A Foolproof Guide To Advancing Your Business Career

Caring For That Huge Vinyl Banner

That huge vinyl banner announcing your grand opening, anniversary sale, or even your new name gets exposed to everything in the environment, from harsh sun to heavy rain. The condition of the banner telegraphs to potential customers what your business is like on the inside (if you don't care for this very public banner, how do you treat customers?), so you need to keep the banner in good shape. However, dragging the banner off of your storefront can be a pain. Here are ways to clean the banner without having to take it down:

Electrostatic Cloths

Cleaning the dust off the banner daily does two things. One, it makes the banner look consistently brighter as there's no dirt build-up. Two, it prevents the build-up of dirt that could turn into dark rivulets of mud on days when there's enough rain to wet the dirt but not enough to really wash off the banner.

A quick solution for eye-level banners is to wipe them down with electrostatic cloths. For banners that are high up, get a couple of the mop-style wands that you're supposed to use with the banners. The wands come in several sections that you screw together, and if you get a couple of packages, you can create a double-length wand that should reach a lot of the banner (for really high-up banners, like on skyscrapers, you need professional cleaning services, but for those just up above the door on a one-story strip mall building, you can clean it yourself).

Gentle Mopping

Occasionally you'll need something that's a little stronger than just a dry dust cloth. Take the extended wand from the electrostatic cloths and attach some paper towels to the flat part. Wet the towels with a mild cleaner and gently mop the sign. Of course, if the banner is at eye level, you don't need the wand. But the mild cleaner will help move dirt and mud off the banner.

Roll It, Don't Fold It

When it's finally time to take the banner down and store it, don't fold it -- roll it. Folding it can leave creases in the banner that take a long time to smooth out (if you can smooth them out at all). Sometimes you can't get rid of the creases completely. With rolling, the banner might assume the curled-at-the-corners shape that rolled posters do, but since you normally attach banners at all four corners anyway, that won't prevent the banner from looking good the next time you put it up.

A vinyl banner from a company like Davis Sign Co should last a long time and be good for multiple uses if you take care of it properly. If you have an old banner that's starting to show its age, contact a sign company and get a new, fresh banner made now.