How to Clean Paint From Vinyl Siding

It's possible to remove paint from vinyl siding with a little hard work.

Perhaps you were painting another part of your home and you dripped paint on the vinyl siding, or maybe your home was the focus of a spray-paint-wielding mischief-maker. Whatever the case, the results are the same: unwelcome paint on your vinyl siding. Effectively removing the paint requires elbow grease and the right combination of cleaning products and tools.

Things You'll Need

• Medium-sized container
• Water
• Rubber gloves
• Steel wool soap pad
• Mild abrasive cleaner
• Water hose with sprayer attachment

Instructions

1. Fill a medium-sized container with warm water and put on a pair of rubber gloves. Dip a steel wool soap pad into the water to dampen it. Squeeze it gently to remove excess water.

2. Squirt a quarter-sized amount of a mild abrasive cleaner onto one side of the steel wool soap pad. Rub the cleaner into the pad with your fingers to distribute it.

3. Scrub the paint stains gently with the steel wool pad. Rinse the cleaned area with a garden hose sprayer attachment.

4. Wipe the rinsed area with a soft towel and inspect it to see if any paint residue remains. If it does, repeat steps 2 and 3.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a long-handled soft-bristled brush to clean areas that are out of reach. This type of brush is also helpful when cleaning textured vinyl siding.

• Only use a power washer on your vinyl siding if the manufacturer recommends it. Power washing can be too harsh for some materials.

References

• Vinyl Siding Institute: Cleaning