Vinyl Siding Cleanup
Although vinyl siding will get dirty, like anything exposed to the
atmosphere, a heavy rain will do wonders in cleaning it. Or, it's
possible to wash it down with an ordinary garden hose. If neither rain
nor hosing does a satisfactory job, follow these simple instructions:
1.
Use an ordinary, long-handled car washing brush. This brush has soft
bristles, and the handle fastens onto the end of the hose. It allows
the siding to be washed just like a car. Avoid using stiff bristle
brushes or abrasive cleaners, which may change the gloss of the cleaned
area and cause the siding to look spotty.
2. To remove soot and
grime found in industrial areas, wipe down the siding with a solution
made up of the following:
- 1/3 cup powdered detergent (e.g., Tide®, or
equivalent powder detergent)*
- 2/3 cup powdered household cleaner (e.g., Spic &
Span®, or equivalent)*
- 1 gallon water.
3. If mildew is a problem, use the
solution previously mentioned, but add 1 quart liquid laundry bleach.
4. When washing down your entire house,
start at the bottom and work up to the top in order to prevent
streaking.
For
stubborn stains, refer to the
Stain Cleaners chart below.
Stain Cleaners*
Bubble Gum: Fantastic®, Murphy's Oil
Soap®, or solution of vinegar (30 percent) and water (70 percent)
Crayon: Lestoil® DAP (Oil-based caulk)
Fantastic®
Felt-tip Pen: Fantastic® or
water-based cleaners
Grass: Fantastic®, Lysol®,
Murphy's Oil Soap®, or Windex®
Lipstick: Fantastic® or Murphy's Oil
Soap®
Lithium Grease: Fantastic®,
Lestoil®, Murphy's Oil Soap®, or Windex®
Mold and Mildew: Fantastic® or
solution of vinegar (30 percent) and water (70 percent)
Motor Oil: Fantastic®, Lysol®,
Murphy's Oil Soap®, or Windex® Oil Soft Scrub® Paint
Brillo® Pad or Soft Scrub®
Pencil: Soft Scrub®
Rust: Fantastic®, Murphy's Oil
Soap®, or Windex®
Tar: Soft Scrub®
Top Soil: Fantastic®, Lestoil®, or
Murphy's Oil Soap®