How do I clean vinyl siding?

A top quality vinyl siding is one of the easiest products to maintain. Manufacturers recommend a simple rinsing with a garden hose, twice a year to maintain a brand new appearance. Premium vinyl siding is a non-porous material, unlike wood, cement fiber or aluminum siding. This lack of pores means that all soil is surface soil. Wood, cement fiber and painted aluminum siding, all have pores in which to trap dirt and mildew. If your siding is neglected for several years the manufacturers generally recommend an application of a chlorine bleach and water solution, using 3 parts water to1 part bleach. An inexpensive pump up garden sprayer is ideal for this job. Allow the solution to work for a few minutes and rinse thoroughly. Remember to protect your foliage. An alternative to bleach is a solution of TSP, available at any hardware, paint, or home improvement store. Follow the directions on the label for best results.