Awning Cleaning: A Niche Service That Can Add Value To Your Existing Window Cleaning Or Pressure Cleaning Business

It's hard to say awning cleaning is a "Niche Market" when the (NRPAC), National Register of Professional Awning Cleaners already exists. It's also fair to say, awning cleaning is in such high demand that you can create a branch of your existing cleaning service to cater to the needs of commercial awning cleaning.

Retail stores around the world are adding awnings to their store fronts and awnings get dirty like any other fabricated surface that is exposed to the elements. Wind, rain, snow, pollution and hard water, make awning cleaning necessary to a business owner on a regular basis, one he or she will need on rotation.

This allows you to setup route work for the cleaning of commercial awnings like you would with any other round in your pressure cleaning or window cleaning business.

It's an easy sell because, businesses can't afford dirty awnings; it looks bad to their customers and the grime, left long enough, can destroy their awning beyond repair.

With this fact in mind, you can sell, not only the service of awning cleaning but, also sell an additional service: awning sealing. Along with awning cleaning tools and chemicals manufactured by company's like Tucker USA, Winsol Laboratories and Sky Clean, these companies also offer awning sealants as well. Just like glass sealants, awning sealants will help protect an awning made of vinyl or other fabrics, helping preserve the material and extending the awning materials life.

Specialized sealants are available depending on what look is desired by the business owner. Sealers, waterproofers, UV protectants and revinylizers, can add the finishing touch to the cleaning process and add value to your business by allowing you to service your customers awning from dirty to clean to shine.

Exterior Awning Cleaning:

To clean an awning, follow the manufactures recommendations on chemical use. Choosing the right cleaner and dilution depends on the type of fabric being cleaned. If you are not sure of the chemicals dilution, start by applying chemical to awning in a tiny "test area" with a Q-tip. Start with a weak mix and strengthen the mix as needed. Like washing your car, if you miss a spot, it will become apparent after the job has been completed, after the rinse has dried. So, make sure to wash every inch of the awning.

Rinse the awning with clean water. Both cleaning and rinsing can be done with a water-fed pole system designed for cleaning awnings. These pole systems allow the employee to clean most awnings from ground level by extending the pole to the desired height.

Some poles reach as high as 45'. Water-fed poles usually come with 2 main water hoses within the pole; one is designed to mix water with a cleaning agent that is fed directly to a nylon type scrub brush at poles end, and the other, is a clear rinse that supplies water to a fan tip sprayer. Clean with the chemical and brush followed by a good, long rinse, are the basics of awning cleaning.

Different rules apply to awning cleaning than window cleaning. Start at the bottom and work up, so as to avoid streaks from the concentrated chemicals running down the awning. This tips was emailed in from Patrick Analore of Razzle Dazzle Window and Awning Cleaning - Orlando, FL

Accessing awnings underbellies may require the use of a pressure washer. Generally the inside of an awning will rinse clean without having to scrub thus, making a pressure washer dialed to a "gentle pressure" with a wide-angle spray tip ideal. Again, rinse from top to bottom removing dirt and dead insects etc... Make sure interior awning lighting electrical is designed for outside use before applying water.

Since water and chemicals will be splashing the ground around your work, you'll want to have the proper attire for the job and you'll want to protect the general public by barricading the job site with "Slippery When Wet" cones or signs and safety tape.

After you've completed a job, you may want to clean any glass that may have been affected by the awning cleaning procedure. Also, rinse and/ or squeegee sidewalks and other surfaces the general public will walk on after you've left the job site.

Accessing awning exteriors may require the use of bucket trucks or man-lifts. Hands-on cleaning may be required for stubborn stains so, make sure to bring a variety of cleaning agents and application tools to the job site ,i.e.. sponges, brushes and nylon scrub pads.

Awning cleaning and sealing can be a profitable addition to your company's list of services. To learn more, feel free to investigate the awning cleaning links provided on this page. Or, take a look at Winsol's maintenance recommedations for awning cleaning. They are an awning cleaning chemical manufacture and have some great tips at this page: http://www.winsol.com/maint.htm

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Andy Engstrom specializes in teaching real people how to start profitable Window Cleaning businesses that make $40,000 to $100,000 (or more) per year. To get instant access to all his most profitable window cleaning business strategies, tools, and resources,