Home Cleaning Cleaning How-Tos How to Clean Vinyl Siding to Make Your House Look Brand New Follow these steps to freshen up your vinyl siding with or without a pressure washer. By Mary Marlowe Leverette Mary Marlowe Leverette Mary Marlowe Leverette has over four decades of experience and has been writing and consulting for more than 20 years sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, stain removal methods, and textile conservation. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on April 25, 2024 Close Photo: PC Photography/Getty Images Vinyl siding is commonly used on home exteriors because it's durable, cost-effective, energy-efficient, and easy to maintain. Like everything else, though, vinyl siding does get dirty and can even attract mold if the conditions are right. Fortunately, cleaning is easy with the right solutions and tools. Here's how to clean vinyl siding to refresh your home. How to Spring Clean the Outside of Your Home How Often to Clean Vinyl Siding Yearly cleaning is recommended for vinyl siding even if it doesn't look dirty. Removing light layers of dust, pollutants, and mold spores yearly will prevent the need for heavier scrubbing later. In some climates with heavy humidity, you may need to clean every six months to keep mildew at bay, especially on shady sides of the home. What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Long-handled soft-bristled brush Microfiber cloths Pressure washer Sturdy ladder Garden hose with spray nozzle Eye protection Bucket Spray bottle or garden sprayer Materials All-purpose cleaner Pressure washer concentrate Chlorine bleach Lemon juice and salt or oxalic acid Bon Ami Rubbing alcohol Acetone Instructions How to Clean Vinyl Siding With a Pressure Washer A pressure washer makes cleaning vinyl siding easy because it does most of the work. There are a few precautions. If held too close to the siding or set on an extremely high PSI (pounds per square inch), the water stream from a pressure washer can etch the siding. To help avoid problems, set the washer at 1,300-1,500 PSI, stand at least two feet away from the siding, and use a fan-spray nozzle instead of a direct stream flow.To avoid the problem of moisture seeping under the siding, don't spray at an upward angle. Spray perpendicular or slightly downward on the wall. Avoid heavy spray near air or exhaust vents and around any cracks near windows and doors. Prep Before Cleaning Use a long-handled brush to remove insect webs and creeping vines from the siding.To protect foundation shrubs, cover them with lightweight plastic sheeting. A pressure washer is strong enough to strip leaves from plants!Cover outdoor utilities including air conditioning compressors.Wear eye protection for protection from cleaning solution splatters. Treat Mold and Mildew If mold and mildew are present, they must be treated with a mildewcide to kill the fungus and prevent it from spreading.Mix one cup of chlorine bleach and 10 cups of water. Pour into a spray bottle or a garden sprayer.Spray directly on the mold and let it work for 10 minutes.Scrub the area with a brush (some pressure washers have a brush attachment) and then rinse with a hose. Ready the Pressure Washer Read the manufacturer's guidelines for the pressure washer. Using an unapproved cleaner can void the warranty and cause the washer to malfunction.Using a large bucket, mix the pressure washer concentrate with water following the label instructions.Fill the washer reservoir and attach the pressure washer to the garden hose. Select and attach the fan spray nozzle to the washer wand. Pressure Wash the Siding Start at the bottom of the siding at a corner of the house and work in a grid to the top of the siding to make sure you don't miss a section.Spray the cleaning solution on the siding and let it work for about 10 minutes.Starting at the top, use slow, sweeping motions to rinse off the soapy solution with clean water so that all of the dirt runs down and off the siding.Move to the next section or touch up any areas that you missed. Remove plastic sheeting from plants and electrical units immediately after cleaning to prevent damage. How to Clean Vinyl Siding Without a Pressure Washer If you don't have a pressure washer, you can still use a garden hose and scrub brush to clean vinyl siding.Use eye protection and a sturdy ladder, and work as a team so you have a spotter.Remove loose dirt, vines, and insect webs with a scrub brush or broom.Treat mold and mildew with a solution of 1 cup of chlorine bleach to 10 cups of water. Let it work for 10 minutes.Mix an all-purpose cleaner with water following the dilution ratios on the label.Dip a long-handle brush in the solution and start at the bottom. Scrub, working in a grid, to remove soil. Let the solution work for at least 10 minutes.Starting at the top of the wall, rinse off the dirt. How to Remove Tough Stains on Vinyl Siding Rust: If you have a rusty stain, do not use chlorine bleach! The bleach will set the stain permanently. Instead, scrub the area with some lemon juice and salt or a commercial product that contains oxalic acid.Tar: Use a gentle abrasive cleaner like Bon Ami or Soft Scrub. Do not use a gritty abrasive that can scratch the vinyl.Paint drips: Most water-based (latex) paint drips can be removed with a soapy solution and a soft-bristled scrub brush. If color remains, dampen a cloth with rubbing alcohol and gently scrub the stain. For oil-based paints, use a scraper to lift as much as possible and then dampen a cloth with acetone to remove the remaining paint.