How to Clean Vinyl Siding

A perfect siding can accentuate the appearance of your house. There is a wide range of materials used for siding, but nowadays vinyl is preferred to the other alternatives, like, wood, steel, stone, brick, concrete, etc. Like any other siding material, vinyl can also get accumulated with dust and grime, which can eventually attract mold and algae. This can give a dull and dirty look to the siding but the advantage of vinyl is that it can be cleaned, to revive that new shining look. Vinyl siding has to be cleaned at least once a year to maintain its beauty. Cleaning vinyl siding is not a difficult task. You can take the help of a professional in this work or do it yourself . If you want to undertake this work personally, then here are some tips for cleaning vinyl sidings.

Steps Before Cleaning

Before planning to clean the siding, make sure that the material used is vinyl and not painted wood or anything like that, because the cleaning process varies with different siding materials. The next step is to collect the tools and cleansers needed for cleaning. The following preparations need to be done before starting the work.

• If there are any light fixtures or electrical outlets on the outside, cover them with plastic sheets and fix with adhesive tape. Turn off the power supply to these fixtures and outlets.
• Plants and other landscaping in the vicinity of the house can get damaged with the solutions used for cleaning, so cover them with plastic.
• Remove the outdoor furniture and toys from the area.
• All the windows and doors should be closed before cleaning.
• If there are any metallic fixtures or articles made of etched glass, you should cover them with plastic to avoid damage by the cleaning solutions.
• If you suspect the growth of mold or mildew, it should be checked with bleach. Presence of mold and mildew can be sensed from the occurrence of dark spots. If there are any, put some drops of bleach on it. Dirt will retain the dark color, while mold will change its color to white. You can remove mildew by cleaning with a solution of five parts water and one part oxygen bleach.

Actual Cleaning Process

The task of cleaning vinyl sidings can be accomplished either manually or with the help of machines. For the first option, all you need is a ladder, a garden hose, a bucket of water, dish wash liquid, a long-handled and soft-bristled brush, brooms and towels. If you want to take some mechanical help, you can rent a pressure washer for the cleaning process.

You can start cleaning by spraying water on the vinyl siding with your garden hose. The cleaning process should start from the top. The water pressure should be medium, because high pressure water can penetrate the vinyl siding and cause damage to the walls, if they are not waterproof. Always make sure that you are spraying water with the hose pointing towards the ground. If the hose is positioned with an upward nozzle, water can enter through the seams. A pressure cleaner can help you in spraying the water or soap solution.

• Water spray can remove some dust and dirt on the sidings, but it may not be sufficient for removal of stubborn grime.
• Make a solution of dish wash liquid and water for cleaning. You can substitute dish wash liquid with laundry detergent. Add 1/3 cup of liquid dish soap to one gallon of water.
• Apply the soap solution to the sidings using a soft-bristled brush. Start from the top and scrub the sidings with the brush dipped in soap solution.
• If you have somebody to help, you can ask him/her to spray the soap solution with a hand-pump garden sprayer, while you do the scrubbing. Scrub the dirt and other particles accumulated on the sidings.
• Once the scrubbing is over, start spraying water from the top to the bottom. Don't let any soap particles remain on the sidings, as it may leave spots.
• You can repeat the process, if the sidings don't look clean. After cleaning, let the sidings dry on their own.

If you want to add some chemicals for cleaning, it is always better to use oxygen bleach than chlorine bleach, as the latter can be harmful for nearby plants and trees.