One of the most popular exterior materials for homes is vinyl siding. It’s been a mainstay since 1995, and it’s still going strong. In fact, 33% of new homes built in 2011 had vinyl siding. It may be a low-maintenance product, but it still gets dirty and can still be prone to discoloration from insecticides and fertilizers, and it can be marred by maintenance products like caulking. Fortunately, it’s not hard to care for your siding.
As far as tools go, you’ll only need the following: a soft cloth; a long handled, soft-bristled brush; and a cleaning solution. To avoid damage to the siding, stay away from steel wool and other abrasive scrubbers.
Cleaners
Although you should avoid nail polish remover, undiluted chlorine bleach, organic solvents and furniture cleaners, there are plenty of options left to choose from.
White Vinegar: The standby cleaner of white vinegar is always a good choice. Make a mixture of 70% water and 30% vinegar to get rid of light mold or mildew stains.
Oxygen Bleach: To keep your landscaping healthy, you can use a mix of one cup of oxygen bleach (such as Clorox 2) mixed with a gallon of water. This type of bleach won’t cause damage to other materials, while cleaning the vinyl.
Stronger Cleanser: For a stronger solution, mix one gallon water with a quart of liquid laundry bleach, a third cup of powdered laundry detergent and two thirds of a cup of powdered household cleaner.
Windex and Other Cleaners: For tough stains, you can use glass cleaners like Windex without worrying about damaging your siding. If you need to get rid of rust stains, the products available for rust remover are safe.
Commercial Products: If you’re looking for a biodegradable cleaner, check out the specialized product put out by Simple Green. It’s formulated for cleaning home exteriors, either manually or with a pressure washer.
Technique
To avoid streaking, always clean siding from the bottom up.
If you’re using a pressure washer, keep the pressure a little lower, and never spray the siding at an angle. By keeping the pressure perpendicular to the surface, you won’t be forcing water or dirt under the siding.
Vinyl siding is an economical, attractive option for protecting the exterior of your home with minimal maintenance requirements. Cleaning it regularly will help it last through the years and keep your house looking beautiful. Window Outfitters installs insulated vinyl siding products in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
