Cleaning Vinyl Siding

Cleaning vinyl siding is important because it will collect dirt, debris and plant residue that attract mold and mildew. Dirty hands and bad storms will eventually cause the vinyl siding around your home to look dingy.  Follow these instructions for removing debris and mold so that your vinyl siding looks like new again.

Step 1 - Preparing Vinyl Siding for Washing

Prepare the siding for washing by covering electric outlets and light fixtures with plastic. You will need to protect them from water so be sure to use plenty of tape to secure. Move any outdoor furniture away from the walls so that you can easily move around the wall and reach every part of it.

Remember that using chlorinated bleach or harsh cleaners can kill vegetation. Try to avoid these cleaners. If you are unsure about the effect of your cleaners with vegetation, cover bushes with plastic sheeting. Don’t forget to remove the sheeting immediately after washing so that you do not harm them. Mold and mildew may require a harsher cleaner than dish soap. Oxygen bleach or vinegar is better on the environment than chlorinated bleach and stronger on mold than dish or laundry soap.

Step 2 - Soak the Walls

Attach the adjustable nozzle to your garden hose and use a gentle mist to water the vinyl. Using too much pressure can cause water to get under the vinyl, damaging the wood underneath. Vinyl siding is designed for rain to fall on it from the sky, so hold the hose down, onto the siding.

Step 3 - Spray with Soap Solution

Fill a handheld garden sprayer with dish soap and turn the hose to spray a small section of your siding. Working in small sections will make sure that the sun doesn’t dry the soap to the vinyl before you get a chance to scrub or rinse.

Dampen your scrub bush with water. Starting at the bottom, scrub from side to side until you get to the top. Using a long handled brush may be enough to reach to the roof. If not, use a ladder. Rinse from the top down and then move on to the next section until is completed.

Step 4 - Treating Mold and Mildew

You can check for mold and mildew by placing a drop of chlorinated bleach onto the suspicious area. If the spot turns white, then the dirty area is moldy. If it stays the same color, it is just dirt. If there is gunk on your vinyl siding after scrubbing with soap and water, most likely it is mold or mildew. The remaining mold or mildew can be treated with and environmentally-friendly product like oxygen bleach or a vinegar-water solution. If using chlorinated bleach, keep small pets away and do your best not to allow it to drip onto vegetation.