How To Get Stain Off Vinyl Siding (Complete Guide)

Your vinyl siding can be stained for several reasons, including splashes, algae, lichens, mold, smoke, oil, moss, or chemicals. These stains leave marks on your vinyl siding which can make it unsightly.

Outdoor cleaning products for contractors and heavy-duty work remove vinyl stains. The right cleaner for the job depends on whether the stain is oil-based or water-based.

In this article, we have provided you with all you need to know about vinyl cleaning.

How To Get Stain Off Vinyl Siding: Step by Step Tips

1. Mix your bleach solution

Get a liter of water and a cup of powdered oxygen bleach and mix the two in a basin and stir with chopsticks or a wooden spoon.

Transfer a small amount of solution into the spray bottle and tighten the top of the spray bottle. Pour clean water into another bowl.

2. Spray the affected area

Spray the bleach solution on the stained area and allow it to settle for about 10 minutes.

Remember, bleach also cleans up stains and dirt that darkened the side grooves. You may need to clean an entire area to ensure the color of all the plates is well-matched.

3. Soak your cleaning brush in the solution

Immerse the cleansing brush in the bleach solution and slightly rub the colored area. If the stain persists, spray again and pause for some minutes before cleaning. 

Dab the part once more with a cloth soaked in a pail of clean water. Oxygen bleach can remove oil and water stains.

4. Clean tough stain with eco-friendly detergent specifically meant for Vinyl Material

Spray the remaining stains with an eco-friendly and safe plastic detergent. Many brands of organic cleaning products have special formulas for these types of projects. 

Wait 10-15 minutes for the detergent to act on the stain, then wipe with a damp cloth or sponge.

5. Use custom exterior cleaner for the toughest stains

Removes the toughest stains with a custom exterior cleaner designed to remove vinyl stains.

Cleaners designed to remove certain types of stains differ depending on whether the stain is oil or water-based.

Sprinkle some detergent on the stain and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Then wipe with a damp cloth.

Wood is tough and resistant and can be hard to remove. However, many products remove the stain without damaging the vinyl protective film.

To remove wood stain from your vinyl siding, follow these steps:

1. Wear rubber gloves. Mix 3/4 cup of oxalic acid particles and 1 liter of warm water. Apply the mixture to the stain and leave it for 5 minutes. Wipe the stains off the plastic cover with a soft sponge.

2. Wet the stain with soapy water to soften the stain. Rinse the outer edges with an SOS napkin.

Spray the stain with a strong original product like Krud Kutter, Graffiti Lift-Off Remover, or Stripper. Wait 10 seconds and then dry.

4 Use a detergent that has pine oil for example Pinesol or Simple Green. Leave it on for 10 minutes and then scrub with a soft brush.

5. Utilize a stain remover for deck stain like Olympic. Rub it over the stain and clean it with a soft cloth.

7. Apply PVC pipe cleaner to the stain. Vinyl cladding is made of polyvinyl chloride from which PVC pipes are made. You can get it from the plumbing section of your local home improvement store.

8. Place the Goo Gone spray directly on the stain and pause for 5 minutes. Remove the stain with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Besides that, apply Windex to the vinyl exterior and eliminate the stain with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

Best products for cleaning vinyl siding

The best vinyl cleaner is to determine the type of stain and then determine the best application method for your particular home.

Most commercial vinyl cleaners are safe for nearby plants and lawns when used properly.

However, watering the plants after cleaning the siding is essential to remove any cleaning solution from the leaves (Bob Villa, n.d). 

Some components may react or damage the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) used in vinyl siding.

To avoid this, look for a side and exterior cleaner that uses water or an inorganic solvent such as hydrogen peroxide, or a soap that contains a water-soluble surfactant such as allyl sulfate.

Detergents with a chemical composition similar to vinyl coverings, such as those containing petroleum ethers or organic solvents such as acetone, benzene, or tetrahydrofuran, can damage and produce dark and cloudy stains, streaks, yellows, and brittleness, cracks, or distort the look. 

These detergents can also discolor and make them less resistant.

Tips for Choosing the Best Vinyl Side Cleaner 

Vinyl cleaners can be called “household cleaners”, or simply “household and exterior wall cleaners”. Many of these products contain related ingredients, but it’s worth reading the label to make sure it’s a safe and effective product (Bob Villa, n.d).

Find a vinyl cleaner.

Most siding cleaners are safe, but some contain strong chemicals that can dull the vinyl surface.

Choose a cleaning agent that is compatible with your high-pressure washer.

The quickest and easiest way to clean vinyl siding is to use a high-pressure washer that removes dirt, dirt, and oil stains.

Think about the types of stains.

Detergents are often made to remove various types of side stains. No need to memorize the ingredient list. Producers usually list the stains their products remove.

