LOOKING AFTER YOUR BANNERS IN WET WEATHER
It’s high summer for us Aussies, so we’re enjoying lots of sunshine and beach time. But there are also high levels of humidity and a good amount of summer rain. This is great for lounging outdoors, because when it gets too hot (and if you’re not in white cotton), you get to cool down and dance in the rain. It’s less ideal for work-place scenarios though. All that moisture can quickly cause mouldy problems, so you need to be extra careful with your car windows.
Draperies are likely to get damaged too, whether they’re curtains, carpets, or promotional banners. If they remain moist for even the shortest duration, they can attract lichen, silverfish, fungi, or even mossy mess. So you want to keep them dry, both in active use and storage. When they’re hanging at an event, it’s a little easier to maintain them. Drape them in a sheltered area, preferably next to a tent or shade. That way, if it suddenly starts to drizzle, you can protect them.
There are scenarios where your banners stay up overnight, sometimes for extended periods. They could be in position for weeks, or even months. So even if they’re under a shade or positioned indoors, they’re still at risk. Lower night-time temperatures, dew, and general humidity make your banners a target. Said banners offer convenient surfaces for condensation. And this repeated exposure to moisture can cause unwanted bio-germ growth.
Clear The Air
Taking excess moisture out of the air will extend the lifespans of your banners. Set the air conditioner on high for twenty minutes to half an hour, especially when you’re leaving for the day, and as soon as you report to duty the next day. You can run it on high when people go for lunch as well. Human occupants may be unable to stand those temperatures, but it will cut down on the potentially damaging water vapour that’s floating around.
Dust your banners regularly. Piled up dirt can weaken the fabric and make it hard to spot small rips and repair them before they get worse. If your banners are waterproof, wipe them with damp cloth dipped in mild detergent or dishwashing liquid, then ‘rinse’ with a cloth wrung out of clean water. If not, vacuum the banners with a brush attachment or a sock over the pipe. After cleaning, use blowers, blow-driers, or an open vacuum hose to ensure they’re completely dry.
This routine applies to banners that are currently mounted, but most of the damage occurs when your banners are ‘off duty’. During those periods, they stay idle and unused for weeks, or even months. Nobody inspects or bothers with them until the next event, and by then, the damage is done. So make it a point to look in on your banners at least once a week. If the room feels musty, take the banners out and hang them in the sun (or at least in the open air).
Quality From The Get-Go
When you initially purchase your banner, find out whether it has UV protection. If not, skip the sun-ning step and drape your banners in a shaded but windy area instead. You can use high-powered fans to ‘create’ wind. Once the banners are completely dry and dusted, put them back in storage. Good vendors will provide carry-cases for your banners, but if not, be sure to buy some. These cases can be zipped nylon or hard-back cases.
In both instances, put silica gel bags inside the carry-case. The bags absorb moisture and nasty smells, so they’ll keep your banners dry. When you’re checking our banners, inspect the locking mechanism on your carry-case to be sure it works well. This prevents rats, rodents, and other small animals from getting into the bag, nibbling , tearing, or soiling your fabric banners.
Zipped bags and velcro are best, because buttons and loops can still let certain bugs and reptiles in. Lizards, spiders, reptiles, and even snakes could sneak into your banner bag, giving you a nasty surprise when you open the bag for your next use or assessment. It’s also helpful to invest in carry-cases with castors. Those little wheels are helpful for transporting heavy banner across distances during events. You’ll swear by them when your allotted parking in 600m from stage.
But in the case of wet weather, your castors can help you quickly move your banners to higher, drier ground when you discover a leak or some other kind of problem in the storeroom. Also, when you clean your banners during routine checks, clean the carry-case as well. It’s counter-productive to keep your banners clean and dry then stuff them back into dank, dirty, dusty bags.
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