[JohnN]

Well, I tend to be a do-it-yourselfer when I'm capable, and pressure washing the vinyl siding seems pretty simple. Plus I'm always skeptical of the quality and value of the contractors, so .......

what's a good cleaner to use with the water? something that doesn't harm/affect the vegetation or the vinyl?

[livsea2]

Look in Lowes or Home Depot. They will have a section near the power washers and it will have a selection of different washes. Boats, cars, homes, etc. Don't know how they are different.... I had some called "green" something or other and it said it wasn't harmful to flowers, shrubs, etc. It worked and didn't kill anything.

WARNING; if you've never used a power washer before be real careful around anything painted. Doors wood trim and the like. I lent my washer to my neighbor and even after I warned him, he had to do a LOT of repainting when he was done!

[JAV0108]

My hubby and I are do-it-yourselfers too and this is how we clean our vinyl siding. We use a pump sprayer that you use for spraying pesticides or weed killers. We fill it with bleach and water. 1/3 bleach, the rest water. We wet the siding down with a hose, spray the bleach and water mixture on the siding with the pump sprayer and let it sit for awhile (few minutes) and then hose it down. We also hose down all vegetation once the house is hosed down so it does not hurt any plants. You don't have to use a power washer at all. We prefer this method as the power washers are way too forceful and has ruined screens and vinyl. If you have any areas that don't get clean we just spray more bleach water and then use a long handled scrub brush and it comes right off.

[mulligan]

There is a product available at the big boxes called Jomax to mix with bleach and water that renders the bleach harmless to plants, but actually helps it work on other surfaces. Follow container instructions. I have used this product very successfully many times

[Floridagal]

If you decide not to do it yourself, I have a great guy to do it. He has been pressure washing my house for 3 years now and not expensive. Let me know if you want his phone number.

[downeaster]

Mulligan has it right. I also use Jomax mixed with outdoor bleach. Spray it on with a garden sprayer, leave it for 15 minutes and hose it off.
Picked up this technique from a professional house washer years ago.
Beware of pressure washing. If you get too close to your windows you can break the seal and they will turn cloudy.
I wouldn't let one of those "professionals" near my house with a pressure washer. They can do a lot of damage.

DC

[The Great Fumar]

Javo108 has it right !!!! Bleach and water and slop it on , let it sit for a minute and rinse it off .........piece of cake ...

Fumar

[Muncle]

The standard warning for anyone using a power spray for the first time --- be careful. The high speed setting will slice the vinyl siding pretty easily. Tune it down a tad.

[JohnN]

interesting, I've used a pressure washer before, but would prefer not to as it can cause damage, so I think I'll try the bleach and water and .. .jomax.
Thanks all... .appreciated

[Lucko]

FWIW -- I was cautioned that bleach can make the siding brittle. Any experts out there that have used bleach long term or researched bleach interaction on different colors of vinyl ??? It seams easier to pay the $40 and let an expert do the job right, use his expertise, his insurance, his chemicals, his equipment and his time.

[k2at]

The first time I used a pressure washer on my outside furniture which had the vinyl straps on them, all came out perfectly clean. I was very happy until someone sat down in a chair and went right through. Those pressure washers are very deceiving. Use them with care.

[chuckinca]

Originally Posted by Lucko

FWIW -- I was cautioned that bleach can make the siding brittle. Any experts out there that have used bleach long term or researched bleach interaction on different colors of vinyl ??? It seams easier to pay the $40 and let an expert do the job right, use his expertise, his insurance, his chemicals, his equipment and his time.

Egner's Exterior Cleaning
No Pressure, No Damage
Licensed & Insured

Leesburg



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[chuckinca]

Originally Posted by k2at

The first time I used a pressure washer on my outside furniture which had the vinyl straps on them, all came out perfectly clean. I was very happy until someone sat down in a chair and went right through. Those pressure washers are very deceiving. Use them with care.

And be very careful you don't hurt yourself too - they cut thru skin like butter.


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