Does Bleach Damage Vinyl Siding?

Chlorine-based bleach is often used to clean the stain from vinyl siding surfaces and is especially effective at removing mold, mold, and algae from surfaces. 

Vinyl siding can also be cleaned with detergent, but Clorox is far more effective at removing mold and mildew, including stubborn dirt, dirt, and stains. 

Bleach can be used to remove stains of ink, juice, soda, coffee, tea, tomato sauce, tomato puree, and all other colors. 

Clorox Bleach will not damage the vinyl cover if properly diluted and the surface rinsed. Do not use vinyl cleaners that contain organic solvents, or undiluted chlorine bleach (Schwartz and Bob Vila, n.d.).

• Prepare a water and bleach solution with 1 tablespoon of bleach per cup of water.

• Allow the solution to sit and dissolve for 1-2 hours.

• When the stain disappears, thoroughly wash, rinse and dry the container (Lyons, 2021).

Best Vinyl Siding Cleaner No Scrubbing

Vinyl cleaners usually come in three forms: a high-pressure washer, a hose dispenser, or a hand cleaner with a long hairbrush. The best vinyl siding cleaner without scrubbing is the first two options:

1. A high-pressure washer:  

This is the quickest and easiest way to clean the vinyl lining and remove stubborn stains. 

Vinyl cleaners are specifically made for use with a high-pressure washer and are usually sold in large containers that can be poured into high-pressure washer fluid containers. An example is:

• Simple Green Pro HD Siding Pressure Washer Cleaner

2. The hose end dispenser

The hose end dispenser works with a bottle attached to the end of a regular garden hose. Spray detergent diluted with tap water when the top of the hose is at the front.

This messy method eliminates the need to fill a separate device with liquid-like 30 seconds of cleaning agent e.g  “30 SECONDS Cleaners Hose End Sprayer Outdoor Cleaner”.

Best Vinyl Siding Cleaner For Oxidation

Vinyl siding oxidation can be removed with regular household materials or items like vinegar, washing powder, and bleach.

• To make a vinegar cleanser, combine Five cups of vinegar and One-liter water in a mixing bowl.

• Combine 1/3 cup cleaning products, 2/3 cup home cleanser, 4 cups domestic bleach, and One gallon of water to get a stronger bleach solution.

• Fill a vinyl washcloth halfway with the cleaning agent.

You can use Scotts Outdoor Cleaner Plus OxiClean Concentrate as an example of a product.

Best Brush To Clean Vinyl Siding

According to the vinyl siding foundation, it is best to use a soft cloth or a regular brush with soft bristles and a long handle. Brushes are the best option for rigid and textured siding (Universal windows Direct, n.d).

Best Cleaner To Remove Oxidation From Vinyl Siding

The white chalk material on the sides of vinyl and trim is usually caused by oxidation that occurs when wet or in wet weather. Oxidation can be removed from most vinyl tracks, but this process can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. 

Once the oxidation is removed, the vinyl finish will look new. 

Remove stubborn oxidation by mixing 1/3 cup detergent, 2/3 cup household detergent, 1 liter household bleach, and 1-liter water slightly stronger.

You can also use products like Renu Cleaner Concentrate Vinyl Renu Cleaner is VOC-free, so it’s good for the soil and won’t harm you, your family, or pets.

It is used and recommended by major vinyl silk manufacturers like LP, Royal, Kaycan, ABC Siding, Owens, Certainteed, and more.

Best Pressure Washer Nozzle For Vinyl Siding

Nozzles for high-pressure cleaning are measured in degrees and are commonly color-coded for ease of identification.

The 15-degree yellow nozzle is the best choice for siding and similar surfaces. When cleaning siding, start at the top and work downwards. For cleaning, keep the brush 3 to 4 feet away from the surface and keep moving the brush to avoid damaging the surface (STIHL, n.d).

I like to use the yellow nozzle if the stain is thick. Thoroughly clean with a 15° angle spray. However, be careful since it could scratch the vinyl surface.

The 25° green nozzle has the most cleaning functions. The spray jet remains dense and can be utilized for cleaning concrete and masonry if kept close enough to the surface.

But if you keep it a little further away from the surface, it is sufficiently light to clean vinyl siding.

According to a Clean-up expert (n.d), the green spray with a 25-degree nozzle is suitable for sweeping debris, dirt, leaves, and other dust that is not deeply rooted on the surface of your vinyl walls.

Conclusion

Vinyl cladding is usually a very brittle material, especially if you have aluminum cladding. It can get dirty very easily, especially if you have vinyl leather.

Therefore, it is always best to contact a specialist to get rid of these inconveniences. However, if you want to do it yourself you can continue with your project by following our advice.