How do I Clean Vinyl Siding

So how do I clean vinyl siding? There are basically two choices when it comes to cleaning vinyl siding. You can either use a power washer or you can use a soft bristle brush and some elbow grease. If you want to use a power washer see my article on “Pressure Washing Vinyl Siding”. If you do not have a power washer, nor want to rent one then pull out the hose, bucket, brush, dish detergent and some warm water. As an alternative to the dish detergent you can also use a specially formulated vinyl siding cleaner.

Vinyl siding cleaning begins with hosing down all of the shrubs around the house to protect them from the vinyl cleaning solution or detergent. For added protection you can also lay drop clothes over the shrubs. Once you have prepared your work area, rinse the vinyl siding with a hose and nozzle on the end of it. Make sure, however, when rinsing the vinyl siding, that you aim the water nozzle in a downward direction. When cleaning vinyl siding it is important to not direct the nozzle upwards as water can easily work its way behind the vinyl siding. Due to the fact that not all vinyl siding is installed with a water shield affixed to the exterior home sheathing, water can easily work its way up under the siding if the nozzle is aimed upwards.

Once the water gets underneath the siding it can damage the unprotected wood sheathing and potentially lead to mold and mildew growth.

After rinsing the vinyl siding, use your soft bristle brush, preferably on a 4-5 foot pole, and your bucket of warm vinyl cleaning solution to scrub a section of the vinyl siding. Work your way from the bottom of the home siding upwards. Typically limit your scrubbing area to approximately 100-200 square feet of siding before rinsing it with the hose. You do not want the cleaning solution to dry on your siding as this could lead to stains. Continue to work your ways upward on the home siding, alternating between cleaning and rinsing the vinyl siding. You may need to use a ladder to reach the high areas of the home siding.

Also make sure when rinsing the upper levels of the home siding that you rinse the entire wall down to the foundation level. Otherwise you may have loosened dirt and grime from above clinging on the lower levels of the vinyl siding.

Though cleaning vinyl siding is tedious and strenuous work the results can be amazing. It is incredible how dirty vinyl siding can become without ever realizing it. So brighten up the exterior of your home by cleaning your vinyl siding.