An awning adds a nice touch to any food truck. Not only is it decorative, they are also functional. Available in a range of styles, colors and materials, awnings provide your customers shade. They can easily complement the wrap of your truck, making it look even more appealing. That’s precisely why you will find more of them on more food trucks these days.
But of course, you will need to take good care of your awning. It’s not good if there are cracks in the metal, or if the canvas looks dirty. Your awning won’t look good, and it will almost surely make your mobile food business less attractive. Most importantly, it won’t serve its purpose. Parts could even come off and cause an injury, particularly if you have a metal awning.
It’s essential that you maintain your food truck awning properly. Regular care and maintenance will keep it looking new and it will work properly for a long time.
Basic Awning Care
Most retractable awnings are self-storing, so they require little attention. Nevertheless, exposure to the elements has consequences, which may limit their use. Pay attention to extreme weather, along with proper care and handling, awnings can last practically forever.
A retractable awning should not be used for anything but a sunshade. It will not protect vendors from wind, rain or snow. Awnings should always be retracted completely in inclement weather to avoid these problems:
- Puddles of water that can stretch the fabric. While we don’t recommended to be use awnings in rainy weather, if you do, the pitch must be steep enough for the water to run off.
- Damage to the fabric or retractable arms can be caused by winds above 20 mph.
- Motor damage caused by retracting a wet awning after the fabric has frozen.
- Mildew that forms after retracting a wet and dirty awning.
Simple Maintenance Tips
Awning maintenance begins with looking for signs of damage. Look for bent frames, rusting and dents. Also, schedule regular cleaning days. You can use a water solution and mild soap for this. Try to use just lukewarm or cold water for the cleaning. Get rid of any debris that might be there while you are cleaning.
- There could be stains on from bird droppings. Treat them as soon as you can because it will be easier to remove the stains if you are cleaning right away.
- Use a broom or stiff brush to remove dirt buildup.
- Remove in the winter if you can, particularly if it snows in your area.
- Clean it thoroughly before storing. There could be mildew growth if there is any dirt on it.
- Although it is not necessary, your awning hardware (moving parts) may be lubricated once a year. A dry silicone spray lubricant is best to maintain optimal, quiet operation. Applying a bit of lubricant the hardware usually eliminates the unwanted noises. Avoid spraying any lubricant on the fabric.
Products To Use For Tough Stains
- Bird Droppings – Dish soap, Greased Lightning, Clean Rite Purple Power
- Mildew – Bleach and dish soap
- Oil – Acetone 100%
- Paint – Paint remover, oil or grease remover
- Tree Sap – Turpentine 100%, dish soap
RELATED:Â Developing Designs For Food Truck Awnings That Work
The Bottom Line
If you have an awning on your food truck, it is an absolute must to keep up on it’s maintenance. The maintenance isn’t really difficult, and you should be able to do it yourself easily.
Do you have an awning on your food truck? Do you have any additional tips to keep food truck awnings working properly? Share your thoughts on this topic in the comment section or social media. Facebook | Twitter
