It’s spring, it’s warm, and you’re ready to go on those outdoor chores, but how do you clean the siding on your house properly? There’s more than one method that can work. With these simple tips, you’re sure to succeed.
Vinyl siding is one of the most common external house coverings because it’s easy to maintain, beautiful, and sturdy. Like everything outdoors, it can accumulate dirt, mold, and mildew. If you have small children you may even get the occasional marker drawings or mud splatters. Don’t worry, all of it can be solved with a little TLC.
Related: Siding Side Eye: How to Pick the Best Vinyl Siding for Your Home
Here’s what you’ll need to get started.
Equipment:
- Long-handled soft bristle brush
- Gentle cleanser
- Soft cloths
- Bucket
- Sponge
Picking Your Cleaner
Your cleaner can be as simple as a solution of 3 parts vinegar to 7 parts water. You can also use one-third of a cup of powdered laundry detergent in a gallon of water, or a specially formulated vinyl cleaner. If you find there are particularly challenging stains, indoor cleaning solutions like Windex, Fantastik, or Murphy’s Oil Soap can help you remove those spots.
If you’re worried about keeping your landscaping pristine, you can use oxygen bleach diluted in water to clean your siding to keep your plants green and happy.
You don’t want to use abrasives like steel wool or powerful chemicals like undiluted bleach, furniture polish, or nail polish remover. These products could damage your siding.
Clean the Siding
Once you’ve assembled your supplies and a good playlist of music to listen to, you’re going to want to start from the bottom of your house and work up. Clean each area and make sure to rinse off any soap residue before you move on to the next section.
For particularly stubborn spots you can use non-abrasive bathroom tub cleaners, or diluted bleach solution. Make sure to never mix ammonia and bleach-based cleansers.
Power Washing Your Siding
You can power wash your siding, but you will need to check the manufacturer’s instructions and follow them. Some siding products do not recommend power washing. Use a lower pressure setting, make sure to keep the wand at a right angle to the siding, and avoid all plumbing, windows, doors, and electrical wiring.
No matter which method you choose to clean your siding, it’s simple to keep your vinyl siding looking like new. So enjoy some music and get to work!
About Weather Vane Roofing
We provide roofing, siding, insulation, windows and gutters. Making your house beautiful and efficient is our main goal. We use the latest in technology and products to provide eco-friendly and cost effective solutions for your home and business. With locations in Lansing, Owosso, and Brighton/Howell we are Mid-Michigan’s roofing experts. Let us transform your house into a home.
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