Does vinyl siding require a lot of maintenance?
If you are looking for low maintenance products, vinyl siding is an outstanding choice. Vinyl siding is the number one exterior cladding choice throughout North America due to its ability to withstand the coldest winters and the hottest summers. Vinyl siding protects a home through high winds, rain and snow. Vinyl siding will not rot, crack or peel. Vinyl siding is extremely durable, and it highly dent resistant.
Unlike wood or fiber cement siding, vinyl siding will never need to be repainted or re-stained. Vinyl siding is installed without the use of sealants to seal joints, so there is never a need to re-caulk.
Vinyl siding maintenance
While vinyl siding is virtually maintenance free, you may wish to occasionally wash away dust or dirt that naturally accumulates over time.
Washing your vinyl siding
Vinyl siding can typically be cleaned satisfactorily through the use of an ordinary garden hose.
For textured siding, the use of a soft bristled brush may help remove dirt from the grooves. Equip a garden hose with a soft bristled, long handle car brush (avoid using stiff bristle brushes or abrasive cleaners which may change the gloss of the cleaned area and cause the siding to look splotchy).
Where soil is of a stubborn nature, the following all-purpose vinyl siding wash solution works well:
- 1/3 cup detergent (Tide as an example)
- 2/3 cup trisodium phosphate (Soilax as an example)
- 1 gallon of water
Cleaning mildew and mold on vinyl siding
In certain geographic areas where mildew on vinyl siding may be a problem, instead use Fantastic, Murphy’s Oil Soap, or a solution of vinegar (30%) and water (70%).
Best Vinyl Siding Cleaning Solutions by Stain Type
In addition to mildew and mold, there are a huge variety of stain types that can sully up your home’s vinyl siding. Use our easy-to-follow Vinyl Siding Cleaning Solutions table to find the best solution to remove deal with stubborn stains and make your home’s exterior look sparkling-clean.
| Vinyl Siding Cleaning Solutions by Stain Type | |
| Mold and Mildew | Fantastic, Murphy’s Oil Soap, or a solution of vinegar (30%) and water (70%) |
| Bubble Gum | Fantastik, Murphy’s Oil Soap, or a solution of vinegar (30%) and water (70%) |
| Crayon | Lestiol |
| Dap (Oil Based Caulk) | Fantastik |
| Felt-Tip Pen | Fantastik or water based cleaners |
| Grass | Fantastik, Murphy’s Oil Soap or Windex |
| Lithium Grass | Fantastik, Murphy’s Oil Soap or Windex |
| Oil | Soft Scrub |
| Motor Oil | Fantastik, Murphy’s Oil Soap, or a solution of vinegar (30%) and water (70%) |
| Paint | Fantastik, Murphy’s Oil Soap, or Windex |
| Pencil | Brillo Pad or Soft Scrub |
| Rust | Soft Scrub |
| Tar | Fantastik, Murphy’s Oil Soap, or Windex |
| Top Soil | Fantastik, Murphy’s Oil Soap, Lysol |
When your siding is REALLY dirty
Where the house is extremely dirty, it is recommended that you start washing from the bottom and go to the top, rinsing frequently. Cleaning solutions should be permitted to stand on the surface of the siding for several minutes before rinsing.
Vinyl siding for every home
If you are renovating or just looking to upgrade your home’s exterior, Gienow offers gorgeous and durable vinyl siding, available in a wide range of vinyl siding colours to fit any design.
Visit a Gienow showroom to see these options in person – we have locations in Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver.