Ten tips for packing away your awning in winter

Now it’s Autumn and the weather is getting colder it’s time to start thinking about cleaning your awning and packing it away for winter.

We’ve teamed up with awning manufacturer Isabella to bring you 10 tips for packing away your awning.

Check over your awning before packing it away to make sure there aren’t any broken straps, that the stitching hasn’t become worn or that there aren’t any tears. You can buy repair kits to fix minor faults.
Take a photo of any repairs that need making and any visible blemishes and contact your awning manufacturer’s service department to get it booked in for repair. It’s best to do this in the Autumn rather than leave it until the Spring.
It’s easiest to rinse your awning thoroughly whilst erected and a few days before taking it down, and use a specialist awning cleaner, especially for washing and cleaning the windows. Check out our guide on how to clean your caravan awning.
Then choose a good day with dry weather and not too much wind to take down your awning and make sure it’s clean and completely dry before packing it away.
Before taking down and packing away your awning, remove the curtains, and all the rubber straps around the windows.
Pull up and clean all the awning pegs. Discard any that are broken or bent and order new ones for next season.
Isabella said: “If you want to be extra careful with the removable awning sides and fronts, remove and carefully pack them separately, preferably with sheets in between. The best way is to roll them on a carpet tube, again with sheets in between, then you’ll see how beautiful the windows are in spring.”
For the awning roof, spread it out on the grass, preferably with the inside facing out to protect the outer coating. Fold the front and side panels into the middle of the awning, fold from one side in sections, and finally roll it up from the front, so that the beading is on the outside of the roll.
Store your awning somewhere in a well-ventilated place and a place that is mouse-proof!
Check all frames and poles are clean and make sure you dry them so they’re not put away together wet.