How to Make a Vinyl Siding Cleaner

Vinyl is considered a fabric of the future due to its ability to be used for a myriad of things, from car seats to clothing. One of the more popular uses of vinyl is to use it as siding on your home. Vinyl is very easy to use in all of its many forms, but it is prone to getting very dirty. If vinyl is not cleaned regularly, it can stain, but even the toughest stains can be removed given the right materials and methods. Commercial cleaners will work wonders on vinyl, but they are expensive and not very safe for the environment. You can make your own vinyl cleaner in your home out of basic supplies most people already have at the ready. Creating a vinyl cleaner for the siding of a home is a little different than with other pliable vinyl materials. The following article will show you how to create your own vinyl cleaner for vinyl siding.

Step 1 – Detergent and Baking Powder

With this vinyl cleaner, there are essentially two parts, and each get mixed separately. The first part includes the detergent and the baking powder, which are the two active ingredients in the vinyl cleaner. You will need to carefully measure out these two ingredients. In a clean bowl, measure out 4 tablespoons of the liquid detergent. It is important that it is oil-free, so when you use it to clean the vinyl siding, it will not leave behind a residue. Measure out 8 tablespoons of baking powder and add it to the detergent. Use the wooden spoon to stir it until the baking powder is dissolved.

Step 2 – Adding Water

With the other ingredients combined, you can now add the water. The water will help to dissolve the previous components. Make sure the water is warm when you add it. Measure out two cups of the water and add it to the baking soda and detergent mixture. Use the wooden spoon to gently stir the ingredients together until they are well incorporated. It is important that you gently stir it so that you do not create any suds.

Step 3 – Vinegar

Vinyl siding is prone to mildew and mold growth. Vinegar is one of those products that are cheap, can be found in any store, and can be used to kill mold and mildew. A little bit of vinegar will a long way. Measure out 4 tablespoons of vinegar and stir it in to the solution you created above until well combined.

Step 4 – Using the Solution

To properly clean siding, use a power washer with a chemical reservoir. Pour the solution in the reservoir until it's nearly full. As you spray the power washer, the water mixes with the solution and is applied to the siding. After the siding has been sprayed down, you will need to remove the container containing the vinyl cleaner. This will allow you to rinse the siding with clean water.