How to Keep Vinyl Siding Looking New

One of vinyl siding’s biggest benefits is that it’s easy to maintain. Unlike other types of siding that require touch ups and redos, vinyl can last a long time with just being cleaned with soap and water. Yes, you read that right. It can be just that easy. Regardless, in this article, we’ll go over how to keep your vinyl siding looking like new.

If your vinyl siding has no spots or stains, you can just clean it with a “hose and water, mild soap and a long-handled soft bristle brush.”  Here’s how you do it:

• Mix your cleaning solution in a large bucket. It should be comprised of 4 gallons of water and ¼ cup of dish soap.
• Start at the top of the house and work your way down so as to prevent streaks.
•  You can then hose off a section to remove any lose debris.
• Then wet the brush in the cleaning solution.
• Scrub the siding.
• Rinse away any soapy water before it dries  or you’ll have marks on the siding.

If you find small spots of mold or mildew on your siding, you can clean them with regular, over the counter cleaners like Fantastik or Windex. If you have stains on your vinyl, the best way to remove them is with a solution that’s 30 percent vinegar and 70 percent water.

You just take a sponge or your bristle brush and use some good, old-fashioned elbow grease to get the stains off. Of course, you’ll rinse off the vinegar and water solution with some water when done. That should do the trick.

It is not advisable to use household cleaners on the exterior of your home. They can affect the surface of your siding. That means no bleach, no nail polish remover or any other home-based cleansing product. Vinegar and water is all you need.

Now, if you pressure wash your siding, do be careful to keep the stream at your eye level and point it straight at the siding. You don’t want to get water behind the siding where mold can develop and grow. Exercise caution when using a pressure washer near openings like doors and windows. Make sure they’re closed.

Of course some manufacturers don’t recommend pressure washing, so check with the manufacturer’s guidelines before attempting it.

Overall, you can see that washing your siding should be an easy activity, one that you can do over and over without harming your vinyl.

Looking to upgrade your siding? Look no further. 21^st Century Painting can do it. Call us today at (512) 21900342 for more information.