How do I clean, roll and store a PVC banner so it doesn't crack?

What is a PVC banner?

A PVC banner (often called a vinyl banner) is a polyester fabric coated in PVC and printed on one face. It's tough, waterproof and made to be stretched tight outdoors, on a fence, a wall, between poles or across the frame of a café barrier. We work with you to supply PVC banners, and the panels on our café barriers are printed on outdoor banner vinyl too.

Why do PVC banners crack?

Often because they're folded. PVC banner material is made to be used tautly stretched, and one banner material maker warns that repeated folding or creasing can cause premature damage. A fold puts a sharp crease through the coating and the print, and it's along those creases that the damage starts.

Dirt and damp do the rest. Grit picked up on a dirty banner can scratch the print, and one maker of PVC-coated fabric says to dry every surface thoroughly before packing it away and to store it in a dry, clean, ventilated room.

The good news: a banner that's cleaned, dried and rolled, not folded, is in far better shape for the next event.

Steps to clean, roll and store a PVC banner

1. Take the banner down carefully. Undo every tie or bungee, and lower it onto a clean, flat surface. Don't drag the printed face across paving, gravel or the ground.

2. Brush off loose dirt. Use a soft brush or a dry cloth on both sides, so grit doesn't scratch the print when you wash it.

3. Wash it gently. Mix a mild soap or detergent with clean water, and wipe the banner with a soft cloth or a very soft brush, working from the top down. Test the mix on a small corner first.

IMPORTANT: No solvents, scourers, steel wool or metal brushes, and no pressure washer. Harsh chemicals, abrasive tools and power washing can damage the surface of the banner and shorten its life.

4. Rinse it with clean water so no soap is left to dry on the surface.

5. Dry it completely. Hang the banner up or lay it out in the shade and let it air dry, or wipe it dry with a microfibre cloth. Check the hems and around the eyelets, where water hides.

Note: Never roll or pack a banner while it's damp, even if you're in a hurry at pack-down. If you have to, unroll it to dry as soon as you get back.

6. Roll it, don't fold it. Lay a sturdy cardboard tube along one short end, and roll the banner around it evenly with no wrinkles. A wide tube gives a gentler curve than rolling the banner tight on itself.

7. Secure the roll. Hold it with a soft strap or a couple of loose ties. Don't use tape on the printed face, and don't pull the ties tight enough to crease it.

8. Store it somewhere cool, dry and dust-free, out of direct sun and away from heat, so not on the back shelf of a car or against a hot wall. Lay the roll flat on a shelf, or hang it level from a rod through the tube, with nothing heavy on top.

9. Finally, before the next event, unroll the banner and check it over for cracks, torn eyelets and marks, so there are no surprises on the day, and you're done!

For more on agreeing when banners and signage come down if the wind gets up, see our guide on exhibiting at an outdoor event. Cleaning a pull-up banner instead? Our pull-up banner fix-it guide covers that.