How to Clean and Maintain Siding

Your home is under constant attack from Mother Nature. Unfortunately, your exterior siding takes the brunt of her wrath including heavy rainfall, storms and hurricanes, freezing temperatures, dry heat, ice and snow. Aside from climate concerns, a host of dirt, grime, and stains can dull the appearance of your siding. Pollen, spider webs, mold, and mildew are common materials that can dim your siding’s appearance. Understanding how to clean siding on a regular basis will help to extend its lifespan and better protect your home.

Many types of materials are used for siding in the residential construction industry. Vinyl, wood, fiber cement board, stucco, and brick are common siding materials used throughout the United States. Depending on your home’s type of siding, you will practice slightly different siding cleaning and maintenance techniques. In this article, we will show you how to clean vinyl siding, wood and fiber cement siding, as well as stucco and brick siding. These techniques will keep your siding looking fresh and remaining strong for longer.

Cleaning Vinyl Siding

Vinyl is a durable siding material that is attractive and easy to clean and maintain. It is one of the most popular types of siding in the United States, considering 32 percent of all U.S. homes are covered in vinyl siding. At the same time, vinyl siding can become noticeably grimy and sun-bleached over the years. Pollen, dirt, bird and insect droppings, and even algae are common substances that plague vinyl siding if not cleaned regularly. Especially if your home’s vinyl siding is brand new or just a few years old, it’s important to get into the habit of routinely cleaning vinyl siding to keep it looking fresh. 

Here at Modernize, homeowners often ask us many questions about vinyl siding, and cleaning and maintenance is a common topic. Delve into the best practices for cleaning vinyl siding with these frequently asked questions.

Find Local Pros

Cleaning Natural Wood Siding

Cleaning wood siding requires a slightly different method compared to vinyl siding. However, to clean wood siding you can also opt for either store-bought cleaning solutions or DIY cleaning solutions.

Discover additional tips for maintaining and treating natural wood siding.

Find Local Pros

Cleaning Fiber Cement Siding

Cleaning fiber cement siding is relatively more simple than cleaning vinyl and wood siding. However, it is recommended to clean fiber cement more frequently than vinyl and wood – once every 6 to 12 months. This will keep the material fresh and clean as well as maintain its durability over the years.

Follow the following steps to clean your home’s fiber cement siding:

• Soft cloth or sponge. It is preferable to use a soft cloth or sponge rather than a bristle brush on fiber cement, since it will be more gentle.
• Non-abrasive cleaner. Be conscientious about the type of cleaner you use for fiber cement siding. The good thing about fiber cement is that it can be cleaned using household dish detergent. Mix your regular dish detergent with warm water. Wet your cloth or sponge with warm soapy water and apply directly to the siding. Hose it down from the top to the bottom of the siding.
• Do not use a pressure washer. Using a power washer is unnecessary for fiber cement, and can be damaging. Use a DIY cleaning solution to easily remove dirt and grime. Call a professional if you are not seeing the results you would like.

Discover additional tips for maintaining fiber cement siding.

Cleaning Stucco Siding

Due to its porous surface, stucco siding can easily accumulate dirt and grime if not cleaned routinely. If grime, mold and algae are left sitting on stucco for years upon years, it can cause long-term damage as well as a diminished appearance and property value.

Stucco siding will benefit from a deep cleaning once or twice a year to remove mold, mildew, dirt, grime, and grit. Here are the steps you should follow to clean your home’s stucco siding:

Step 1: Inspect the siding thoroughly

Walk your property and look closely at your siding. Look for any damage, such as cracks and gaps. Do not apply water to the siding until you get these damages repaired. Doing so can cause a build-up of moisture, which can lead to mold and mildew growth. If you detect damage, get in touch with a siding contractor to see whether or not you need to repair or replace the siding.

Step 2: Rinse the stucco

Before washing, it’s best to rinse down the exterior of your home with a garden hose. This will help remove any excess dirt and debris before cleaning. Note that you can pressure wash stucco. However, be sure to use a gentle setting of about 1,500 PSI or below and a 25-degree nozzle. Stand at least 24 inches away from the siding when applying the pressure washer, and make sure to apply at a 45 degree angle to avoid any damage. If you are unfamiliar with using a pressure washer, it is best to use a gentle garden hose instead or hire a professional siding cleaner.

Step 3: Apply a stucco-friendly cleaning solution

After rinsing, you can apply a cleaning solution to the siding. There are a few options that will work. You can use a dish detergent and warm water mixture for basic stains and grime. If you are dealing with more stubborn grime, you can use either a solution of equal parts bleach and hot water, or alternatively a borax and water solution. For this cleaning option, mix 2 gallons of warm water with ½ cup of borax and 2 tablespoons of liquid dish soap in a bucket. Note that borax will work harder than just dish detergent and water, but it is less abrasive than bleach.

Step 4: Scrub the solution

Use a soft bristle brush to scrub the solution into the stucco. A brush works better than a cloth for stucco due to its tougher surface.

Step 5: Re-rinse the siding

After scrubbing your stucco siding top to bottom, use your hose or low-pressure power washer to rinse again. Rinse downward at a 45 degree angle so that the cleaning solution falls away from the home.

You might consider having your stucco sided home cleaned professionally, for a cost of between $300 and $500 dollars for an averaged-sized home. This might prove to be beneficial for larger or two story structures where ladders and/or scaffolding are necessary.

General Tips for Siding Maintenance and Cleaning

The frequency of cleaning and maintenance required for your type of siding will depend on your home’s geographic location, climate, and atmospheric substances your home is exposed to. For example, if your house is situated close to a freeway or industrial area, you can expect a heavier dose of dirt and grime on your exterior siding and you may need to clean it more frequently. 

All in all, there are several best practices and tips that can be applied to all types of siding. The following information generally applies to all types of siding:

Inspect siding frequently

To maintain the protective qualities of your exterior siding, it is paramount that you inspect and re-apply caulking, mortar, and stucco as necessary. This prevents moisture from entering the wall cavity which could cause damage, mold or mildew growth. These areas include nail or fastener penetrations, plank and trim connections, as well as the joints of adjoining siding boards.

Make repairs to cracks and gaps

It’s crucial to repair cracks in exterior siding to prevent water and moisture from penetrating the wall cavity. You should also always repair any visible cracks before cleaning or pressure washing.

Use flexible caulks and sealants

If you are sealing cracks and gaps on your own, use caulks or sealants that maintain flexibility. Look for the words “permanently flexible” on the label or caulking tube.

Keep vegetation away from your siding

Besides providing insects an easy path to your home, vegetation can promote mold and mildew growth. If you have landscaping near your siding, be sure to inspect the siding more frequently for damage – as often as once per month.

Point sprinklers away from siding

If you use sprinklers, verify that the sprayers from these irrigation systems are directed away from your home to avoid excessive moisture.

Keep gutters clean

An obstructed gutter system will allow dirty water and debris to overflow onto your siding, causing damage over time.

By performing these siding cleaning and maintenance techniques, you can extend the beauty, lifespan, and durability of your home’s siding. Not to mention, regular siding cleaning and maintenance can help you to avoid costly siding damage. If you would like to get in touch with a siding professional for guidance on your next siding project, be sure to tap into Modernize’s network of siding contractors.