Roofing & Siding > How To: Clean Vinyl Siding Vinyl siding is a durable, versatile, and resilient building material, but it does require some routine care and cleaning. The growing popularity of vinyl siding is indisputable. Indeed, U.S. Census Bureau statistics indicate that vinyl siding has been the leading exterior cladding in the U.S. since 1995. Its popularity shows no sign of waning; in 2011, 33% of new single-family homes sold in the U.S. were sided in the material. Still, that doesn’t mean homeowners know how to clean vinyl siding—and keep it clean. Because it is an exterior product, vinyl siding can accumulate a host of dirt, grime, and stains on account of things like pollen, bird and insect droppings, spider webs and rust. In shady, moist areas, mold and mildew can grow, and vinyl is also vulnerable to discoloring effects from insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. In addition, vinyl siding’s finish may be marred by a number of commonly used household maintenance products, including caulking, driveway sealant, tar, motor oil and paint.

Luckily, cleaning vinyl siding is a fairly easy job, and there are a wide variety of products to help remove typical stains. Read on, and we’ll show you how to clean vinyl siding the right way. According to the Vinyl Siding Institute, the best way is to use a soft cloth or an ordinary long-handled, soft-bristle brush. To prevent streaking, start at the bottom and work up towards the top of the house. When cleaning vinyl siding, remember to thoroughly rinse away any residue as you go. Some good vinyl sider cleaner solutions include: • 70% water, 30% white vinegar makes a great all-purpose vinyl siding cleaner that removes light mold and mildew stains. • For a stronger solution, mix together one-third cup powdered laundry detergent, two-thirds cup powdered household cleaner, one quart liquid laundry bleach and one gallon of water. • If you are concerned about landscaping, use a vinyl siding cleaner solution comprised of one gallon of water mixed with one cup oxygen bleach in a bucket.

The oxygen bleach will clean the vinyl without damaging your landscaping. • Simple Green offers an environmentally friendly cleanser that is specially formulated for use on vinyl and aluminum siding, stucco, terra cotta roof tiles and painted wood. The non-toxic biodegradable concentrate can be used manually or with pressure washers. • General household cleansers (e.g., Fantastik, Murphy’s Oil Soap, Windex and Lysol) can be used on tough dirt and stains, and including those created by top soil, grass, grease, oil, rust, crayon, ink and bubble gum. Rust stains may be removed using products designed for this purpose (e.g., Super Iron Out and Instant Rust Out). Cleaning vinyl siding is even easier with a pressure washer, although some manufacturers advise against it, and other manufacturers recommend a limited amount of pressure. If you’re not sure how to clean vinyl siding with a pressure washer, start by ensuring that the stream is at eye level and pointed straight at the siding, not at an angle.

That way, you won’t drive water behind the siding. Use caution when using a pressure washer around openings like windows, doors, and plumbing connections.carpet cleaner consumer guide Avoid using any vinyl siding cleaners that contain organic solvents, undiluted chlorine bleach, liquid grease remover, nail polish remover, or furniture polish or cleaners. pool cleaning pole partsAny of these products might damage the vinyl siding’s surface. price per square foot for commercial carpet cleaningAlso, avoid using highly-abrasive scrubbers or steel wool; best price for canister vacuum cleaner

these, too, can cause damage when cleaning vinyl siding. With just a little bit of time and effort, vinyl siding can be kept looking “like new” and will provide many years of trouble-free protection for your home.carpet cleaning services lafayette la For more on siding, consider:top rated steam mops 2014 Brick Basics: Maintenance, Care, and Cleaningbest automatic pool cleaners for inground pools Everything You Need to Know About Engineered Wood Siding With fair weather having arrived finally, it’s time to turn your home improvement efforts to the backyard and your deck, porch, or patio—the parts of the home built specifically to enjoy the extra hours of sunlight. Guided by these practical pointers and inspiring ideas, you can introduce beauty, comfort, and utility to your backyard and outdoor living areas, making them as inviting and enjoyable as your home interiors.

