Cleaning Awnings and Outdoor Umbrellas with Powerizer Complete.

We brag that Powerizer is not just a detergent for household cleaning.  Over the years it has proven to be effective in cutting through grease and dirt in a mechanics shop and removing hair dye from flooring in a beauty salon.  So today these instructions for cleaning Awnings and Outdoor Umbrellas should come as no surprise.  The fantastic thing is Powerizer has no harmful dyes and fillers and no harsh chemicals.  Rest assured knowing the soap runoff isn't going to cause a toxic plume in your outdoor space. 

Patio season is here. The real work in this task in cleaning Awnings and your Umbrella is being able to safely reach the surfaces you intend to clean.  Whenever possible bring the work down to where you can keep two feet on the ground and if you can't have a spotter or a sturdy ladder.  The process for cleaning will be similar for both.   A pre-treat, then wash using a microfiber towel or brush when necessary and finishing with a rinse with plain water.

Here is what you will need.

• Mix one (1) scoop of Powerizer Complete to one (1) gallon of warm or hot water to dissolve the detergent quicker. However, cold water from the hose or faucet will work just as well.  
• For visible stains such as bird droppings, make a pre-treat bottle using one (1) scoop of Powerizer Complete into a squeeze bottle with sixteen (16) oz of water.
• 1 Hand Scrubber
• 1 Microfiber cloth for washing and always a few on hand for drying
• 1 Hose with access to clean water for rinsing or a large pitcher
• 1 Bucket for mixing the Powerizer solution & one (1) squeeze bottle if you have one otherwise a large water bottle with a hole poked in the center of the lid will work just fine.

When cleaning anything outside, start with rinsing all surfaces with plain water first.  The quickest way is to spray everything down with a water hose.   Otherwise, use a large pitcher to pour water on all surfaces. Plain water will remove most of the dirt and debris.  It will also help make sure bird droppings and other things don't end up in your Powerizer Solution and keep your microfiber cloth from getting extra dirty throughout the process. 

Locate areas of concern where stains are noticeable.  Using your pre-treat mixture. Saturate the stain and let it sit for a while.  If it doesn't have a chance to remain because of a slant in the awning or the umbrella, try wetting a microfiber cloth with Powerizer and place a cloth directly over the stain for 5-10 minutes to give the stain fighting detergent time to start to break down the stain.

After mixing your solution in a bucket, swirl your towel around in the water to make sure all the detergent has had a chance to dissolve.  Wet all the surfaces and begin your scrubbing motion.  Start in an area closest to the frame and working your way to the centers. Doing this is less likely you will tear the fabric especially if the fibers have become brittle from being sun beat.  Microfiber cloths absorb 7 times more liquid than their weight and are the perfect tool for controlling the amount of solution you need to add or subtract from the surface of the awning or umbrella.  Remember Powerizer cleans your wood and metal so don't forget to wipe down the awning frames and umbrella base.

The last step is to rinse all surfaces with plain water.  Water from the hose is the easiest and most effective way to remove remaining detergent from the fabrics of both your umbrella and awnings.  The sun will take care of the rest just in time for that hot summer day.