Instead buy a solvent made for aluminum at the hardware store and a soft brush to scrub away the gunk.
Cleaning and painting metal awnings.
If the dirt is heavier clean your aluminum awning with mild detergent dish soap or household cleaner mixed with water.
For aluminum you will really want to clean the metal well and then apply a primer to get a good stick.
Depending on your awning material you will need to use different cleaning solutions.
This is our q a section for awning painting.
You can use a cloth rag or brush if needed.
1 gallon of water.
My paint isn t sticking.
Don t follow your instincts on this one a power washer can actually damage the awning especially if the aluminum is painted.
If you re not sure if your awning is aluminum try placing a magnet against it.
And while aluminum requires very little maintenance if you don t keep it clean it will begin to show its age.
Apply one coat let dry.
The average cost to paint aluminum siding on a home ranges from 3 125 to 8 300 for a 2500 square foot home but most homeowners report spending about 5 730 cost will vary based on labor paint prices and the condition of the metal.
Painting an aluminum awning is easy once its surface has been properly prepared.
If done correctly painting a metal awning can be a very manageable job.
1 3 cup of detergent.
If rust is visible you can buy rustoleum spray primer and cover entire awning first.
On average this project costs 1 50 to 2 50 per square foot including preparation labor and clean up.
For fixed awnings rollup awnings and retractable awnings made of canvas or outdoor fabrics use a mild laundry detergent and lukewarm water.
If your awnings are too dirty to clean as thoroughly as you d like consider re painting them after cleaning.
Therefore it is important to clean your aluminum awning regularly.
We ve written an entire guide on the best paint for awnings or you can get our top paint pick for aluminum awnings here.
Then use a spray paint for metal i use rustoleum in the color and paint finish gloss matte you choose.
A solution that might meet your needs is the following.
Step 1 prepare a solution of water and powered detergent.
Scrub the awning with a scrub brush.
The project can be completed quickly and is fairly easy to do clean awning thoroughly.
Rinse off the awning with a hose.
Step 2 wipe off any dirt or debris with a wet sponge or cloth.
2 3 cup trisodium phosphate.
An aluminum awning can provide many years of service while still looking good.
Faq painting an aluminum awning.
The next few paragraphs are our faq for cleaning an aluminum awning.
To clean metal awnings use a metal cleaning solvent and water.
You can also use a vinyl or fabric cleaner if you wish.
Clean it well and scrub off all the dirt etc and dry it well.