Simply Cleaning Siding Can Drastically Improve the Appearance of Your Home
What Type of Siding Does Your Home Have?
As a homeowner, you want to make sure that the outside of your home is up to par. This is the first part of your home that visitors and passers-by see, so make sure it's up to par by cleaning your windows and siding. No matter what type of siding you may have on your home, there are various ways of performing siding cleaning in order to ensure its continued attractiveness and appeal.
Cleaning Vinyl Siding
It is easy for vinyl siding to look stained and dingy over time. If you've ever attempted to clean vinyl siding, you may have discovered that stains tend to smear instead of disappear. This can easily be avoided with a few handy cleaning tips. First, get a long-handled brush with soft bristles or a type of soft cloth. Next, fill a good-sized, sturdy bucket with water, bleach and liquid soap. Now you're ready to begin cleaning your vinyl siding. Start at the top and work your way down to the bottom in order to avoid streaks along the sides of your home.
Cleaning Aluminum Siding
Homeowners generally like this type of siding because cleaning aluminum siding is much easier than cleaning most other types. Aluminum siding requires much less maintenance and work than vinyl siding. You can purchase aluminum cleaners at your local home supply store for a fairly decent price. Be sure you have an outside hose attachment, as this will make your job much easier. You should also purchase a high-pressure attachment to go on the end of your hose if you don't have a pressure washer.
When you're ready to clean, use a long-handled brush to apply the cleaning solution to your aluminum siding in sections, working from top to bottom. Once you have scrubbed away any grime, use your hose or pressure washer to clear any remaining grit and rinse away remnants of soap. Be careful not to use too much water pressure (especially if you're using a pressure washer); you could end up damaging or denting your aluminum siding.
Cleaning Cedar Siding
For proper cedar siding cleaning, there are a few tips you need to follow. First, be sure you have a cleaning solution that is safe for this type of wood. You also want to be sure that you have a decent pressure washer that allows you to adjust the setting of your spray. Keep your pressure washer turned down as low as possible to avoid damage to the cedar. From top to bottom, apply your cleaner with light scrubbing. Do this section by section in order to avoid the cleaner drying onto the wood. Once you are satisfied, take your pressure washer and, using a side-to-side motion, begin rinsing away any remaining soap.
By following these tips, you will be well on your way to an outdoor look for you home that is both attractive and sanitary. By keeping your siding clean, you are able to prevent rotting, discoloration and various other problems that come with having improperly maintained siding on your home.
