While vinyl siding is relatively low-maintenance, it can still get dirty and may even show signs of mold or mildew. When this happens, you can easily clean your siding with a pressure washer, as long as the siding manufacturer allows it. Before you begin, make sure your siding can withstand the power of a pressure washer and if so, follow these steps from our siding repair experts for how to clean vinyl siding with a pressure washer:
- Determine which kind of pressure washer you need – an electric pressure washer is great for one-story homes while a gas-powered pressure washer is great for two-story homes.
- After that, decide whether you’re going to buy or rent your pressure washer.
- Next, read the instructions for how to load your pressure washer detergent into your pressure washer.
- After that, familiarize yourself with the settings and spray patterns of your pressure washer.
- Once your pressure washer is set up, secure your eye protection and hearing protection (usually only needed with gas-powered pressure washers).
- Position your ladder (if needed) so that it’s sturdy against your home.
- Next, beginning at the top of your siding, turn your pressure washer on and aim it straight ahead.
- Move the pressure washer slowly from one end of your siding to the other, making sure to keep it at least a couple feet away from your siding to prevent damaging the area.
- After that, step down and repeat the process on the section of siding below the first.
- Note: It’s better to work from top to bottom for two reasons: dirt and dirty water will run downwards and if you work bottom to top, you’ll have already washed the areas that receive the run-off; working top to bottom also helps keep you from spraying water up underneath your siding pieces.
- Keep going until you’ve reached the bottom of your home.
- Rinse the area around your home with clean water to remove any detergent residue.
- After that, follow the instructions for how to clean your pressure washer.
