If your home has vinyl siding, you may be wondering how to clean vinyl siding when it looks dirty. Although it’s a durable material, you need the right cleaning solutions for vinyl siding, not to mention the right level of care to keep it in prime condition.
Whether you’re preparing for painting vinyl siding or you simply want your home to look clean and well-maintained, this blog post will help you learn the best methods for cleaning vinyl siding. Pinnacle Home Improvements, a reputable siding contractor, presents these tips to ensure the longevity of your vinyl siding over the years.
Introduction to Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding has some incredible benefits for homes because it’s durable and provides greater energy efficiency for your home, especially when insulation is added in during the installation. It comes in a vast selection of colors and styles that can even imitate the look of much more expensive materials, such as natural stone, brick, or wood siding.
However, vinyl siding isn’t something you can just ignore over the years. As it’s exposed to UV rays from the sun, it can fade. It may also allow moisture in behind the panels if it wasn’t installed correctly, which can cause warping or buckling. In some cases, severe weather can cause damage that will require you to replace impacted panels. Even if nothing major has happened, you should clean it off to keep it looking fresh.
Preparation Steps Before Cleaning Vinyl Siding
In order to avoid damaging your plants, garden, and landscaping, take a moment to cover these items up with a plastic sheet. You should also check to make sure all your windows and doors are fully closed. If you have any leaks, particularly with weatherstripping, make sure they’re covered to prevent water from getting into your home during the cleaning process.
Another thing to do is remove any outdoor furniture or grills to give you a clear shot around the perimeter of your home. Doing so will also prevent injuries caused by stumbling over these objects as well as keep the cleaning solution from damaging them too.
Best Way to Clean Vinyl Siding
Once everything is in place, here’s how you can clean your vinyl siding.
Rinse with a Garden Hose
Start by rinsing off the siding with your garden hose. Attach the spray nozzle to your hose to get effective yet gentle coverage. Some homeowners try power washing vinyl siding, but professionals don’t recommend power washing vinyl because it can cause damage if the pressure is turned too high.
Use a Cleaning Solution
If you have stubborn stains on your polymer siding, you can buy cleaning products designed specifically for this purpose. You can also use a homemade solution made from water and a mild powdered laundry detergent, or water and vinegar. Apply this solution to one small section at a time, working from the bottom upward, which will help you avoid streaking.
Scrub the Siding
Once you’ve applied an appropriate cleaning product, take a soft bristle brush to the area. Even though soft bristle brushes are gentle, it’s possible to cause damage to the siding if you’re too aggressive. Try moving the bristles in a circular motion to lift away algae, dirt, mildew, mold, and grime.
Rinse
Thoroughly rinse it all away from top to bottom, making sure you get all the cleaner off your home. This also prevents dirty water from leaving streaks. You can dab off any excess water with a soft cloth. Take a moment to inspect your work and make sure you haven’t missed a spot. Then mark your calendar to make sure you don’t let this task fall by the wayside again.
Can I Use My Pressure Washer on My Vinyl Siding?
Pressure washers can be used on vinyl siding, but they can cause damage when on the wrong setting or in the wrong hands. Hold the power washer straight in your line of sight and avoid aiming the power washer upward. It takes an expert touch not to damage vinyl or other parts of your home with a pressure washer. If you want to simplify the process, hire a professional who can take care of this task without harming your siding.
What to Use to Clean Vinyl Siding
When it’s time for a house wash, using gentle cleaners is advised for vinyl. If you stay on top of things, you may only need to rinse it off with your house, but if you’ve left it to accumulate mold and mildew, you’ll need something to help it along.
Never use harsh chemicals such as household bleach, undiluted chlorine bleach, nail polish remover, liquid grease remover, or furniture polish, as these solutions can cause damage to your house. Instead, choose organic solvents, dish soap, diluted vinegar, or Simple Green, as they remove mold and mildew effectively, along with other stains, without causing damage to the surface of your siding.
Even with gentle cleansers like soapy water, don’t forget to wear protective clothing. Wear gloves and protective eye gear. It also helps to wear a hat to protect from the sun. As your work on your exterior, don’t forget to take breaks to drink water and stay hydrated while performing this task.
Maintenance Tips Post-Cleaning for Vinyl Siding Products
Vinyl siding maintenance tips are important to follow because they prevent you from having to work harder to uphold the exterior of your house.
Follow Regular Maintenance Routines and Inspections
The best way to care for your siding is to check on it regularly. Walk around the perimeter of your house to check for dirt, mildew, and stains. You should also look for any damage caused by the weather. Taking a proactive approach will mean it’s easier to clean and make any necessary repairs.
Quickly Clean Spills or Stains
Did one of your guests from your backyard barbecue last week accidentally spray ketchup or barbecue sauce on the siding? Don’t let any spills or stains of any kind sit on the siding for long. It will be much easier to clean it away if you tackle it promptly.
Repaint and Repair When Needed
Trying to maintain a house isn’t cheap, but when your siding either needs repair or repainting, don’t wait too long. These things won’t fix themselves, and when you wait, they tend to create larger, more expensive issues than if you’d simply taken care of them first. While the vinyl siding cost per sq ft is affordable, you don’t want to spend that money until it’s time for a full siding replacement.
The Best Way to House Wash Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding may be durable, but it isn’t impervious to dirt, mildew, or stains. You will need to clean it periodically to ensure it doesn’t detract from your home’s curb appeal or suffer damage through neglect.
If you need to replace your siding because your current siding is damaged or aged, vinyl is an excellent material to choose. It’s relatively easy to take care of, especially when you use the right solution to help keep it clean. Is insulated vinyl siding worth it? Absolutely! You can also learn how to hang vinyl siding if you like DIY work, but it’s best to leave this type of work to licensed and insured siding contractors.
Pinnacle Home Improvements can help you improve the exterior of your home through our services. We provide siding replacement, roof replacement, window replacement, and gutter installation to enhance your home and help you fall in love with it all over again. Contact us today to get a free quote on our services and learn more about how simple it’s to care for vinyl siding.
