Spring Cleaning!
It won’t be long and robins will be visiting our yards, the sun will be warming us up, and the concept of “spring cleaning” will be back on our calendars and list of things to do! If your home’s exterior is in need of a little freshening up here is a list of things you can do to eliminate the dirt and grime that may have decided to cling to your siding’s surface.
- General Cleaning: use an ordinary garden hose to give your siding a light rinse working your siding from the top down.
- Moderate Dirt: we recommend at least an annual washing with clear water using a garden hose and soft-bristled brush. A long-handled car washing brush is ideal for this purpose. Avoid using stiff bristle brushes or abrasive cleaners, which may change the gloss of the cleaned area and cause the siding to look splotchy. If the dirt and grime refuses to budge and you feel you need a cleaning solution use the below sodium hypochlorite solution:
- 1/3 cup powder detergent (e.g. – Fab, Tide, or equivalent powder detergent)
- 2/3 cup powder household cleaner (e.g. – Soilax, Spic & Span, or equivalent)
- 1 gallon water
- When washing down the entire house, start at the bottom and work up to the top in order to prevent streaking.
- Mildew Accumulation: mildew can collect on surfaces of all types of building products. Normally, mildew will appear as black spots. Mildew can be removed by using the basic cleaning solution above with the addition of sodium hypochlorite. Below is the solution:
- 1/3 cup powder detergent (e.g. – Fab, Tide, or equivalent powder detergent)
- 2/3 cup powder household cleaner (e.g. – Soilax, Spic & Span, or equivalent)
- 1 gallon water
- 1 quart liquid laundry bleach
- When washing down the entire house, start at the bottom and work up to the top in order to prevent streaking.
- For Stubborn Stains: below is a chart
Stain Cleaners
- Bubble Gum — Fantastik, Murphy’s Oil Soap, Solution 30% vinegar & 70% water
- Crayon — Lestoil
- DAP (oil-based caulk) — Fantastik
- Felt-tip Pen — Fantastik or water-based cleaners
- Grass — 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 & Mildew — Fanrtastik or solution of vinegar (30%) and 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, Windex
- Tar — Soft Scrub
- Top Soil — Fantastik, Lestoil, Murphy’s Oil Soap
NOTE: We do not endorse the above brand cleaning products. They are listed to give you an idea of possible solutions that will work.
Resource: Vinyl Siding Institute 2016
