Cleaning Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding requires much less maintenance than wood siding, and although vinyl siding is easy to care for, vinyl siding still requires annual cleaning if you want your vinyl siding to look as good as possible. Vinyl siding naturally becomes dirty from wind, rain, birds, and sometimes mold. Cleaning your vinyl siding annually will keep it looking bright and as clean as the day it was new. Take the time to clean the vinyl siding on your home and your vinyl siding will appear like new for many years to come.

The following information provides tips and suggestions for cleaning vinyl siding. You’ll also find valuable tips and suggestions for removing specific stains on vinyl siding. Cleaning vinyl siding is inexpensive, and well worth the effort. Keeping your vinyl siding clean will help preserve its beauty, and cleaning your vinyl siding annually will help your home increase in value and appeal year after year.

General Cleaning

For vinyl siding that isn’t exceptionally dirty, the best vinyl siding cleaning solution is a simple mixture of mild liquid soap and water. Dishwashing liquid is the best type of soap to use because it isn’t harsh, it contains degreaser, and it won’t harm plants, bushes, or wildlife. Simply put about 1/8 cup of mild dishwashing liquid in a three-gallon bucket, and fill the bucket with warm water. Use more or less dishwashing detergent depending on the hardness of your water.

A single story vinyl-sided home is very easy to clean because in most cases, all of the vinyl siding can be easily reached from the ground. First rinse your vinyl siding using a garden hose attached to a nozzle, and scrub it with a long-handled soft brush. Long-handled brushes designed for washing cars or trucks are perfect for cleaning vinyl siding because they are soft and won’t scratch. Begin soaking the brush and scrubbing your vinyl siding from the bottom up. Doing so will help keep the vinyl siding from soaking up less soap, thus preventing streaking. Completely scrub one section of vinyl siding at a time, and rinse each section before moving onto the next.