A beautiful home begins with clean, attractive siding and windows. Over the past few decades, vinyl siding has grown in popularity due to its incredible durability and resilience. With a little regular cleaning and maintenance, vinyl siding can end up looking as lovely as the day it was first installed.

At The Construction Group, we offer a complete range of home exterior remodeling services including vinyl siding contractor and window contractor services. In this post, we’re sharing advice for cleaning your vinyl siding. To learn more about vinyl siding for your Woodbury home, give us a call to connect with a vinyl siding contractor about siding replacement services today!

When to Clean Your Vinyl Siding

Since the 1990s, vinyl siding has only increased in popularity. As many as one in three new single-family homes sold today uses vinyl siding. Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t know how to keep their siding clean. Over time, even vinyl siding can become dirty and stained. These are just a few of the most common culprits that can dirty your vinyl siding:

●        Lawn chemicals like insecticides

●        Pollen

●        Animal droppings

●        Spider webs

●        Dirt and dust

●        Mud

To keep your vinyl siding looking its best, experts recommend cleaning it once every six months. If you keep a household maintenance calendar, plan on cleaning your siding once in the fall and once in the spring.

Steps for Cleaning Your Vinyl Siding

Cleaning your vinyl siding is a fairly straightforward and simple household chore. Follow these steps for best results:

1.    Begin by gathering the right equipment.

It might be tempting to use a power washer to blast the dirt off of your siding, but it’s a bad idea. A power washer can damage your siding or expose any vulnerabilities that already exist. It’s better to use a low-pressure garden hose along with a gentle sponge or soft wash cloth for tough spots. Additionally, never use scrubbers or steel wool as these can leave marks on your siding.

2.    Use the right cleaner.

Avoid using bleach, degreasers, organic solvents, or abrasive cleaners. Instead, use a gentle cleanser that is designed especially for cleaning siding from your local home improvement or hardware store. For more visible stains, Bob Vila recommends using a gentle solution of vinegar and water. Bob Vila also recommends a number of gentle household cleaners for problem areas including Simple Green.

3.    Attack tough stains the right way.

Before you get started, identify any tricky stains that need to be addressed. Tackle these first before beginning your overall cleaning.

Tough spots should be treated with a cleaner before wiping. Once you’ve allowed the cleaner to soak sufficiently, use a soft washcloth or brush to gently brush the debris or dirt from the surface. Clean the stain in a side-to-side motion before rinsing the plank with the garden hose. For oily stains, use a mild liquid dish soap diluted in water. After applying suds, be sure to clean the area right away.

4.    Clean your siding.

Once you’ve cleaned those difficult stains, it’s time to clean the rest of your siding. To clean your siding the right way, work from the top down so dirt and debris flow out into your yard instead of onto clean siding. Focus on small areas rather than making broad strokes. This will help you to avoid leaving streaks when you’re finished.

5.    Look for siding damage.

While you’re cleaning your siding, it’s a perfect time to inspect the planks for signs of damage. Look for cracks in the siding from hail or high wind impacts. Another common siding problem is siding separation. If you see signs of gaps between the planks or siding that has pulled away from the wall, this needs to be repaired right away since water can get in through the gaps. Other types of common siding damage that should be addressed right away include warping and bubbles. Give us a call if you identify any of these issues while you’re cleaning your home’s exterior.

6.    Be careful while cleaning.

Even gentle cleaners can be damaging to your plants and lawn. Avoid getting soap on your plants when cleaning your siding. Depending on the location of your shrubs or plants, you may want to cover them with a tarp while you’re using soap.

Connect with a Woodbury Siding Contractor

Sometimes siding repair needs can be significant. When it’s time for vinyl siding replacement services, The Construction Group is here to help with quality high-performance siding solutions. In addition to vinyl siding, we also offer a complete range of siding solutions for your Twin Cities home including fiber cement siding, steel siding, cedar shake, and LP Smartside.

To get your free quote on siding replacement services, contact a Woodbury siding contractor today at 651-731-5857. Or contact us online to learn more about siding solutions for your home. You’ll love what we can do for your home!