as much as other awning materials. As a result, stains, mold, and mildew will have a more challenging time sticking to the awning.“
To top it all off, that also makes it much easier to clean and maintain the awning as well.
Cotton Awnings
Cotton awnings are known to be heavier than other materials. Not only do they give off a more classical feel for the awnings, but the material also does an excellent job at repelling moisture, mold and mildew.
While they might be more expensive than other options, cotton awnings also come with another benefit: they’re much easier to maintain and are typically machine-washable.
Some Stains Are Unavoidable
Still, it’s important to note that some stains are simply unavoidable. Regardless of the type of material the awning is made of, stains from bird droppings, debris, and dirt will still affect the awning.
What Can I Do To Keep My Awning Clean?
Before you get discouraged from buying white awnings, wait! There is a silver lining when it comes to dirty white awnings. Unlike coloured awnings with patterns and designs that make dirt harder to see, you’ll be able to identify stains and clean them quickly on white awnings!
Here are a few simple ways to keep your white awning clean:
- Brushing: With nothing more than a broom or a long brush, you can easily brush off any loose dirt on your awning as soon as you notice it there.
- Washing: A garden hose is all you need to give your white awning a quick wash once in a while and preventing stains from building up.
- Air Drying or Wiping: Depending on the weather in your location, you can leave your awnings to air dry by themselves, or you can give them a simple wipedown with a cloth.
- Retracting: If you have retractable awnings, you can keep them clean by retracting them. For example, you might want to do that during the fall season when you know plenty of leaves might land on your awnings.
Special Care For Awning Storage
Suppose you’re planning on removing your awning and keeping them stored in your garage. Before you do that, there are some special care tips that you must keep in mind.
They include:
- It’s always a good idea to give them a nice wash and wipedown. That way, they’ll be clean and ready to use when you unpack them later on.
- Always ensure that the awnings are dried thoroughly. That’s because damp awnings, or those stored in rooms with high humidity, can grow mold and mildew very quickly.
- Try to store your awnings in a room with lower humidity and at least a few feet off the ground. The goal here is to prevent them from ever getting wet.
Do White Awnings Show Rust More?
Unfortunately, yes. White awnings do show rust more, especially if they’re plain white awnings without any patterns to mask the stains. Rust stains can, unfortunately, make your beautiful awning less pleasing to the eye.
However, you can view this as a positive. It can be pretty tricky to notice rust stains with awnings of other colours until it’s too late.
“Seeing rust stains on your white awnings could be a timely prompt for you to inspect the rest of your awning for rust problems. That way, you can fix the issue much quicker before it gets too bad.“
Tips For Cleaning Your White Awning
White awnings might look dirty sooner than those with colours or patterns, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing! White awnings will help you notice dirt and stains easier, prompting you to promptly clean them before the stains get out of hand.
Generally, there are three ways you can clean your white awnings: with home-made cleaning solutions, specialized store-bought cleaners, or by hiring a professional. Each of them has its fair share of pros and cons, so let’s take a closer look at them to see which one suits you best.
Home-Made Cleaners
You can make your own awning cleaner solution with items you probably have in your kitchen. All you’ll need are:
- One cup of bleach.
- Quarter cup of dishwashing liquid.
- One gallon of water.
Mix them together and apply them to your white awnings. You’ll need to leave them in place for about 15-20 minutes to loosen up any stains, though you can use a brush to scrub any stubborn stains gently. Be sure to only use a soft-bristled brush to do that.
After that time has passed, use your garden hose to clean the awnings and let them dry. It’s always best to air-dry awnings, though you could also wipe them down if you prefer.
Specialized Cleaners
Of course, you always have the option to buy specialized awning cleaners from your local supermarket or hardware store. Here, it’s essential to choose awning cleaners that work well with the particular fabric of your white awnings.
Store-bought cleaners might involve a small cost, but you can think of it as a long-term investment in your awnings.
As long as you’re buying them from a leading brand, you can rest assured that you’re getting a well-formulated cleaner that will not only make your awnings look clean again but also help to maintain them in the long-run.
Hire A Professional!
Another excellent option for keeping your white awnings clean is to hire a professional cleaning service. Undoubtedly, this will be the most expensive option for maintaining your awnings. However, there are some clear benefits that you’ll get for the money you’ll pay.
Firstly, when you hire a professional, you’re paying for their knowledge, expertise, and experience. A professional cleaning service would have cleaned plenty of white awnings before yours, so they’ll know how to get the job done quickly and correctly.
Besides that, professionals will also have their own cleaning equipment. That typically includes pressure cleaners and professional-grade cleaning solutions.
All together, they’ll have everything needed to make your white awnings look brand new each and every time!
Final Thoughts About White Awnings
White awnings are beautiful for their simplicity, making them such a popular option for many homeowners. Still, they come with one significant tradeoff: they get visibly dirty much quicker than awnings with colours and designs.
Despite that, cleaning white awnings isn’t as complicated as many people assume. You can choose to make your own cleaning solution at home, go for a store-bought option, or hire a professional to do it for you!
Alright, that’s it for this article guys, if you found it useful then a share on social media or your website would be cool!
All the best
Steve
ps here’s a few articles related to this one you might find interesting:
How Much are Marygrove Awnings? Popular Models Covered
