One of the best things about vinyl siding is that it does not require a lot of maintenance. You do, however, want to clean it once a year or so in order to keep stains and discoloration at bay. The easiest way to clean vinyl siding is typically with a pressure washer. Here are some tips to make this process easier and more effective.
Make sure you plug in to a GFCI outlet.
Most pressure washers designed for home use are electric, not gas-powered. Electric power washers are smaller and easier to handle. However, you do need to be careful about using electric equipment around water. Make sure you plug the power washer into an outlet with a ground fault circuit interrupter. This way, if water should come into contact with the electrical components of the washer, the power will automatically be turned off before anything dangerous happens.
Soak the siding with detergent first.
There are detergents or cleaners made specifically for use on vinyl siding. Your first step in power washing should be to apply this detergent with the pressure washer on the low-power, soaking mode. Your goal at this stage is just to get the siding wet. Do a segment, and let it sit for 10 - 15 minutes before proceeding with the high-pressure nozzle to remove the grime. This pre-soak will increase the amount of grime that is removed as you pressure wash.
Always angle the pressure washer down.
As you wash your siding, always keep the pressure washer angled slightly towards the ground. This will prevent you from accidentally pushing any water up underneath the siding, which can cause damage to the material beneath the siding. It's easiest to start pressure washing at the top of your home and then work your way down.
Keep the wand back a little.
If you have pressure washed concrete before, you may remember having to hold the pressure washer just a few inches from the surface. But vinyl siding is a lot smoother and less porous than concrete. You can hold the wand back a few feet and still get good results, and this approach allows you to power wash the siding a lot faster. It's also easier when you're on a ladder.
Power washing is an amazing way to clean your vinyl siding. Follow the tips above to get your siding clean, shiny, and beautiful with your average at-home power washer.
For more information, reach out to a pressure-washing service.
Share29 September 2020
After struggling for months to deal with a personal injury, my home was left in shambles. It seemed like no matter what I did I just couldn't keep things clean enough, so I started looking for a way to get a helping hand. I was able to find an excellent cleaning service that really took their job seriously, and they worked hard to make sure that I had everything I needed. Within a few appointments, my home was like new, and I knew that I owed it all to them. This blog is here to help anyone who might be wondering about cleaning services to take care of what they need to.