Last Updated on September 23, 2021 by
You can use powdered oxygen bleach, white vinegar, and water in a 30/70 ratio, dishwashing liquid, oil-based cleaner, PVC Pipe Cleaner, Oxalic acid, baking soda, pine-sol, deck stain remover, or pressure washing to remove different stains from vinyl siding. Get the products from your local supermarket and hardware and make your Vinyl siding spotless.
Vinyl siding is an excellent building material for any home. It’s durable, cost-effective, easy to maintain, and holds its color well; thus, ensuring your house looks good for generations.
But, since it’s placed on the outside, vinyl siding is exposed to harsh elements constantly over time. Thus, it may collect dust, insect or bird droppings, pollen, and other dirt, making it dirty and stained. Apart from that, there are also stains from rust, paint, molds, decks, and woods.
You can opt to hose down the siding to get rid of filth, but, some stains may need a bit of extra work.
Here you will learn more about simple and proven ways of removing stains from vinyl siding.
Simple Steps To Remove Stains From Vinyl Siding
There are several products in the market you can use to remove stains off vinyl siding without damaging it. Most are simple products from our households. For this particular guide, we will use Powered oxygen bleach.
Here is the step by step guide:
Step 1: Gather the Material Needed
The materials you will need include:
1. Powdered oxygen bleach: You can get it from your nearest supermarket or make your own by mixing hydrogen peroxide with natural soda ash.
2. Clean water: Preferably cold water
3. Bucket: Any regular bucket or large container
4. Stirrer: Use a paint stirrer or wooden spoon to mix any product
5. Sprayers: If possible, get a different spray bottle to mist different cleaning solutions easily onto vinyl. But, if you will use a single sprayer for different cleaners, ensure you clean it thoroughly before pouring in a new cleaner to get rid of any remains of the previous product inside.
6. A piece of cloth: Use clean, soft clothing to avoid scratching your vinyl.
7. Scrub brush: Use the one with soft bristles
8. Contractor-grade vinyl siding cleaner: You can purchase this from any nearby supermarket. Make sure you read the packaging instruction before using the product.
Step 2: Take Necessary Precautions
Before you start the process of cleaning vinyl siding, take the following precautions to avoid any potential hazards or a bigger mess. For better results, choose the right day, i.e., not so sunny day as to avoid direct sunlight and rainy day. A cloudy day is the best so that the sun doesn’t dry spots too quickly and unevenly, rains will wash away the product, and it might affect your health.
Safety Precaution
Ensure you wear comfortable clothing, rubber gloves, closed-toe shoes, safety goggles to protect your eyes, plus a face mask to prevent breathing in fumes from cleaning chemicals. Remove any outdoor furniture, objects, and toys from the area to avoid getting on your way. For safety purposes, have a friend to hold the ladder for you if you’re using one.
Protect Yourself And Others
Ensure you close all the doors plus windows to prevent water from spraying inside your house. Cover all your plants, pots, and landscaping using plastic traps to prevent damages from the cleaning products. Turn off, unplug and cover lights plus electrical units using a sheet and secure with duct tape.
Step 3: Prepare An Oxygen Bleaching Solution
Pour one gallon of clean water in a large container or bucket, then add one cup of powdered oxygen bleach. If there is no powered bleach at all, you can make your own by mixing natural soda or natural borax and hydrogen peroxide.
Since oxygen bleaching materials don’t use chlorine, you can remove stubborn dirt and stains without damaging your vinyl siding.
After adding the oxygen bleach to your bucket of water, stir the content using a paint stirrer or wooden spoon. Then put some of this solution in a sprayer and tighten the top.
Step 4: Soak The Stains Using The Bleaching Solution
Spray the affected areas first with the bleaching solution and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes. Now, pour clean water into another bucket and dip a soft piece of clean cloth in it. Rub over the affected area using damp clothing and rinse the stains. Repeat the same process in all the affected areas.
Step 5: Scrub The Stain Using Your brush.
If there are still stains visible, spray it once more and wait for 10 minutes. Afterward, dip a brush into the bleaching solution and scrub the area gently. Wipe down the stains with a piece of cloth soaked in clean water and the sliding should be free of stains.
