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Vinyl Siding
by Henry Gallant
A low maintenance and durable material, vinyl siding is an
increasingly popular home exterior. Even though it is a low
maintenance material, you will still want to clean your vinyl
siding from time to time. Just make sure you know about the
best cleaning methods before you get started.
Simple maintenance cleaning of your vinyl siding is fairly
straightforward. Use a long-handled brush with soft bristles or
a soft cloth to wipe it down with soap and water. If your vinyl
siding has textured surfaces to it, you will want to use only
the brush with soft bristles so as to avoid wiping stains into
the grooves with a cloth. Start with the vinyl siding at the
bottom of your house and work your way up. This will help to
prevent streaking from the soapy water running down your house.
If you have other materials, such as brick, on parts of your
home, cover them so that runoff from your vinyl siding will not
affect it. Lastly, always make sure you rinse the area before
the cleaning solution dries.
If you want to speed the process of cleaning your vinyl siding
along, you can buy or rent a power washer. First of all,
however, make sure you have read the instructions on the power
washer thoroughly. Second, always make sure you use the power
washer at eye level. If you try to point upward, you may end up
with water and cleaning solution behind the vinyl siding. These
can later leak and cause streaks that can eventually lead to
decay.
From time to time, you may find spots of mold or mildew on your
vinyl siding. If these spots are small, then you can simply use
a name brand household cleaner. Just always be sure to test it
on a small portion of your vinyl siding in an inconspicuous
place to make sure it will not damage it at all. If, however,
the spots of mold or mildew are a little larger, you can use a
solution of 30% vinegar and 70% water. Another common homemade
solution is mixture of powdered laundry detergent, powdered
household cleaner, liquid bleach, and water. It is best to just
find the one that is most convenient and effective for you.
Not all vinyl siding stains, however, are mold or mildew. You
may end up with dirt, soot, or even animal stains on the
outside of your home. If that is the case, there are a number
of general cleaners that are approved for use on vinyl siding.
Check your local store for simple household cleaners, and then
read the containers carefully to find out if they are effective
and safe for use on vinyl siding and specifically on whatever
the stain is that you have found on your vinyl siding.
Increasingly, vinyl siding is a common home exterior. It is low
maintenance, attractive, and easy to install. You may, though,
from time to time need to clean your vinyl siding in order to
keep it in good working condition. Before you do, make sure you
understand what is necessary and what the proper procedure is so
that your vinyl siding will look good and last a long time.
Henry Gallant is an expert author at http://www.vinylsidingetc.com , a comprehensive resource on
vinyl siding.
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