How to Clean an RV Awning: Step-by-Step Guide?

Cleaning an RV awning on the frame takes about 30 minutes: brush off loose dirt, wet the fabric, scrub with mild soap and the right brush, let it sit five minutes, rinse both sides, then air-dry completely before rolling it up.

Roll fabric up wet and you get that sour, mildewed odor the moment you unroll at the next campsite. The fix is a bucket, a hose, and a brush — not a new awning. One rule decides whether you get three seasons from the fabric: match your cleaner and brush to the fabric type. Vinyl and acrylic want the same bucket of water and wildly different treatment.

What Supplies Do You Need?

You need a 5-gallon bucket, clean water, a bristle brush, a hose, and a ladder if the awning sits high — plus a mild natural soap, never a detergent. Carefree of Colorado’s care instructions name mild, natural soap and say never to use detergent on awning fabric.

The brush is where most owners go wrong. Vinyl takes a soft brush only; stiff bristles and aggressive pressure can damage the surface. Acrylic tolerates a stiff brush — which is why the two fabrics can’t share one tool.

• 5-gallon bucket with 1/4 cup dish soap
• Soft-bristle brush for vinyl
• Stiff brush for acrylic
• Garden hose with spray nozzle
• Ladder on stable ground

When restocking, a roundup of tested RV awning cleaners that actually work narrows the field fast.

How Do You Clean an RV Awning Step by Step?

Most makers publish a six-step loop: brush, wet, scrub, let it sit while briefly retracted, extend, rinse. Carefree of Colorado specifies roughly five minutes of dwell time, longer for heavy grime.

1. Knock off loose debris. Brush off dirt and leaves before wetting — scrub first and you drive grit into the weave.
2. Extend fully. Expose the entire top surface with room to work.
3. Wet and apply solution. Brush soapy water liberally across the top.
4. Retract briefly — without rinsing. Roll it up so solution contacts the rolled layers. Wait about five minutes.
5. Extend and rinse completely. Rinse the underside too, until no soap remains — residue attracts new dirt.
6. Air-dry, then repeat if needed. Leave extended in the sun until fully dry.

Rinsing the underside is the step people skip. Soap pools underneath, dries sticky, and by next season the fabric looks dirtier than before. A commercial bleach-free cleaner works too — spray, scrub, rinse; leave a few minutes on stubborn grime, but test a hidden patch first.

Fabric Type, Dwell Time, and Rinse Method Compared

How Often Should You Clean It?

Carefree of Colorado recommends the monthly rinse to stop dirt from embedding, and a thorough cleaning on the longer cycle. Two signals mean clean sooner: the fabric smells damp when unrolled, or it looks dirty as it comes out — either means mildew has a foothold.

Avoid bleach, abrasive powders, caustic or granular cleaners, oil-based products, and heat to speed drying. Never remove end caps or attempt spring, roller, or arm disassembly without model-specific service instructions — internal springs sit under serious tension. Follow your manufacturer’s manual where it differs, especially for specialty coatings or replacement fabric. Otherwise, this step-by-step handles fabric awnings on the frame — no removal required.