Curb appeal is essential to increasing property value. The outside of your home is the first impression guests see, so it’s important to keep it looking sharp! Maintaining the siding on your home is an easy way to upgrade the look of your house.
So what’s the best way to maintain vinyl siding on your home?
First, conduct regular inspections and repair damage quickly. The best time to do this is during an annual cleaning. Everyday household items like dish soap will keep your siding in pristine condition.
Below we have outlined the best way to maintain and extend the life of the siding on your home. With a careful eye for detail and a little elbow grease, keeping your siding in excellent shape is easy.
How Can I Make My Siding Last Longer?
There are several ways to extend the lifespan of vinyl siding on your home. First, to avoid extensive damage or costly repairs, conduct regular inspections of your siding. Important things to check for are cracks, water damage, mold, mildew, and warped siding panels. The most common causes of siding damage are wind, fallen tree branches, and rocks.
If you find damage, get it repaired right away! It is easy for a small crack to turn into a big problem quickly. Therefore it is essential to replace any imperfect panels as soon as possible. Swapping single pieces of siding is relatively easy. If you are handy, it may be a quick DIY project!
You should clean your home’s siding at least once a year. Regularly washing the exterior of your house will maintain the integrity of the siding panels. This practice also helps eradicate any mold, mildew, or algae build-up that could be harmful to your family.
Finally, keep heat sources at a distance. Putting a grill or firepit too close to the house will cause vinyl to warp. A best practice to follow is maintaining a 10-foot space between your grill and house siding. In addition, fire pits should be 10-25 feet away from structures.
What Kind of Maintenance Does Vinyl Siding Need?
Aside from the occasional repair, vinyl house siding is super easy to maintain! You only need dish soap, warm water, and a soft-bristled brush. While time efficient, power washers are not recommended for use on vinyl siding. The powerful jet of water can lift, crack, or warp panels. In addition, power washers increase the risk of water getting trapped under the siding, which can lead to mold and mildew growth.
Fill a large bucket with lukewarm water and mix in soap until the mixture becomes slightly frothy. Then use a long-handled, soft-bristled brush or microfiber towel to gently scrub away dirt and grime. If debris is caked on, swap the soap for an environmentally friendly all-purpose cleaner. Avoid harmful chemicals, especially around plants or shrubs. Finally, wash away the soap or cleanser with a light-pressured garden hose.
You should clean the siding on your home at least once a year.
Pro Tip: If you want to avoid using chemicals to clean bird poop, mold, or other grime from your siding, use vinegar! Mix white vinegar and water to create an all-natural cleaner that quickly powers through dirt, mold, and mildew.
What is the Best Thing to Wash Vinyl Siding With?
You don’t need harsh chemicals to wash vinyl siding. The best cleaners are all-natural and environmentally safe solutions. Using toxins like bleach is unsafe to breathe in and will cause nearby vegetation to die. The most recommended products to clean vinyl siding with are:
● Dish soap and warm water
● Diluted Simple Green all-purpose cleaner
● White vinegar mixed with water
Related Questions
What is the lifespan of house siding?
Vinyl siding is the easiest type of house siding to maintain. The average lifespan of vinyl siding is 30-40 years.
In comparison, wood siding lasts 15-40 years but requires frequent painting and sealing. Aluminum siding lasts up to 30 years if it is appropriately repainted.
Is it OK to pressure wash siding?
Unless you are a professional exterior house cleaner, put down the pressure washer. Powerful jets of water can cause expensive damage to siding. In addition, misuse of a pressure washer can crack, tear off, and put holes in siding panels.
Is Dawn dish soap good for vinyl siding?
Mixing Dawn dish soap with warm water is an excellent and safe way to clean the siding on your home. This solution is strong enough to cut through most dirt, grime, mildew, and algae.
However, choosing environmentally-friendly options when cleaning any outdoor surfaces is always best. This best practice will protect the air and soil from harmful toxins, and eco-safe cleaners are less likely to cause plants or shrubs to wither.
Home Improvement Services Can Help
With regular inspections and annual cleanings, maintaining the siding on your home is an easy DIY project. Common household cleaners like dish soap and vinegar will keep your siding looking great and last decades! And if doing it yourself isn’t your thing, a home improvement company is worth looking into.
If your home needs new siding installation or exterior repairs, Excel Home Improvement Services in Romulus is a great choice. As exterior home improvement contractors, the overall look of your home is our goal to improve, upgrade and leave a lasting impression. We specialize in new roof installation, gutter installation repair, siding installation, and more.
When you hire our professional home improvement company you can rest assured you are getting the highest level of quality and craftsmanship. Call for a Free Estimate today!