While vinyl siding is considered a durable and reliable building material, it still requires upkeep from time to time. Routinely cleaning the siding of your home or business prevents mold and mildew from taking residence at your address. More so, it ensures your siding’s longevity and keeps it looking pristine. Here, the experts at New Jersey Siding & Windows, Inc. in North Jersey share some of the ways homeowners and business owners can go about cleaning vinyl siding.

Cleaning Vinyl Siding the Correct Way

Since it’s an exterior product, vinyl siding can accumulate stains from a variety of sources including dirt, grime, and pollen. If your home is in a shady or moist area, mold and mildew can grow and cause noticeable discoloring. Luckily, through routine cleanings, preventing these stains from happening is fairly easy. When cleaning your siding, the Vinyl Siding Institute recommends using a soft cloth or a long-handled, soft-bristle brush and working your way from the bottom of your building to the top to help prevent streaks. Always remember to thoroughly rinse any leftover residue before you move on to another section.

Safe Cleaning Solutions

Depending on the extent of the mold and mildew removal project, different solutions with varying strengths may be required. For small spots of mold and mildew, treat it quickly with an all-purpose cleaner and a soft cloth. When dealing with larger areas, you can mix 70% water and 30% vinegar together to create an effective vinyl siding cleaner. Should your project require additional strength, try this mixture:

• 1/3 cup laundry detergent
• 2/3 cup powdered household cleaner
• 1 quart liquid laundry bleach
• 1 gallon of water

Should I Use a Power Washer?

Another effective way to remove mold and mildew from your vinyl siding is using a power washer. However, before you begin, you should first read throughout the washer’s manual and confirm with the siding’s manufacturer to ensure it is indeed safe to use. Tips for safe cleaning with a pressure washer include:

• Keep the jet stream at eye level: This ensures the water stays on top of the siding where it is most effective.
• Never aim the power washer upward: Otherwise, water can get underneath your siding and cause issues to arise later.
• Clean with caution in key areas:  When using the pressure washer, be careful near windows, doors, and electrical connections.

Things to Avoid

To protect the overall appearance and integrity of your siding, you should avoid using solution that contains certain ingredients, including:

• Organic solvents
• Undiluted chlorine bleach
• Nail polish remover
• Liquid grease remover
• Furniture polish

Using these products can damage your siding, causing it to have to be replaced over time. Also, you should avoid using any harsh cleaning tools, such as steel wool and other high-abrasive scrubbers.

Vinyl Siding at New Jersey Siding & Windows, Inc.

Vinyl siding can play a pivotal role in how your home or business looks. When choosing exterior siding, selecting quality materials is important. Understanding this, we at New Jersey Siding & Windows, Inc. offer vinyl siding only from trusted names within the industry, such as KP Vinyl Siding, Royal Building Products, ProVia, and CertainTeed. Each brand comes in a variety of shades and tones, making it easy to select the one that fits your aesthetic.

Our vinyl siding is attractive and functional. Easy to maintain, our siding features moisture-resistant properties that reduce worries of mold and mildew buildup. This results in a strong product that maintains its attractive look longer.

Upgrade Your Siding Today

When it comes to improving the appearance of your home or business, properly cleaning your vinyl siding can go a long way. With over 20 years of experience serving Northern New Jersey, New Jersey Siding & Windows, Inc. is your expert in siding cleaning. Should you decide you want to completely revamp your home or business and replace your siding, let our family-owned business assist. We offer our customers excellent financing options. To learn more about the products and services we provide, contact us to schedule an appointment.