by Bobbi Stonskas

Created on: December 01, 2009   Last Updated: December 02, 2009

Vinyl siding is the most common outside covering for homes in the United States. Vinyl is durable, long-lasting, requires little to no painting, doesn't attract termites and is relatively inexpensive compared to brick. It is no wonder that vinyl siding is found on many houses. The only downfall is when the vinyl gets dirty, it can be a labor intensive job to clean.

There are many cleaning products on the market that work depending upon the soil level of your siding. Windex makes a window washing fluid that may rinse off much of the loose dirt on your siding. Windex tends not to work on areas that require extra force or old-fashioned "elbow grease."

Depending upon how often you need to clean your vinyl siding, you may want to invest in a power sprayer. This gadget increases the water pressure much like taking your house to a car wash. The increased force of the water loosens more set in dirt and allows you to reach higher areas easier than with your standard garden hose. A power sprayer will range from a few hundred dollars on up depending upon the force and quality of the sprayer.

For smaller areas or heavily soiled areas, you may need to wash them by hand. Bathroom and kitchen cleaners work fabulous on built up grime on the outside of your house. Unless your siding is white, do not use a cleaner with bleach or it may discolor your siding. When using these products, test a small area of your siding to ensure that discoloration will not occur.

Dish detergents and products like Pine-Sol or Mr. Clean work in the same way. They add a soapy substance to break down dirt and ease in its removal. You will need to apply these products by hand with a cloth, Rinsing your cloth regularly and changing the cleanser-water mixture frequently may be required to prevent spreading the dirt.

Scrubbing Bubbles is a product that you spray onto the siding and let it sit for 10 minutes. Depending upon the amount of dirt, you may be able to simply hose off the cleaner and dirt. In areas with more build-up, you will probably need to apply the Scrubbing Bubbles again and wipe gently with a cloth. Never use a scouring pad for it may scratch the paint on the siding.

The price for attractive, yet inexpensive vinyl siding on your home is the need to keep it clean. Cleaning your siding regularly will allow you to use easier cleaning methods by using your hose. For especially difficult areas or long-term dirt, it takes more effort to establish the gleam your siding held when it was new. Try your favorite bathroom and kitchen cleaning products. They were created to cut through grime, why should they be limited to inside the home?

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