If you’re willing to invest a little time and elbow grease, regular cleaning will keep vinyl siding looking great and reduce the likelihood of costly future replacement.
Certain household cleaners can be used safely on vinyl to remove tough dirt and stains including those caused by top soil, grass, oil, rust, crayon, ink and bubble gum. Avoid chlorine bleach, furniture cleaner or other harsh chemicals that could damage vinyl. Keep reading the article below to learn more about Vinyl Siding Cleaner.
Like any other exterior substrate, vinyl siding needs regular cleaning to optimize its appearance and lifespan. If you don’t clean vinyl siding regularly, it will accumulate dirt, grime, oil, jet wash deposits, pollen and organic growth, including mold, mildew and algae. These accumulations not only decrease the appearance of your home’s exterior, but can cause permanent damage to the substrate.
You can purchase cleaning solutions designed for vinyl siding, or you can make your own cleaning solution with water and a mild detergent. Regardless of what type of cleaner you use, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the recommended dilution ratio. Also, be sure to use a soft-bristled brush or rag, especially for textured surfaces. The soft bristle will help to keep the texture’s grooves stain-free and allow you to remove small spots of mold and mildew quickly and easily.
It is also a good idea to use a soft cloth or long-handled, soft-bristled brush for cleaning the more difficult to reach areas of your vinyl siding. This will prevent you from causing any scratches or other types of damage to the vinyl. A garden hose with a spray nozzle is usually sufficient for rinsing off the cleaning solution, but for stubborn dirt or debris, you may want to use a pressure washer at a low setting so that you do not damage the vinyl.
Whether you are using a spray or a soft-bristled brush, be sure to start at the bottom of your house and work your way up. This will prevent streaking and ensure that you rinse away the soap completely before it dries. Also, if your home has brick facing, it is a good idea to cover this with a tarp so that the runoff from the cleaning solution does not discolor it.
Keeping your vinyl siding in pristine condition requires some effort, but the results are well worth it. If you are careful to avoid common mistakes, your cleaning efforts will be successful and your siding will remain in great shape. For more information on how to properly clean your vinyl siding, please check out our blog post: Cleaning Tips for Your Vinyl Siding.
General Household Cleaners
There are a number of cleaning solutions designed specifically for vinyl siding. Some are more effective than others at eliminating stains and grime, but all of them can help to clean a vinyl exterior and keep it looking its best. Often, these cleaners are made from natural ingredients that are less harmful than store-bought cleaning products. They are also more affordable and environmentally friendly. Additionally, many of them can be customized for specific cleaning needs or challenges. For example, a mixture of water and white vinegar can remove light mold and mildew spots, while a solution containing oxygen bleach can eradicate more severe stains from dirt build-up and greasy residue.
It is important to remember that when using any kind of chemical-based cleaner, you must take proper precautions. This may include wearing rubber gloves and safety glasses, as well as securing your ladder and covering any plants or items that could be affected by the cleaning solution. It is also a good idea to rinse the siding thoroughly after applying any cleaner.
In addition to the cleaners that are specifically formulated for vinyl siding, you can use general household cleaners like Fantastik, Murphy’s Oil Soap or Windex to clean mildew, mold and dirt. If your siding has a lot of rust stains, you will need to use a cleaner that is designed to eliminate rust from metal and stone.
Using a long handled brush, dip the brush into your chosen cleaning solution and begin to scrub the surface of the vinyl. You can scrub individual planks or entire sections of the exterior depending on how dirty it is and how much grit is stuck in it. Be sure to re-dip your brush as needed. After you are finished scrubbing, rinse the vinyl with your garden hose, being careful to avoid pointing the spray nozzle directly at the vinyl. This can cause the soapy solution to seep behind the vinyl and cause damage.
If you are unable to get your vinyl exterior completely clean using these DIY methods, hiring a professional power washing service can be an option. A professional can help ensure that the cleaning process is safe and effective, as well as provide you with tips to keep your vinyl clean for the future.
Bleach
Using an ordinary bleach solution, you can effectively kill mold and mildew clinging to vinyl siding. However, a strong concentration of bleach can damage or discolor plants in the yard, and it isn’t safe to use around pets and children. Be sure to water the bleach down to a safe concentration before applying it to your home, and avoid leaving the solution on for more than 24 hours. Alternatively, you can try other EPA-registered disinfectants designed for outdoor use.
Depending on your climate, mildew and mold can quickly grow on dirty vinyl siding. Regular cleanings can help keep them at bay, but if yours is a heavily soiled house or you’ve gone too long between washings, green crud will soon take over and leave your siding looking unappetizing. You can wash your own vinyl siding by hand or use a garden hose attachment with a soft-bristled brush and a bucket of cleaning solution. For a little extra oomph, you can also use a pressure washer.
General household cleaners like Lysol or other brand-name versions are effective vinyl siding cleaners. They can remove tough stains caused by gum, crayon, ink, oil, grease, or even rust from vinyl siding. However, you should avoid cleaners that contain undiluted chlorine bleach or furniture polish and cleaner.
Aside from the grime gathered by dirt and pollen, other pollutants can degrade vinyl siding over time. The most common are algae build-up and a neon green crud that is actually toxic black streaks of organic growth. Regularly washing your vinyl siding helps prevent these streaks from getting worse, but if they do, a local pressure-washing service can offer non-bleach options that are still powerful enough to kill the streaks.
Choosing the right cleaning products for your vinyl siding can be challenging, especially if you’re not familiar with your home’s exterior materials. It’s best to consult a local cleaning professional and ask about their recommendations for the most effective and safe cleaning solutions. Then, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’ve maintained the beauty and value of your home with a quality cleaning job.
Vinegar
The non-toxic vinegar makes an excellent cleaning solution for vinyl siding. Its natural antifungal properties can help diminish mildew stains and it can also remove oil-based stains from the surface of vinyl. You can create a vinegar solution by combining 70 percent white vinegar with 30 percent water, or you can use one gallon of water mixed with a cup of oxygen bleach (this is effective for removing light mold stains and poses no threat to surrounding plants).
Vinegar may be the best option for cleaning vinyl siding if you’re worried about the risk of abrasion and damage from harsh cleaners. It’s also a good choice for removing oily dirt and grease build-up, since it’s effective against a wide variety of stains, including crayon, ink, and bubble gum. It’s best to spray the cleaning solution onto a section of the vinyl, and then scrub it with a soft-bristled brush or sponge. Afterward, rinse the surface of the vinyl and loosened debris thoroughly with a garden hose.
Another great way to clean vinyl siding is by using a pressure washer. This method is effective, but you’ll have to be careful not to overdo it and cause damage. For instance, you’ll want to be cautious about pointing the stream of water directly at areas where there are plumbing connections and windows. Additionally, you’ll want to be sure that your cleaning solution is safe for vinyl – avoid anything with organic solvents, liquid grease remover, undiluted chlorine, or similar chemicals.
In addition to being safer for your home and the environment, it’s also much cheaper to use cleaning solutions made from household ingredients than it is to purchase commercial cleaners or a power washer. In fact, a soft-bristled brush and ordinary soap can do a great job of removing dirt from vinyl siding, and you can save even more money by using your garden hose with a sprayer attachment for your cleaning solution. This allows you to reach hard-to-reach corners and crevices, where dirt tends to accumulate. A hose also makes it easier to quickly rinse away detergent residue before it has a chance to stain or weaken the vinyl.