Vinyl siding is durable, attractive, and easy to maintain. And like any outdoor product, even low-maintenance vinyl siding will need occasional attention. Simply follow the cleaning and maintenance tips on this site and your vinyl siding will always look its best. The best way to clean vinyl siding is to 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. Yes, though you should read the washer instructions carefully before use. When cleaning, hold the power washer straight at eye level to keep the water on top of the siding where it can clean most effectively. Do not aim the power washer upward as water may be driven behind the siding.

You should also follow the siding manufacturer’s recommendations.  Some manufacturers don’t want pressure washers used on their products at all. Others allow them, but have limitations on the amount of pressure and the cleaners that can be used.  Most will caution against the use of pressure washers around any opening in the wall, such as windows, doors, electrical wiring, and plumbing. 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., Spic & Span®, Soilax®, or equivalent), 1 quart (32 fluid ounces) liquid laundry bleach, and 1 gallon (128 fluid ounces) of water. The spots could be residue from artillery spores. If this is the case, we do not know of any cleaner that will remove it from the siding. 

Artillery spores come from a particular fungus that lives in shredded wood mulch or other organic material around the house. The only way to correct the issue is to replace the shredded wood mulch with bark mulch and then replace the siding.  The following websites have information on this issue: http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/freepubs/pdfs/ul201.pdf http://aginfo.psu.edu/news/1997/7/fungus.html 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. 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. Fantastik®, Murphy Oil Soap®, solution of vinegar (30%), water (70%) and Windex® DAP (oil-based caulk) cleaners Lithium (car) grease cleaners Fantastik®, Lestoil®, Murphy Oil Soap®,Windex® Fantastik®, Lysol®, Murphy Oil Soap®, Windex® Brillo® Pad, Soft Scrub® Fantastik®, Murphy Oil Soap®, Windex® Fantastik®, Lestoil®, Murphy Oil Soap® *Cleaning Materials are listed in alphabetical order.*VSI does 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. Cover vinyl siding when using stains, sealants, and wet concrete as part of other home renovation projects. Certain insecticides or herbicides can potentially stain vinyl siding. Consult the product labels and/or the insecticide or herbicide manufacturer before applying.

Vinyl siding is made from organic materials and can melt when exposed to a significant heat source. Vinyl is a combustible material, but will not readily ignite unless exposed to flames from an existing fire. Home and building owners with all types of siding should always take precautions to keep heat sources such as barbeque grills, and readily ignitable materials such as dry leaves, mulch, and trash away from the structure. Abnormally concentrated sunlight reflected onto vinyl siding by windows can result in surface temperatures far exceeding those caused by direct exposure to the sun. Temperatures necessary to cause significant distortion of vinyl siding are not routinely achieved, even when siding is exposed to both direct sunlight and the reflection from normal, flat window glass. However, under some conditions the glass in energy efficient windows can become concave, forming a mirror that concentrates sunlight in a small area.  Temperatures in this area can be greater than many building materials, including vinyl siding, are designed to withstand.

The best way to avoid or reduce this problem depends on the specific circumstances. However, anything that blocks the path of sunlight, either to the window or between the window and the siding, will eliminate or reduce the problem. This includes the strategic placement of trees, bushes or other landscaping elements and the use of sunshades above windows. Screening applied to windows may reduce the total amount of reflected energy sufficiently to avoid the problem. Consult with your vinyl siding manufacturer before painting vinyl siding. Many manufacturers void their warranties if the siding is painted. There are many different shapes, colors, and textures of vinyl siding. While VSI does not recommend any one type or brand, it does sponsor the VSI Product Certification Program that helps ensure the quality of vinyl siding through a third-party inspection process. Vinyl siding certified through VSI’s Program carries a special logo on its packaging that means it has been independently verified to meet or exceed the industry standard for quality.