Just as a homeowner’s car gets dirty, so will their home’s siding. The good news is that if their home has vinyl siding, it’s almost as easy to clean as their car. Imagine, with nothing more than a hose and water, mild soap and a long-handled soft bristle brush, homeowners can keep their home looking its best.
Vinyl siding is the exterior cladding that demands the least amount of time and resources to maintain. And for time-starved homeowners, that’s one less thing to worry about – and that’s a very good selling point.
Compare that to other sidings:
- Brick requires re-pointing of mortar
- Fiber cement siding requires periodic painting and caulking
- Wood siding requires frequent painting and staining
- Stucco requires painting and sealing
But vinyl siding … all you need to do is wash it as necessary.
How easy is that!
Here are some helpful cleaning tips to share with your customers:
- First, mix your cleaning solution in a large bucket. Four gallons of water and 1/4 cup of dish soap should do the trick. Start at the bottom, and work your way up to prevent streaks, hose off a section to remove any loose debris, then wet your brush in the cleaning solution and scrub the siding.
- Be sure to rinse away the soapy water before it dries, or it will leave marks on the siding. Small spots of mold and mildew can be cleaned with common cleaners such as Fantastik or Windex.
Have stains? Try a solution of 30 percent vinegar and 70 percent water.- Be sure to spot check any general or stain-specific cleaner before using it on a large section of siding. After removing the stain, rinse thoroughly with water. Do not use cleaners containing organic solvents, undiluted chlorine bleach, liquid grease remover, nail polish remover or furniture polish or cleaners – they can affect the surface of the siding.
- If using a pressure washer, be sure to keep the stream at eye level and pointed straight at the siding, not at an angle. That way, you won’t drive water in behind the siding, which could cause mold to develop. Also, use caution when using a pressure washer around openings like windows, doors and plumbing connections. Take note that some manufacturers don’t want pressure washers used on their products at all. Others allow them, but have limitations on the amount of pressure and the cleaners that can be used.
With just a little bit of time and effort, vinyl siding can be kept looking like new, providing many years of trouble-free beauty – and setting it apart from other sidings.
