Hey guys. I cleaned these awnings today and when some of them dry they get what appears to be hard water stains. I can re rinse and they will change profile to the water every time (see attached photo of partially dry awning). They were in terrible shape. He said they hadn’t been cleaned since installed in 2002. I’m just checking to see if anyone agrees it might be hard water marks. I know all the chemical is rinsed out.
Let it rain on them a couple of times and see what they look like, see if stain goes away.
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Look at the frames. If there’s holes or breaks at the welds it let’s all the dirty water out. It’s just like weepers on siding. Gotta mist them or follow up with fresh water and a brush. No spraying.
It’s dirt from the frame. I’ve run into it too.
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The fabric will also pull dirty water up trapped between the frame and the canvas via capillary effect.
On light colored awnings you’re going to have it happen every time. Did you flush the inside of the awning with Just water?
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I got home and got to thinking it was probably dirt sucking back up from around the frame and ran back to rinse again. Mainly from the back. I’ll run by about 6 to see if it dries any better.
With it being like this I figure I won’t charge him but tell him I’d love the opportunity to make right for him. This is what they looked like before and there were ten of them.
My phone keeps dying. It’s been a long day.
It’s just dirt you “missed”. Just use your inlet hose when you go back. Should flush right out. But you did the job. You didn’t ruin anything.
Invoice as usual.
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You earned your money plus!
What mix and application did you use they look pretty good!
I sprayed them with about a 4% sh mix, let dwell ~20 minutes without letting the sun dry it out. Then I brushed them with the soft bristle Unger brush Squid recommends all the time before rinsing. I also dipped that in a bucket of 4% before brushing. I would have loved to go a little lighter on the sh but it just wasn’t cutting it. I wasted an hour trying to get it done before getting to that point.
I should also add I’ve never cleaned an awning before. I just quickly read up on it before tackling the job.
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But hey That’s how everyone learns thanks for the info!
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I went back this morning and it still had the same issue But worse. People were starting to come into work so I figured I would wait until this evening to go back and fix it. I had to meet the owner there for something else about an hour ago and the lines were all gone. Problem solved. I have no idea but I am grateful. Just thought I would update you guys. He was extremely pleased and wants to get me hooked up with the apartment company he builds for. They have somewhere around 6k apartments.
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That’s awesome, but don’t get used to problems fixing themselves. LOL
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I had full intentions of making it right and really wish I would have had to fix it because then I would have known what caused it. Now I can only speculate. Maybe the next one lol
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Did u use any soap? If not that might have something to do with it. Soap helps emulsify the dirt and exhsust build up. Its def possible that they’re hard water stains but I have pretty hard water in my area (300+ ppms) and have never had that issue.
I used elemonator. I’m going to order some sap it though. The elemonator just doesn’t cover the scent very well. I’ve had people stop and say oh your using bleach lol
Check out Winsoll deep clean. Good stuff for awnings and it lasts forever. I havnt checked the msds but I think theres some sprt of degreaser in there. On a side note it works great on window screens too.
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I’ll order some right now. I had read about winsol for awning but I had seen where people had done it without it with good luck. Thanks!
This.
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They have another similar product that includes a uv protestant sealer. I dont do too many awnings so ive jad this bottle of deep clean for a good year now but ill prob buy that next just to help differentiate the service I’m offering from other cleaners. If its the ssme price and basically the same service but yours includes a I’ve blocker than youre just about guaranteed to win the bid.
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