To clean vinyl siding, use a long-handled brush with soft bristles (such as a car washing brush) and a handle that fastens onto the end of the hose. Avoid using stiff bristle brushes or abrasive cleaners, which may change the vinyl’s gloss and cause the siding to look splotchy.
When cleaning soot and dust from the house, use the following cleaning solution, starting at the bottom and working up to the top in order to prevent streaking:
- 1/3 cup powdered laundry detergent, such as Fab®, Tide®, or equivalent*
- 2/3 cup powdered household cleaner, such as Soilax®, Spic &Span®, or equivalent*
- 1 gallon water
To remove mildew, add 1 qt. liquid laundry bleach to the solution above. Clean stubborn stains using the recommended cleaners shown in the figure below.
Stain Cleaners for Vinyl Siding
Stain | Cleaner {{fn|Cleaning materials are listed in alphabetical order}} |
---|---|
Bubble Gum (70%) | Fantastik®, Murphy’s Oil Soap® or solution of vinegar (30%) + water |
Crayon | Lestoil® |
Oil-based caulk | Fantastik® |
Felt-tip pen | Fantastik®, Lysol®, Murphy’s Oil Soap®, or Windex® |
Lipstick | Fantastik® or Murphy’s Oil Soap® |
Lithium grease | Fantastik®, Lestoil®, Murphy’s Oil Soap®, or Windex® |
Mold and mildew (30%) | Fantastik® or solution of vinegar + water (70%) |
Motor oil | Fantastik®, Lysol®, Murphy’s Oil Soap®, or Windex® |
Oil | Soft Scrub® |
Paint | Brillo® Pad or Soft Scrub® |
Pencil | Soft Scrub® |
Rust | Fantastik®, Murphy’s Oil Soap®, or Windex® |
Tar | Soft Scrub® |
Soil | Fantastik®, Lestoil®, or Murphy’s Oil Soap® |
To learn more about installing and maintaining vinyl siding, visit the JLC Field Guide.