Cleaning mildew is a task that can’t be ignored. No matter where you see it growing, once you know it’s there, it has to be dealt. Most of the time, saving mildew covered surfaces is easy. You’ll spot it in the corner of the shower or see it creeping up as you stroll across your deck or patio, and you know exactly how to vanquish it. But what if you found mildew on your popup tent or other outdoor gear that’s made of canvas material? It’s not unreasonable to expect this situation. After all, canvas tents and camping gear are made for the moist, dirty, open outdoors and then spent most of their downtime being folded up in questionable environments like garages, yards, or sheds. That’s a heavenly situation for a mold or mildew spore. It can be tempting to simply give up and accept mildew stains on any canvas item that spends a lot of time outdoors. However, you can minimize the hassle of removing mildew and stains by using the following instructions and cleaning options.

Even if your tent is covered in mildew, resist the urge to pounce on it and start scrubbing away. Remember that excess moisture is probably what led to this mess in the first place. So, unfurl the canvas and allow it the time to air out and dry. (Give it about 24 hours of uninterrupted dry time.) Remove any loose material before attempting to attack the canvas mold. This includes dirt, grease, metal tent poles, and clasps if they’re mildew free, and basically anything else that isn’t either the canvas or the mildew .This prevents the loose material from being rubbed into the canvas during the later stages, saving you a great deal of extra cleaning work. To begin, get out your stiff brush and start scrubbing superficial stains and debris. You may use a specialized cleaning brush if you have one. However, feel free to improvise solutions based on the size of the job and the things you have at hand. Once you are satisfied that you have removed everything that it is possible to remove with a brush, use your vacuum cleaner with a hand attachment, or alternatively a hand vacuum, to remove any dirty materials that may have come loose that are small and not easily visible.

Next, kill any mold or mildew that has survived with rubbing alcohol and water, two ingredients that you should have no trouble getting your hands on. Mix the rubbing alcohol and water in equal parts in a bucket or other small container. Dampen a rag with the mixture and rub the canvas thoroughly. best vacuum cleaner for hardwood floors 2013You may even pick up particulate that the brush and vacuum routine left behind. fan in laptop broke(You may need to dampen the rag more than once and scrub the tent multiple times, particularly if the mildewed area is large. best way to clean velvet upholsteryHowever, do not apply so much of the mixture that it drips or runs after being applied.)

Finally, rinse out all of the rubbing alcohol with cold water. Allow it to dry for 24 hours. From here, the way to proceed will change depending on what you are cleaning mildew from, in particular its size. If you are cleaning a large object, such as a tent or awning, use water and laundry detergent to clean it by hand, rinsing thoroughly when you are done. However, if the object is small, such as a tent attachment or shoe, you can simply put it in the washing machine to clean it that way. The benefit of using water and rubbing alcohol is that both are readily available, easy to use, and won’t harm you or your canvas. However, if you have a serious mold problem in your popup tent, shoes, or other items, consider these methods. They require a bit more forethought and attention for safety reasons, but they are effective. A mixture of bleach and water in a spray bottle is effective when sprayed on mildew-covered canvas and wiped away with a rag. Be aware that unlike with the rubbing alcohol, you should only let the bleach linger on the canvas for short time before wiping it off along with the mold.

Because there is a time factor involved, you may want to spray and wipe individual sections at a time. WARNING: Bleach may ruin any colored canvas. A mixture of 1 cup TSP, 3 quarts of water, and 1 quart of household bleach makes for a super-powered mildew killer. Just like with the bleach on its own, apply it to a moldy area, let it sit for a few moments, and then wipe it away. WARNING: This cleaner is powerful and even works on grease, but don’t put it on everything. It’s great for canvas and certain painted surfaces, but will stain metal and wood. Both bleach and tri sodium phosphate have caustic properties that can damage eyes and skin, so handle them with care and wear the proper skin and eye protection when using them.Edit ArticleHow to Remove Mildew from Canvas Awnings Three Parts:Getting the Awning ReadyCleaning the AwningPreventing MildewCommunity Q&A Canvas awnings can be found in many places, including over patios, covering storefronts, and even over sitting areas beside a recreational vehicle.

The main purpose of an awning is to protect what's underneath from the elements, especially sun and rain. Because these protective fabrics are exposed to so much water and organic matter, they're susceptible to mildew, which can ruin an awning if it’s not cleaned properly and promptly.To clean mildew from a canvas awning, you'll need a cleaning solution made from water, bleach, and a mild liquid soap. To get the job done, you'll need some supplies and cleaning equipment, including: Tarps or plastic covers Clean cloth or rag Fabric protecting treatment spraySmaller awnings can be removed from their frames so that you can clean them on the ground level. Carefully remove the awing from the arms and frame. When you’ve got the awning down, lay it on a flat, clean surface to clean it. Set up a ladder for larger awnings. Awnings that are too large, too heavy, or too awkward are best left in place. You can clean them where they are, but you will need a ladder to access the top to clean the mildew.

