Smart Ways to Clean Vinyl Siding

Cleaning vinyl siding is not a tough job at all, and can be made conservatively easier by using pressure washers. In using pressure washers, you would need to understand some basic steps of operation, so you could clean the siding effectively.
Avoid using the pressure washers on loose sidings or on any wooden surfaces. These washers have the capacity to peel the paint off the wood, which is obviously not desirable.

For cleaning the vinyl siding, you would need to assemble all the basic tools and equipment required. You would need a pressure washer, some plastic sheets, a vinyl siding cleaner, a garden hose, a bucket, some scrub bushes, bleach and protective Goggles.

Step 1 Before using the pressure washer, you must ensure all external receptacles and electric infringements to be switched off in the circuit box. If the window has a separate film on it, you should remove it and clean it first before cleaning with a pressure washer.

Step 2 Check the vinyl siding for any dark spots. If you find any, then wash them with water and bleach in the ratio of 3:1. Dark spots normally appear on window surfaces due to accumulation of mildew.

Step 3 Be careful when mixing the vinyl siding cleaner solution. You would be inserting the pressure washer on to this mix, and using a strong solution would damage the washer. Not to mention, you would not be able to clean the sidings effectively.

Step 4 Now, you are all set to apply the cleaning mix to the siding with the help of the pressure washer. You should ideally use the nozzle of the hose to achieve lower pressure. One note - On application of the cleaning mix, allow it to be untouched for some time! But with that being said, be careful the mix does not dry out, as this will result in deposition of residues on the siding.

Step 5 Once the solution is given some time to work, move the pressure nozzle to high level, and wash the siding starting from up and moving downwards. Be careful of directing the pressure nozzle. You should not keep the pressure nozzle pointed at one particular direction.

Step 6

Step 3 to Step 5 has to be repeated until the entire home is cleaned. In using pressure washers, you must ensure that J-Channels are avoided at all times.

Pressure washers work well for two-storey homes. If you wish to clean the upper levels of the home, you do not have to necessarily use a ladder as these pressure washers do have extensions that allow you to wash the sidings up there.

Then, there are some areas of a vinyl siding that are just so tough to clean. For example, there are some areas of the siding that just do not get exposed to sunlight. As a result of this, mildew is reported forming on these surfaces rather easily. If such a thing happens, then do not use the pressure washers and use the bleach and water mix to fix these areas.

You could clean an entire home in a day's time using a pressure washer at 2200 psi. One thing you should note of is not to use these washers on the glass on the windows.

Jim Warren is a consumer advocate who enjoys writing about the right way to purchase and take care of Vinyl Log Siding. Be sure to visit http://vinyllogsidingreport.com for more important vinyl siding tips and resources.