How to Wash Steel Siding
Some of the problems with your building's or home’s steel siding are oxidation and corrosion. Also, you wouldn’t want to keep your sidings dirty because the longer you let dirt and grime unattended, it can seep through the paint and stain it. However, maintenance at least every 6 months to a year can delay all these problems and could bring back the original new look of your sidings. Cleaning steel, wood, and vinyl sidings differ from each other. Chemicals for cleaning your wood siding can accelerate corrosion and oxidation for your steel siding. Vinyl usually is the easiest to clean. Here are some tips for washing your steel siding to make it look brand new.
Step 1 - Turn off Power to any Outdoor Lighting
You will be working with high-pressured water, so you don't want any live electrical wiring. To do this, just switch off the breakers to anything that powers the outdoor lighting.
Step 2 – Add Detergent
Mix 1/3 cup laundry detergent to 6 gallons of water. This will be the cleaning solution to clean your steel siding.
Step 3 – Fill the Cleaning Solution
Fill your power washer with the cleaning solution. Set aside for now.
Step 4 – Scrub Steel Siding
Use the soft wall brush with a long handle to thoroughly scrub the outside of the steel siding. Scrub horizontally, then vertically. This will loosen all dirt and grime that has been building up through time.
Step 5 – Make a Bleach Solution
For mold buildup, make a bleach solution. Mix 1 part bleach and 3 parts water in a plastic spray bottle. Spray on moldy build up. Use stepladder for hard to reach places.
Step 6 – Set Power Washer
Set power washer to the lowest setting available. Use your pressure washer to get to all the cracks and crevices you could not reach with the brush. Make sure to use the power washer on the lowest setting it has. Using too much pressure can dent your steel siding or damage the paint. It will definitely remove the dirt but the paint as well.
Step 7 – Rinse the Cleaning Solution
Rinse the cleaning solution off of the siding right away with a garden hose. Rinse the steel siding thoroughly. Do not let the cleaning solution dry out, as this will damage the paint. Let the sun or wind dry your new-looking steel siding. It is s not practical to manually dry your whole house by hand.
