Spring cleaning isn’t just for your living rooms and bathrooms. It’s for your exteriors, too – specifically, your siding. If you have vinyl siding on your home, you know just how versatile and easy it is to clean. This means you don’t have to do much in the way of spring cleaning, but it’s a good time to give it a wash and look for any concerning signs of disrepair.

Check out these helpful spring maintenance tips for your home’s siding.

Give it a Good Wash

Vinyl siding only needs a good wash and light scrubbing once or twice a year. Wait till there’s no frost, then you can think about cleaning your siding. Otherwise, you could get frost formation on the surface of your siding or the runoff could freeze on the ground, damaging your landscaping. You can rent a pressure washing machine from the store, but you risk using too much power and denting your siding. It’s best to hire a pro. They know just the right amount of heat and pressure to apply.

Why shouldn’t you DIY a pressure washing job on your siding? Vinyl siding comes in molded-in colors, but some have factory-applied finishes. Pressure washing can strip that outer coating, and you will effectively void your warranty if this happens. You can also cause denting and pitting in your siding and other surfaces if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Follow Proper Cleaning Procedures

If you don’t want to go the pressure washing route, all you need is some soap and a garden hose with a high pressure nozzle. Mix a quarter cup of dish soap with four gallons of water. Hose down one area at a time to get loose dirt off. Position the hose downwards, not upwards, which can force water behind your siding. Gently scrub any stubborn spots or stains that remain. Rinse the area. Wash and dry the windows by hand.

Check For Mold and Mildew

When done cleaning, take a look to see if you spot any mold and mildew. Remove small spots with a mixture of 30% white vinegar and 70% water. Wear gloves and a face mask. Call a pro for larger infestations.

Look For Cracks

Now look for cracks in your siding as well as areas of missing or worn caulk. Over the winter, caulking can get degraded, which means in the spring you should apply a color-matched exterior caulk to fill any cracks or gaps.

If you don’t have the time, patience or tools to handle any of the above spring siding cleaning tasks, it’s always best to hire an exterior contractor. And if you’re in the market for new vinyl siding, spring is the perfect time to hire us for siding installation!

Contact Hi-Tech Windows and Siding

If you have discovered the need for siding repairs during your spring cleaning, call our skilled contractors in Methuen now at 800-851-0900 or Request a Quote online.