CRS Exteriors has partnered with Norandex building materials to provide our customers with these quality exterior siding options from Everlast, James Hardie, Certainteed, and other Vinyl Siding options and now is the time to start your Spring Cleaning! There are several ways to clean your siding this Spring. We will focus on cleaning vinyl siding, which is the most popular featured siding on most homes. Vinyl siding is a durable material that requires less exterior maintenance compared to other building materials. But like every outdoor exterior material/product, over time, dirt, grime, mold, mildew, pollen, stains, etc can host a number of problems if left untreated. Now that the weather has finally warmed up and Spring is officially here, there is no better time to start thinking about cleaning the outside of your home’s siding.
According to the Vinyl Siding Institute, the best way to clean your vinyl siding is with a soft cloth or ordinary long-handled, soft-bristle brush and start from the bottom and work your way up. A great all-purpose cleaner to remove light mold and mildew stains is just a simple 70% water, 30% white vinegar. There’s a reason this age-old solution has been around for years-it gets the job done without using harsh chemicals. For a stronger solution for those tough stains, we recommend using a three part solution comprised of one cup powdered laundry detergent, two-thirds cup powdered household cleaner (such as Oxyclean) and one quart liquid laundry bleach mixed with one gallon of water.
If you are worried about your landscaping or using harsher chemicals around plants or pets, Simple Green is a tested product formulated for use on vinyl siding that is non-toxic and environmentally friendly. You can use this product manually or with a pressure washer.
Using a pressure washer is also very effective at cleaning your siding using a limited amount of pressure, so as to not damage your siding or chip your siding’s paint, etc. If you decide that using a pressure washer is the easier option for cleaning, be sure to keep the stream at eye level and pointed straight at the siding instead of at an angle. This prevents water collecting behind your siding which can cause all sorts of mold and dirt problems down the road. Always use caution when pressure washing around windows, doors, plumbing connections, electrical outlets, etc. And always use proper safety equipment and supervision when reaching for high areas.
These simple techniques and solutions should have your siding looking like new again just in time for Summer! To learn more about the types of siding CRS Exteriors offers, please visit this link and give us a call for a FREE estimate!