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Gather your supplies. Remove small awnings. Set up a ladder for larger awnings. Protect the surroundings. Brush off dirt and organic debris.

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To clean mildew from a canvas awning, you'll need a cleaning solution made from water, bleach,or a mild liquid soap. Don't mix bleach with household cleaners, which may cause toxic fumes. To get the job done, you'll need some supplies and cleaning equipment, including: Ladder Broom Tarps or plastic covers Hose Large bucket Clean cloth or rag Soft-bristled brush Fabric protecting treatment spray Smaller 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. 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. 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.