If you’re like the majority of American homeowners, you probably have vinyl siding on the exterior of your home. This siding material is affordable on most budgets, readily available at most retailers, and is available in a wide variety of colors and styles to suit nearly any taste.
However, when the time comes to clear your vinyl siding, you may find yourself feeling somewhat clueless about where to begin. Fortunately, that’s where this guide comes in! Below, you’ll discover a helpful list of tools and tips that will make cleaning your Carolina home’s vinyl siding a cinch both now and in the future.
What you need.
- Cleaning brush – A high-quality cleaning brush is the main tool you’ll need to clean your vinyl siding effectively. Make sure it has soft bristles and a long handle. Purchase multiple brushes if there will be multiple people helping you clean the outside of your house.
- Cleaning solution – There is not a single cleaning solution that works best for getting dust and grime off of vinyl siding. Biodegradable, eco-friendly cleaning brands are available at most big box stores and hardware shops. If you would prefer to make your own cleaning solution, mix seven parts water to three parts vinegar for general cleaning. For heavy duty cleaning, mix one gallon of water, ⅓ c. powder laundry detergent, ⅔ c. household cleaner of choice, and one quart of liquid laundry bleach.
- Old clothes – Especially if you’re using any sort of bleach or heavy duty cleaner, you won’t want to ruin clothes you love. Make sure you wear old clothes to clean your siding, as you’re likely to get covered in water, dust, and other debris as you work outside.
- Ladder – A sturdy ladder is the last thing you’ll need to clean your vinyl siding. If you don’t own a stable ladder, it is certainly worth the money to purchase one before you start your home maintenance project. Falling off of a rickety ladder isn’t worth it! Depending on the height of your home, you may need to obtain an extendable ladder in order to reach the top story.
What you should do.
Once you’ve gathered all of the necessary materials, the actual process of cleaning your siding is fairly straightforward. It is generally best to start in an upper corner and work your way all the way around the house, then down. This way, dirt from the upper portion won’t fall onto lower sections once they’ve already been cleaned. It is the most efficient way to work.
To remove grime from your siding, scrub in a back-and-forth motion using your brush. Some areas may require more elbow grease than others and, the longer it has been since your siding was cleaned, the longer it is likely to take you to remove all of the dirt and debris.
If you have friends and family helping you, divide and conquer — have teams of people work on different walls. This will help the work get done much more quickly! Even if you do have multiple people assisting you with your siding cleaning project, it’s likely to take a full weekend of work to finish the task.
If you’re working alone or have an especially large house, it could take longer. This is important to be aware of in the event that there is inclement weather in the forecast or you have other extenuating circumstances to consider.
Best of luck and, remember, if you decide to remodel the outside of your house at any point in the future, the Hatch Homes team is here to help families throughout North Carolina and South Carolina!