Step 6: Try a Contractor-Grade Siding cleaner.
Some stains might prove stubborn to remove even after using bleach and scrub brush. In such a case, we recommend the use of a contractor-grade siding cleaner. Several contractor-graded siding cleaners are designed to take off stains from the exterior surfaces and can be a great option when nothing else works.
Spray the product over the stained surface and let it sit for the time indicated on the label. Rinse with a damp rag afterward.
The time it will take you to remove stains from vinyl depending on the type of the stains plus its depth. For several parts, you can get rid of almost any stains using these steps explained above.
Other Product That You Can Use To Remove Stain From Vinyl Siding
White Vinegar And Water
Mixing white vinegar and water solution in the 30/70 ratio is another safer way of cleaning vinyl siding. You can use the mixture to kill mildew, molds, and porous surfaces as it is more effective than any other cleaning method. For tougher stains, apply a paste of baking soda and water in the ratio of 2:1.
Dishwashing Liquid
Good old dish soap can come in handy if you have nothing else to take stains off your vinyl. Mix a few drops of liquid soap with water and apply it to the affected area using a piece of cloth or sponge. Wait for some minutes, and then rinse with clean water. If you are dealing with soft stains, it will come off easily.
Oil-based Cleaner
The oil-based cleanser is an excellent choice for removing stubborn wood stains. The pumice in the product will particularly remove the stains quickly without damaging the vinyl siding. Apply a small quantity of the cleanser on a soft cloth and massage the soiled area gently to utilize the product.
Deck Stain Remover
A deck stain remover is needed for difficult-to-remove stains as it can easily remove deck stains from the vinyl siding. Spray the remover on the affected surfaces and wait for some minutes for it to dry. Wipe it away using a wet sponge or a piece of cloth.
Pine-Sol
Pine-Sol is an amazing solution for removing deck stains very fast. Apply this product to the stained area with a gentle cloth. Allow the solution to rest for 5-10 minutes before scrubbing the discolored area using a gentle brush.
Oxalic Acid
Oxalic acid is useful for removing wood stains, even though it’s not a typical home item. To make a good solution, mix 5 or 6 teaspoons of oxalic acid with a gallon of warm water. Afterward, apply it to the soiled areas and wait 2-5 minutes for it to dry. Wipe the solution away with a sponge or soft cloth to get rei of it.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is an incredible ingredient for removing stains. Make a paste by combining baking soda with a few drops of water. Apply the paste to the stained areas and let it rest for 20-30 minutes. Later, use the towel to wipe off the vinyl siding. You can wash and rinse the affected surface after the stains have gone.
Pressure Washing
Pressure washing is another effective way of removing stains from vinyl siding. But, it would help if you were more careful when cleaning this way. Check your manufacturer recommendation plus warranty information first. Check what can void the warranty before you use the method.
Make sure you keep the stream at eye level and pointed directly at the siding. Pointing the stream at an angle will make you risk driving water behind the siding. Also, be careful around windows, doors, plumbing, and electrical connection.
While using pressure washing, avoid bleach, organic solvent, undiluted chlorine, liquid grease remover, and similar ingredients.
How to Remove Stains From Viny?
There are many ways to remove those stains and make your vinyl look new again. The first way is with a home remedy of using lemon juice and an old toothbrush. Simply cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice all over the stain and scrub it with the brush until the stain disappears.
Tips for Removing Stains
Firstly, it is important to identify the type of stain. From there, it is important to use a suitable cleaning agent and then thoroughly soak up any excess that needs to be removed. Next, one should blot the stained area with a dry towel or a clean cloth. Lastly, for difficult stains, it can be helpful to purchase an enzyme cleaner from a home improvement store.
How Often Should One Clean Vinyl Siding?
It’s crucial to clean your siding after six months to avoid persistent stains. However, cleaning siding requires time and work, so doing it once a year is still Ok.
Conclusion
Any stains in your vinyl siding are unsightly and will make it look older than it is. Take your time and put more effort into maintaining your vinyl siding to hold up like a new one and enjoy the clean exterior. Follow the steps highlighted in this article and use the recommended products to get rid of any stains or dirt. Remember to always do a quick spot test to make sure that the product doesn’t damage your vinyl siding.
