Author Topic: Cleaned my vinyl siding  (Read 2349 times)

Slam

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Cleaned my vinyl siding
« on: August 31, 2015, 10:12:16 AM »
I bought my house about 4 years ago and decided it was finally time to clean my vinyl siding.  I thought about renting a pressure washer, but decided that's not very badass or frugal.  So I bought a soft bristle brush and extension pole, and got a bucket of water and vinegar and started scrubbing.  Definitely wore me out, but the house looks awesome, and now I can use the brush to wash my car in the driveway.

velocistar237

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Re: Cleaned my vinyl siding
« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2015, 11:56:17 AM »
Nicely done. You made a good choice. Pressure washing a house (especially with soap) can damage the Tyvek or other house wrap/vapor barrier.

Scubanewbie

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Re: Cleaned my vinyl siding
« Reply #2 on: September 01, 2015, 12:04:19 PM »
Ug, you are more bad-ass than me.  I did only the first level of the back of my house one day for hours and cried uncle.  I keep meaning to get back to its just so.much.work.  I also need to buy/borrow an extension ladder as mine will only reach the first floor.  Who in their right mind (previous owner) decided on white siding?  In the country?  With tons of bugs that fling themselves at our house?

Slam

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Re: Cleaned my vinyl siding
« Reply #3 on: September 02, 2015, 09:24:15 AM »
Nicely done. You made a good choice. Pressure washing a house (especially with soap) can damage the Tyvek or other house wrap/vapor barrier.

I heard you could use a pressure washer, but only at the lowest pressure.  Might as well just spray it with the hose.

Ug, you are more bad-ass than me.  I did only the first level of the back of my house one day for hours and cried uncle.  I keep meaning to get back to its just so.much.work.  I also need to buy/borrow an extension ladder as mine will only reach the first floor.  Who in their right mind (previous owner) decided on white siding?  In the country?  With tons of bugs that fling themselves at our house?

Haha, I actually split it up into three different days...with about a week between each one.  So I did not do it all at once.  It's definitely a lot of work.  But so worth it.

paddedhat

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Re: Cleaned my vinyl siding
« Reply #4 on: September 04, 2015, 06:59:55 AM »
Try this for vinyl siding.

Three parts hot water, one part bleach, and a healthy shot of dishwashing soap. Wet the siding with a hose, Scrub the mix on with a long handled scrub brush, and let it set for few minutes. Rinse from the bottom up to keep all the dirt from streaking the wall. 

For very little cost and effort, this technique does a amazing job. I had a vinyl sided place with a long wall, facing north, that would grow mold spores, and funky green patches in the shade. Once a year I would spend an hour with the scrub brush and the hose, and it would look new when it dried.

I haven't heard about damaging house wrap with a pressure washer, and it certainly make sense, but I have seen the damage you can do if you don't know what you are doing when using one. Everything from needlessly blasting paint off siding, and putting deep grooves in wood decking, to damaging sheetrock ceilings by blasting water past soffits and in to attic spaces.