How to Clean Vinyl Siding

The vinyl siding on your house is just sitting there exposed to all kinds of weather, so its no wonder that over time it can start to look a little dirty. You can power wash your siding to get rid of the dirt, but that may actually force water in under the siding where it could cause mold and mildew to form. Using the old fashioned scrub brush and a bucket of water method may not be as quick or as easy as using the power washer--but it won’t do any damage and it’s easier on the environment--since you won’t be using electricity or gasoline to run your washer. Here’s how to clean your vinyl siding using a scrub brush.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hose
• Nozzle
• Scrub brush with extending pole
• Laundry detergent
• TSP (Tri Sodium Phosphate)
• Warm water
• Wide mouth bucket
• Oxygen bleach
• Plastic
• Painter’s tape

1. Clear yourself a safe work area. Move any patio furniture, kids toys and barbecue well away from around your home, so you won't walk into them while you’re looking up at your walls.

2. Cover any electrical outlets, light fixtures or vents using pieces of plastic fastened along the edges with painter’s tape.

3. Determine if any dark spots on your siding are merely dirt or possibly mildew. Putting a drop of oxygen bleach on the spot will tell whether it’s mold or not, since mold or mildew will turn white while dirt will stay black. If it’s mildew you can eliminate it using a mixture of 1 part oxygen bleach to 5 parts water. (Oxygen bleach won’t hurt plants the way chlorine bleach will.)

4. Protect all of your shrubs and plants from the cleaning solution and water by covering them with plastic sheets. Be sure not to leave the plastic over the plants for more than a day, because direct sunlight will heat the air beneath it so much that the heat could damage or even kill them.

5. Prepare your cleaning solution by combining 1/3 cup laundry detergent, 2/3 cup TSP and a gallon of warm water.

6. Begin cleaning using your garden hose and spraying a section of the wall that’s not in direct sunlight (hot sun will dry the water too quickly). Start at the bottom and work your way towards the top.

7. Dip your scrub brush into the bucket of cleaning solution and start scrubbing the siding, again starting on the bottom and working your way to the top. When you finish one section, spray it with clean water (from the bottom to the top), then move onto the next section.

8. Continue cleaning a section at a time and work your way around the house.

Tips & Warnings

• You should be able to find an extendable handle for your scrub brush at most home or hardware stores. Alternatively, a recreational vehicle dealer will likely stock them.
• Try to work on areas of your house that aren't in direct sun.
• TSP is caustic and may irritate your eyes and skin. Don’t put your hands in it and wear safety glasses or goggles to ensure it doesn’t get into your eyes.

[plumberi]

on 8/10/2009 Good advise. Thanks

[bevsue]

on 7/20/2009 My comment was to constar not to the actual article. His supposed correction may not be right.

[bevsue]

on 7/20/2009 Actually sometimes what you say is NOT a good idea because water running down on dirty servaces can leave bad streaks that don't come off.

[jenng]

on 7/20/2009 Great article on How to Clean Vinyl Siding 5*

[fatintothefire]

on 7/20/2009 Not to mention scrubbing it the 'old way' is great exercise.