How to clean vinyl siding on my house?

Answer 1

Cleaning Vinyl
Cleaning vinyl siding is a snap with the right tools. If your siding isn't in need of scrubbing, spraying it with a hose can wash away the dirt and grime that has accumulated throughout the year. If you need a cleaning solvent, some ordinary dish soap or laundry detergent mixed with water will do the trick. Where there are troubled areas, such as mildew, a mild solution of 1 quart of bleach, ¾ gallons of water and a small amount of detergent. Scrub the areas with a soft-bristled, long-handled brush.

If scrubbing with a brush is going to be too much work, you can wash your siding with a power washer, which can be rented at your local home improvement store or other equipment rental business. Most homes can be pressure washed with a 2200 psi or higher washer.

To wash, follow these simple steps:

Turn off all power to the outside lights that may get wet.
Ensure that all your windows are closed and spray away from doors and windows.
If you have shrubbery or flowers below, make sure you cover them with plastic so no cleaning solution drips on them.
Start at the top and work your way down.
Be sure to rinse your cleaning solution off the siding before it dries.

(also see our vinyl siding guide)

Answer 2

Spray your house down first with just a regular garden hose, then rent a power washer and put a mix of liquid dish soap and vinegar or detergent soap and vinegar. After you spray the house down go back over it with the hose again you should have clean vinyl siding!

Answer 3

you never power wash a house with vinyl siding. first vinyl siding is only a cladding. when you power wash vinyl siding you are forcing water behind the siding. you are forcing water where it doesnt belong. you will get water behind vinyl siding in a regular rain storm but at a very slow pace which if your home was prepared properly before siding will hold up to this with no problem. but house wrap was not designed to with stand the pressure of a power washer. Cleaning

How do I wash vinyl siding?

Wash vinyl siding with a soft cloth or ordinary long-handled, soft bristle brush. For textured surfaces, use only a soft bristle brush to keep the grooves in the texture stain-free. For best results, start at the bottom of the house and work up and rinse the cleaning solution completely before it dries. If your house has brick facing, cover the brick so that it is not affected by the runoff.


How do I remove mold and mildew?

Small spots of mold and mildew can be handled with cleaners such as Fantastik® or Windex®. For larger sections, a solution of vinegar (30%) and water (70%) has proven successful. Alternatively, you also could try the following solution: 1/3 cup (2 2/3 ounces) powdered laundry detergent (e.g., Tide®, Fab®, or equivalent), 2/3 cup (5 1/3 ounces) powdered household cleaner (e.g., **** & Span®, Soilax®, or equivalent), 1 quart (32 fluid ounces) liquid laundry bleach, and 1 gallon (128 fluid ounces) of water.

What types of cleaners should I use for other stains?

A list of commonly accepted cleaners is provided in the box below. Be sure to spot check any general or stain specific cleaner before using it on a large section of siding. After removing the stain, rinse thoroughly with water. Do not use cleaners containing organic solvents, undiluted chlorine bleach, liquid grease remover, nail polish remover, or furniture polish or cleaners. They can affect the surface of the siding.



Vinyl Siding Cleaners

General cleaners (e.g., Simple Green®, Nice & Easy®, Armor All®, etc.) can be used to clean dirt, bird droppings, and spider webs. Stain-specific cleaners are listed below. Rinse all cleaners with water before they dry.

Stain


Cleaners*

Bubble Gum


Fantastik®, Murphy Oil Soap®, solution of vinegar (30%), water (70%) and Windex®

Crayon


Lestoil®

DAP (oil-based caulk)


Fantastik®

Felt-tip Pen


Fantastik®, water-based cleaners

Grass


Fantastik®, Lysol®, Murphy Oil Soap®, Windex®

Lithium (car) Grease


Fantastik®, Lestoil®, Murphy Oil Soap®, Windex®

Motor Oil


Fantastik®, Lysol®, Murphy Oil Soap®, Windex®

Paint


Brillo® Pad, Soft Scrub®

Pencil


Soft Scrub®

Rust


Fantastik®, Murphy Oil Soap®, Windex®

Tar


Soft Scrub®

Top Soil


Fantastik®, Lestoil®, Murphy Oil Soap®

*Cleaning Materials are listed in alphabetical order.
*SPI nor VSI do not endorse products or processes and makes no warranties for the products referenced herein. Reference to proprietary names is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to imply that there are not equally effective alternatives.

Answer 4

Rent a good spray washer and buy some soap for it.
OR
Get a ladder and an appropriate brush and bucket of water with soap and have at it.

Answer 5

Power Washer all the way

Answer 6

Rent a power washer.

Answer 7

A broom, a bucket, some dish soap and a garden hose.

Answer 8

local hardware stores also sell a concentrate cleaner in a bottle that will hook up to you hose for cleaning siding.

Answer 9

You can buy soap/spray things that you hook up to your garden hose at your local Home Depot.

Answer 10

Take them off and put them in a dish washer.