Whether you live near trees, by the water, in a city that has higher pollution, or just find yourself with dirty siding for no apparent reason—siding does get dirty and it does have to be cleaned occasionally.
But how?
Last year, I did a very intense power washing session on the back of my house. It felt necessary because the old paint job had turned dirty, there was thick mildew built up and it was just unsightly.
That was a mistake.
If I had been experienced and knowledgeable in using a power washer then things could have turned out a bit better, but I didn’t have experience or knowledge.
A hose and scrub brush would have done the job. And, as it turns out, the dirty appearance of the siding didn’t mean the siding was bad to begin with. So in the end, I ended up doing damage to the cedar with my power washing session.
From me (now “experienced”) to you—here’s some tips for cleaning your siding:
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James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding: Wash down the exterior surfaces of your siding every 6 to 12 months with a garden hose or low pressure water spray to remove dirt and debris. James Hardie Products with ColorPlus® Technology can be cleaned using water and a soft brush or rag. For stubborn dirt or stains, a mild detergent and a soft brush may be used.
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Cedar Siding: Power washing can be used to clean cedar as long as the sprayer is set at a low pressure to prevent damaging the wood’s soft surface. Or, as mentioned, a hose and a scrub brush.
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Vinyl Siding: Scrub brush and light detergent can be used here. Light power washing can be done but be sure it is on low pressure as vinyl can crack.
