You see your house. It’s not small. It has siding. Siding that needs cleaning.
Quite the chore, right?
Nope!
Cleaning your home siding isn’t nearly as difficult as you may think, particularly if it’s vinyl siding.
(And, chances are, it is vinyl siding: the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction found that vinyl siding was the second-most common siding placed on new single-family homes started in 2021. Remember: that’s just one year of new construction; a preponderance of older homes most likely also were built with vinyl siding in the last several years.)
All you really need is warm, soapy water, a large sponge and a bit of elbow grease.
Seriously. Particularly if your home is one-story.
Just grab your sponge, your hose, a bucket, and a ladder and get to it!
Yet not every home’s siding will be as easy to clean.
The home may be two or more stories. The homeowner may not be able to reach under the eaves, even with a ladder. The dirt may be more stubborn.
That said, here are 3 tips for cleaning your home’s siding.
Cleaning agents to use.
As mentioned above, simple soap and water will do wonders for your siding. In fact, even “regular” dish soap does a terrific job, as does “just” water. You also can mix vinegar and water together.
Commercial vinyl siding cleaner also does a terrific job.
As for tools, grab a large sponge and/or a brush with soft bristles. Even a microfiber cloth works wonders.
Once you’ve soaped up, start wiping the siding clean. Once done, take your garden hose and rinse off.
(Then step back and admire the fruits of your labor.)
The right kind of brushes.
As mentioned above, in addition to a sponge, you’ll likely want a soft-scrub brush to help you clean your vinyl siding.
If you’re working solo and don’t have a ladder, it’s best if you purchase a what is known as a “water-flow pole” with a soft scrub brush at its end.
These are longer poles you can attach to a hose: the water from your spigot travels up the hose, through the pole and through the brush, making it easier for you to not only wet you’re home’s siding, but scrub.
Many of these pole/brush combos come with a squeegee on the brush’s underside: all the easier for you to wipe the soapy water off.
Pressure washing.
As mentioned above, vinyl siding is the easiest to clean: grab the sponge and go.
Yet multi-story homes, homes without vinyl siding (such as those made with stucco, brick, etc.) may need some extra-power “elbow grease” with the help of a pressure washer.
Many homeowners have pressure washers on hand or rent them from a home supplies retailer.
And they can work very well, so long as the dirt and grime aren’t baked on, and if the user uses the washer properly.
What can go wrong with a pressure washer in unskilled hands?
- If water is shot at a too-high pressure, it can get into your home’s walls. Those walls help keep rain and snow out, but a high PSI on a pressure washer can mean it could find its way inside, resulting in soggy carpet, a wet attic and even mold.
- It also can damage siding, possibly knocking it loose.
- It can destroy window screens, possibly even causing window seals to leak.
- It even can remove paint.
Make it easy on yourself and take the guesswork out of cleaning your vinyl siding and contact Rock Solid Exteriors to clean your siding for you.
We look forward to being of service!
