We’re all so busy keeping the interior of our homes clean it’s easy to forget about the outside. It’s time to give your vinyl siding some TLC! Here are some tips on how to get your home looking shiny clean:
For easier jobs, you can simply use a soft cloth or long-handled soft bristle brush and a cleaning solution. Be sure to rinse the solution before it dries. Tip from Chaotically Creative.
Bob Vila suggests renting a pressure washer for bigger jobs. You can rent one for about $50-$70 per day. Before you unleash a power washer on your siding, check the manufacturer’s recommendations about using a power washer on their product. Some don’t recommend using one.
Use a 25-degree nozzle to get good coverage without being too concentrated and damaging your siding.
Power washers can be, well, POWERFUL. So never use one while standing on a ladder and never spray someone with it.
Image from Bob Vila
If you don’t want to buy or rent a power washer, you can use a kit that attaches to your garden hose. Be aware they tend to be less effective than power washers.
Image from Home Talk.
Before you start spraying, protect electrical fixtures and outlets by covering them with plastic and securing with duct tape. Cover plants that grow along the siding with drop cloths. Move all furniture.
Image from The Paper Shell
Pressure washers or hoses won’t remove mildew, so you should scrub affected areas by hand with a solution of 9 parts water and 1 part bleach, a solution of vinegar and water, Fantastik, or Windex. (Fantastik is good for removing other kind of stains like pen, oil, grease, and soil).
Image from Ask The Builder
Some pressure washers have a soap feed. If yours does, mix a solution of detergent and water and spray the house with that first.
Image from OLX
Rinse with clear water starting at the top and working your way down, sweeping from side to side. Hold the sprayer straight at eye level to clean most effectively.
Image from Popular Mechanics
For light stains, use a 70% water and a 30% white vinegar solution to clean your siding. This tip is from Bob Vila.
