How to Make a Vinyl Siding Cleaner

Vinyl is considered a fabric of the future due to its myriad of uses, from car seats to clothing. One of the more popular uses for vinyl is home siding. Vinyl is very easy to use in all of its many forms, but it is prone to getting very dirty. If it is not cleaned regularly, it can stain; however, 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. Creating a vinyl cleaner for the siding of a home is a little different than a mixture for other pliable vinyl materials, and the following article will show you how.

Step 1 - Add Detergent and Baking Soda

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

Step 2 - Add Water

With the other ingredients combined, you can now add warm water to help dissolve the previous components. Measure out 2 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 - Add Vinegar

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

Step 4 - Use 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, and as you spray the power washer, the water will mix with the cleaning solution. After the siding has been sprayed down thoroughly, you will need to remove the container with the cleaner to rinse the siding with clean water.