Best Homemade Vinyl Siding Cleaner (Eco-Friendly)

Why Clean Your Vinyl Siding?

First, no one likes to look at dirty siding with mildew stains. If you are like us then certain spots of our vinyl siding get greenish algae spots and other mildew build-ups. Some of you might even have a bigger mold problem on your siding. Sometimes homemade cleaning solutions work better than expected and that was the case here!

Try this cleaning method first on stubborn stains before going and buying expensive siding cleaners that aren’t as eco-friendly.

Is it mildew, algae or mold?

Our vinyl siding definitely had some algae and mildew. You can tell from the greenish appearance that just spraying it off wasn’t going to work on some of the tough stains. We were pretty lucky that we didn’t have too much mold on our siding due to cleaning it regularly. This simple white vinegar and water mixture should work on light mold, algae, ordinary dirt and mildew.

Ways to Clean Vinyl Siding

• Pressure Wash
• Use store-bought cleaning products like Wet and Forget or Simple Green Cleaner
• Make simple homemade vinyl siding cleaner made with 30% white vinegar and 70% water in a spray bottle
• Homemade cleaner made with a gallon of water and 1 cup of oxygen bleach

Why not just power wash your siding?

Pressure washing can be tricky. You might not even realize you are damaging the surface or your siding because of not controlling the amount of pressure. Yes, power washing can be a great way to clean your outdoor space but this method is so simple that you might reconsider taking a chance with your power washer.

How often do you have to clean your siding?

Some people will say that you should do regular cleaning of your siding every year. However, there are a lot of factors like your climate that may factor in. We have some spots on our siding that need to be cleaned every year due to being more in the shade. 

This simple DIY household cleaner is a perfect way to spot clean vinyl siding that just needs to be freshened up. With just a little elbow grease your siding will look new. Don’t worry it really doesn’t take too much pressure and work.

Best Vinyl Siding Brush

One of the most important things when cleaning your vinyl siding by hand is to have the right brush. Look for a brush that has soft enough bristles and a long handle. The one that we ended up finding that works the best is meant for cleaning cars and had a hose attachment. 

You do not want to scrap your siding, so try a soft brush first. The brush we used was the Libman 6.5 ft. Flow-Thru Wash Brush.

What To Avoid

Do not use harsh chemicals like nail polish remover or rough scrubbing materials like steel wool. You will damage the surface of your siding. Also, if using a pressure washer make sure you are doing it correctly.

Step 2: Spray the mixture on the siding. Make sure you test a small area first.

Step 3: Let spay sit for 5-10 minutes.

Step 4: Use a soft brush to lightly scrub your vinyl siding.

Step 5: Spray completely with a hose. You could even wipe with a microfiber cloth in some hard to reach areas if necessary.

Do you have a deck that needs to be cleaned as well?

Use the same brush and a little different eco-friendly deck cleaner to make your composite decking brand new looking again.