Vinyl Siding Cleaning: All You Need To Know To Make It Like New!

Vinyl siding for your home is a great option to make your home neat, beautiful, and practical. This home decoration does not require much time for maintenance and is excellent and economical. However, even the most easy-to-use and maintenance-free items can wear out over time and require periodic maintenance.

In our article, we will tell you how you can clean vinyl siding, how to do it in a way that does not damage the surface of your house, and how you can make your washing fluid. You will also learn how to clean your home without special equipment and specific knowledge and skills.

How to Clean Vinyl Siding

You should clean vinyl siding at least once a year, although twice a year is ideal. The best time to clean the siding on the house is in the spring before pollen season gets underway. However, you can clean your siding at any time of year. 

There are a few different ways that you can clean outside of the house: 

• One option is to use a pressure washer with a low-pressure setting and an attachment specifically designed for cleaning vinyl siding. 
• Another option is to use a garden hose with a spray attachment. If you go this way, be sure to use a cleaner specifically designed for vinyl siding. You can find these cleaners at most home improvement stores. 
• The most gentle option would be to use a brush to apply the washing solution and rinse with water. This method will help you avoid damaging the surface of your vinyl siding.

Remember! If you decide to use a pressure washer, you need to be extremely careful as this method can damage the surface of the vinyl siding; for a successful washing, set your device to limited pressure so that there is no strong jet of water.

Equipment you’ll need.

Step 1: Wet the Siding

Using your garden hose, wet the area of the vinyl siding that you will be cleaning. This will help to loosen any dirt or grime on the surface.

Step 2: Mix Your Cleaner

Mix a solution of warm water and an active component in your bucket. Be sure to use a gentle detergent or soap to avoid damaging the vinyl siding. If you are unsure what kind of agent to use, you can always contact your vinyl siding manufacturer for recommendations.

But if you don’t want to use a DIY cleaner, you can buy a specific one in-store.

Step 3: Scrub the Siding

Using your soft-bristled brush, scrub the soapy solution onto the wet vinyl siding in small areas. Work from top to bottom and frequently rinse with your garden hose to avoid streaking. Be sure to pay extra attention to areas that seem especially dirty or stained.

Step 4: Rinse Thoroughly

Once you have scrubbed the entire area of vinyl siding that you wish to clean, rinse it thoroughly with your garden hose until you have removed all soap residue. Be sure to inspect your work as you need to ensure that you haven’t missed any spots.

It’s important to note that you should never use all your power and pressure while washing your vinyl siding, as this can damage it. If your vinyl siding is extremely dirty or stained, you may need to repeat these steps until it is clean. Regular cleaning will help maintain the beauty of your vinyl siding and prevent dirt and grime from building up over time. 

Why Should One Clean Vinyl Siding?

Most people think that vinyl siding is a low-maintenance exterior cladding material. While it is true that vinyl siding does not require the same level of care as other materials, such as wood, it still needs to be cleaned regularly. 

Vinyl siding can accumulate many types of dirt and grime over time, including pollen, dust, mold, or mildew. Not only does this make your home look dirty, but it can also damage the siding itself long-term. To avoid this, you need to clean vinyl siding regularly and do it properly. 

How to Make Vinyl Siding Cleaner

So, to clean the siding on the house, you need a cleaner. You can buy a special fluid in the store or make it yourself. Making a siding cleaner is easy enough, and you can use ingredients found in almost every home.

Here are some of the best home cleaner options for you:

1. Mix water and vinegar in the following proportions – 70/30, accordingly. Such a tool will help to effectively deal with light stains of mold and mildew.
2. You can make another strong detergent option by mixing 1/3 cup laundry detergent, 2/3 household cleaner, and one-quart liquid bleach. You should mix all of this solution to a gallon of water.
3. You can also use regular household cleaners, which you can buy at almost any store. However, if you are afraid that they may damage the siding paint or the surface, you can use more water to dilute the active agent.

What Not to Do and What to Pay Attention To

So, now it’s time to clean your house, but to do it right and get a good result, you need to remember some rules. Here they are:

1. Do not use undiluted chlorine bleach, liquid grease remover, nail polish, or furniture cleaners on vinyl siding.
2. When cleaning siding, please pay special attention to how you do it. Your movements should be as gentle as possible, and the cleaning tool should be soft. Divide your siding into sections and slowly work through each section for a better result.
3. When using vinegar to clean your vinyl siding, always dilute it with plenty of water. Vinegar is a fairly aggressive cleaner; if misused, you can damage your home’s surface.

How to Take Care of Plants When Cleaning Vinyl Siding?

Plants, like any other living organisms, do not tolerate aggressive chemicals. Although plants cannot tell you that you are hurting them when you douse them with chemicals, they can show the result by withering. Some plants may be more chemical resistant, while others are less. Therefore, before you use your best way to clean vinyl siding, you should take care of your flowers and bushes near the house in advance. 

For this, you have several options:

1. Choose the right plants. Some plants are more resistant to damage from cleaners and chemicals than others. When selecting plants near your vinyl siding, choose those known to be tough and resilient. Some examples include ivy, ferns, and impatiens.
2. Prepare the area. Before you begin cleaning, make sure to cover your plants with tarpaulin.
3. Protect the plant roots. The roots of your plants are especially vulnerable to damage from cleaners and chemicals.

Taking care of your plants is essential when cleaning vinyl siding. Following these simple tips can help ensure that your plants stay healthy and strong during the cleaning process!

Is Сleaning Vinyl Siding Dangerous for Your Pets?

When it comes to cleaning vinyl siding, the safety of both you and those around you is an important consideration. If this procedure can be perfectly safe for your body since you use protective gloves and a mask to protect your face, the safety of your pet remains in question.

Pets, especially dogs, love to get involved in what the owner does, so you’re more likely to run into trouble when cleaning your vinyl siding if you have a pet. Your dog will most likely constantly crawl towards you, jump into the stream of water, lick the chemicals, and may even throw you down the stairs.

Here are some tips to keep your pet safe while cleaning your siding:

1. If you have the opportunity, keep your dog away from the work area all day. Leave it at home.
2. If you don’t want to keep your dog at home, you can tie it up on a chain and not let go until you’re done and all the chemicals are dry.
3. If you decide not to restrain the dog, you need to ensure that it does not get under the high-pressure jet while vinyl siding is washing, as this can cause injury to it. Also, make sure that the dog does not taste the chemicals, as this will lead to poisoning.
4. It’s also important to make sure your pet doesn’t bring chemicals home. So, during work, the animal will definitely walk on the ground and bring dangerous substances into the house. Therefore, after siding power wash, be sure to bathe your animal.

By following these simple rules, you can protect your animal from danger, and yourself from unnecessary expenses for a veterinarian.

Conclusion

As a result, you now know the best way to clean vinyl siding. Remember, the key is to be careful when washing, use the right cleaners for your siding at home and think ahead about taking care of your flowers and shrubs so chemicals can’t harm them.

Otherwise, siding cleaning is optional and can be completed in a few hours. And also, remember that the number of procedures per year should be no more than two if your siding does not get so dirty in a short period.

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