How To Extend The Life of Fabric Signs & Banners

colorful banners hanging on the side of a building

Best Practices for Extending the Life of
Fabric Signs and Banners

Knowing how to take proper care of custom-printed fabric signs and banners benefits both sign and banner creators and their end users. In addition to saving the end user money, taking proper care to store, clean, and repair fabric signs and banners ensures they last as long as possible and maintain their integrity and look throughout their life and use.

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Popular Uses of Fabric Signs and Banners

Almost every industry makes use of fabric signs and banners. Utilized for a wide variety of commercial and high-end purposes, many fabric signs and banners are employed to assist in marketing efforts — think: trade show banners, outdoor signs announcing the opening of a new business, etc. — but countless more uses exist, including:

  • Signage
  • P.O.S
  • Hanging Banners
  • Pole Banners
  • Banners
  • And more

Regardless of what your clients need them for, educating the end user on how to best take care of their custom fabric banners and signs will reflect well on your work for years to come. While it’s true that some custom-printed signs and banners may only be needed for a short time, for those that are intended for long-term use, here are best practices for making sure they last and look great for as long as possible.

Basics of Care for Custom-Printed
Fabric Signs and Banners

When it comes to basic care to extend the life and look of fabric signs and banners, there are a handful of agreed-upon practices that will benefit signs and banners used both indoors and outdoors.

  • Keep Banners and Signs Taut
  • Keep Banners and Signs Clean

Caring for Indoor Vs. Outdoor
Fabric Signs and Banners

It’s important to realize that where fabric signs and banners are hung, placed, and utilized will have an outsized effect on how effective long-term, proper care will be. Indoor fabric banners and signs, if hung, cleaned, and stored properly, can last for decades without visible degradation, because indoor signs and banners are not exposed to the elements (e.g. UV rays, rain, ocean spray, snow and ice, temperature fluctuations, etc.) at all.

Outdoor fabric banners and signs can still last and maintain their look, but even more so than with indoor signs, keeping them clean must be a priority. However, fabric choice is probably the most important aspect of extending the life of an outdoor sign or banner. If you are designing and creating custom-printed banners and signs that will be used outside, consider using Sunbrella fabric.

  • The Benefits of Sunbrella for Outside Signs and Banners

How to Clean Fabric Banners and Signs

Knowing what kind of cleaner to use and when to use it can help ensure performance fabric lasts longer and looks great, and fabric signs and banners are no exception. However, with most fabric signs and banners, a simple approach to maintaining cleanliness can be taken, so long as it’s regularly performed.

Using a soft-bristle brush, a little dish soap, and clean water, go over the surface of your sign or banner. Be sure to be gentle and thorough and to keep your water clean throughout the process, and don’t forget the back of the sign either!

If for some reason, this approach fails to clear your fabric banner or sign of dirt or grit, Trican carries a number of cleaning products that can be employed.

In general, regular cleaning with water, a mild detergent, and a soft-bristle brush should keep both indoor and outdoor signs and banners in excellent condition.

Proper Storage for Signs and Banners
When Not in Use

For signs and banners that are only used seasonally or on occasion, proper storage can help in extending use. To store fabric banners and signs, be sure to clean the sign — front and back and allow the sign to dry completely. Storing a banner with any moisture present will likely result in mildew, discoloration, and overall deterioration of fabric.

Be sure to then roll the fabric sign up rather than fold it. Folding can lead to creases that can be difficult to get out, and sometimes, ink can transfer. Once the fabric has been rolled up, store it in a container that will keep it free of dust in a climate-controlled environment that won’t fluctuate too much beyond 70 degrees.

Repairing Signs and Banners

Regardless of the care you take with your indoor and outdoor signs and banners, a tear or hole might still develop. When this happens, you have some options.

Patching a hole in a fabric sign or banner will work best if you’re able to match the patch fabric and thread to the sign fabric and thread. If you don’t have access to these see below options.

Extending the life of fabric signs and banners is not only possible; it’s relatively easy. Pass these best practices on to your clients, and your work will look stunning for years to come.

Final Notes

Disclaimer:

The purpose of this guide is to give fabricators some general guidelines and product information.

This guide should not be considered as the sole source of information on awnings and should not be considered as advice or instructions on how to build awnings. This guide is strictly informational.

Copyright 2023 Trican Corp. All rights reserved.