It’s essential to keep up with the maintenance and cleaning of your vinyl siding; without proper care, the elements (both man-made and natural) can permanently damage your siding. Just like any outdoor product, even low-maintenance siding needs some occasional attention.
Our Trade Secrets Revealed!
Simply follow the cleaning and maintenance tips below and your insect-proof fade-resistant vinyl siding will always like brand new! Just a day’s work, and a little elbow grease, will go a long way in enhancing your home’s curb appeal.
If you’ve chosen vinyl siding for your house you’ve got an easy-to-clean option, especially if you use high-quality siding. Being VSI (Vinyl Siding Institute) Certified, we are trained on the best ways to clean vinyl siding. Here is our insider Trade Secrets Shh!!! right from the factory to you.
Yep, that’s how we roll.
Here are a couple of ways to tackle the buildup on your siding:
Tip #1: Spot Clean Au Natural
For best results, clean your siding on an overcast cool day and only wash small areas at a time. This will allow the wet cleaning solution to be in contact with the siding for a short period of time (around 3 minutes) then wash before it has a chance to dry.
For an all-natural cleaner use 70% water and 30% vinegar and use a soft rag or long-handled gentle bristle brush. This will work well on mold or mildew stains that are fairly new and haven’t been set into the siding. If you have clapboard shingles like these, you can use a small soft bristle brush to get into the grooves to keep them stain-free.
Trade Secret: Start at the bottom and work your way up for less streaking.
Tip #2: I Got Mildew! Help!
If you need something a little stronger combine: 1/3 cup powdered detergent + 2/3 cup household cleaner and 1-gallon water.
Trade Secret: Try using a brush that attaches to your garden hose as sometimes just a simple periodic spray of the hose will do the trick!
Tip #3: Bring On The Good Stuff…..
If you still can’t get that hard-to-remove dirt and grime, wipe the siding down with a solution consisting of the following ingredients: 1/3 cup powdered detergent + 2/3 cup household cleaner + 1 quart of laundry bleach.
Trade Secret: Remember not to rub vigorously as this may make a glossy sheen over the finish. Immediately following all washing operations, rinse the entire surface thoroughly with fresh water from a garden hose.
Quiz Time: Is it ok to use a power washer on your vinyl siding?
Answer: No.
The reason is that if you go too close you can ruin the protective coating or worse the panels can come off! Greater concentrations of solvents may also cause damage to the vinyl siding finish. When using powdered detergents, do not use cleaners containing:
- Abrasive particles
- Solvents
- Ammoniated-type cleaners
- Paint removers
As always use safety precautions and protect yourself against contact with solutions.
If you have other questions such as how does heat from reflective light affects siding or which siding options are best for your home, call me at 978-817-7072 or contact us for a quote by clicking here. I look forward to answering all your questions. Remember once a teacher, always a teacher 🙂
Happy cleaning!
Stephanie