Look for a ladder with a platform at the top that will hold your cleaning supplies. If you have access to a cherry picker or other lift device, you can use those as well.This is especially important if you're going to be cleaning the awning in place, because you don’t want to splash cleaning solution onto nearby items. Cover the area under and around the awning with tarps or plastic sheets. Be particularly careful about covering things like plants, furniture, grass, decorations, carpets, and fabrics. Brush off dirt and organic debris. Before you start cleaning off the mildew, use a broom to clean off any dirt, leaves, sticks, twigs, cobwebs, or other organic materials that have accumulated on the awning. Leaving organic matter on your awning for an extended period can lead to damage, because the matter will cause deterioration to the fabric as it rots. Identify mildew on an awning. Awnings do require regular cleaning, but mildew demands a different kind of cleaning solution and more elbow grease.

Mildew is a type of fungus that’s similar to mold. On an awning, it will likely appear as gray or white spots, and will look like a powder. You can simply use a regular cleaner if your awning doesn’t have mildew. Hose down the awning. To get the best results from your cleaning efforts, start by hosing down the awing so it’s completely wet. This will make the cleaning solution easier to spread, and the mildew easier to remove. Mix your cleaning solution. To remove mildew from a canvas awning, you'll need a cleaning solution made with 1 cup (237 ml) bleach, ¼ cup (59 ml) of mild liquid soap, and 1 gallon (3.8 L) of cool water.[7] If you need more cleaning solution, simply double or triple all the quantities. Mild liquid soaps include laundry soaps that are designed for sensitive skin, babies, or delicate fabrics. Do not use chlorine bleach on canvas, as this can damage the fabric. For colored awnings, use a color safe bleach. It’s also a good idea to test a patch of the cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area to test for color fastness.

Place some cleaning solution on a small patch of the top side of the awning and let it sit for 20 minutes before rinsing and checking for discoloration. Soak the awing in cleaning solution. Dip the clean cloth into the cleaning solution and spread the cleaner all over the awning. Re-dip the cloth as necessary so that cleaning solution reaches every inch of the fabric, otherwise you might miss some of the mildew. Once the entire surface of the awning has been soaked with cleaner, let it sit for about 15 minutes. This will give the cleaner time to soak into the fabric and kill the mildew.When the cleaning solution has had time to soak in, take the soft-bristled brush and scrub the top side of the fabric. Use a vigorous circular motion to generate suds. Go over every inch of the awning to scrub away all the mildew. If the cleaning solution starts to dry anywhere, re-soak the area before you scrub.After scrubbing mildew from the whole awning, rinse it well with clean water from the hose.

Continue rinsing until all the soap and dirt have been washed off. You don’t want to leave any bleach residue on the fabric, or it could cause early deterioration. If there's any mildew left on the awning, repeat the soaking and scrubbing steps until it’s gone. Allow the awning to air dry. Most awnings are designed to dry quickly after the rain, so it won’t take your awning long to air dry. If you cleaned your awning in place, simply let it dry on the frame. If you removed your awning, hang it to dry on a line before reinstalling it. Never dry canvas awnings in a dryer, as they may shrink.When you bought your awning, it would have been treated with a water- and stain-resistant coating to protect it from water and discoloration. But scrubbing it with bleach will have removed this coating, so you'll need to reapply it. Look for a commercial-grade fabric guard that can be sprayed on. Once the awning is dry, spray the fabric guard onto the top side of the awning.

Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for specific instructions. Some awning warranties will be voided if you use silicone sprays, so make sure you check the conditions of your warranty. Return the awning to its frame. Hose down the awning monthly. Keeping your awning mildew-free is much easier than having to clean mildew from it, but there are things you'll have to do monthly and yearly to prevent mildew from growing. Hosing down the awning regularly with clean water will remove dirt, organic matter, and other things that could lead to mildew growth. To hose down the awning, simply set up a ladder and use a garden hose to drench the awning. Pay special attention to remove any twigs, leaves, or other debris that’s built up. Once you soak the awning, let it air dry.To clean your awning for annual maintenance, the process is the same as for removing mildew, but you don’t use bleach in the cleaning solution. This will remove pollutants, organic matter, dirt, and other contaminants.