Vinyl siding.

[Thomas]

What would work great removing mold from vinyl siding w/pressure washer?
Thanks.

 

[oldnslo]

Amonia & water or bleech and water. May want to test on a small inconspicuous area to confirm that it doesn't discolor the siding though.

 

[s219]

Over many years, I learned the best is a mix of water, laundry detergent, dawn dish soap, and pool shock (aka, concentrated bleach). Forget the ratios, but you can google online and find similar recipes. Use the pressure washer's soap intake to spray it on the siding, wait a few minutes, and rinse off. This stuff will melt off mold an algae, and very little pressure is required. Protect plants and vegetation that may get drips/overspray.

 

[dave1949]

Wet & Forget | The Ultimate Mold & Mildew Remover & Shower Cleaner.

I put this stuff my vinyl siding two years ago and it has stayed algae & mold free. I did clean the siding by hand first though so I can't say if it will actually remove existing algae and mold.

I cleaned with a bucket of water, dawn soap and a corn broom, then hosed it off with just a garden hose.

 

[tallyho8]

When I installed vinyl siding on my house the instructions said "don't use a pressure washer to clean it because water will get behind it through the drain holes".

Not using a pressure washer actually made it easier on me. We have high humidity here in south Louisiana which makes the siding turn green every year requiring cleaning especially on the north side.

My easy cleaning method is to mix strong bleach and water about 50/50 and add a little Dawn or other detergent and spray it with a handheld sprayer, wait a couple minutes but not long enough for it to dry and then hose it off with a hose. This will get it all off except for a couple of stubborn spots. Spray these spots again then rub them with a broom then hose off.

 

[Thomas]

Thanks for the advice.

 

[sailorman]

whatever you use, be careful if you have plant life around the house . Most of the stuff that has been suggested probably will kill plants in short order .

 

[timswi]

I get a few spots on the vinyl of my pole barn due to shade..I just use a Home Despot house cleaner and a hose..Works fine and you don't have to be a do-it-yourself chemist

 

[Boris1]

I used Spray nine (concentrate diluted) works great on the downspouts / gutters as well. Scrub it on then hose it off. Don't use it on painted surfaces unless you want to repaint

 

[EddieWalker]

When a client wants me to clean their house, I buy Jomax at Lowes or Home Depot and put it in a garden pump sprayer. Then after I let it sit a few minutes, I scrub it with a stiff brush and hose it off with the garden hose.

No house was ever built to withstand anymore pressure then a 40 to 60 mile per hour wind at the most. Hitting it with a thousand to several thousand PSI is probably the worse thing you could ever intentionally do to your house. It forces water into the wall cavity through seams that where supposed to be sealed. It takes off caulking, opens cracks and removes paint. Once this water is into those areas it never should have been, it remains for a very long time because there is no air flow to allow it to dry out. This Old House had an episode where they tested this and I believe they came back 3 months later and found the insulation to still be wet after pressure washing it.

Eddie