Pressure washing can be a great way to shine up your residence or business. However, if you don't know what you are doing then you can damage the siding. You can either blow a hole in it or water gets in there and can rot the wood between the home and siding.
Should not power wash it. Power washing old siding, especially alu, can damage it, can force bulk water behind, and can leave it streaky since it's inevitably oxidized. Best bet is to soft wash, which is a chemical wash, to remove algae of all forms, and brush to remove excess dirt.
Easy to Cause Damage
Pressure washers can spray water at up to 4,000 PSI, which means you could possibly put a hole in your siding or break a window. Starting with a soft wash versus pressure wash is a good idea; using too high of pressure carries a lot of risks, especially for novices.
Softwashing is the preferred method. The only thing you should ``pressure wash'' is concrete. When you pressure wash siding you run the risk of removing oxidation, pushing water in behind the siding creating mold issues, and damaging the siding with too much pressure.
- Use a pressure washer with an adjustable pressure setting. Generally, a pressure of 1500 to 2500 psi is safe for vinyl siding. Avoid using higher pressures that can cause cracks or damage. Use a Wide Spray Nozzle: - Opt for a nozzle with a wide spray pattern, such as a 25- or 40-degree nozzle.
Vinyl siding can withstand a powerful gas pressure washer (2,500-3,000 psi). Aluminum, stucco or soft-grain wood homes will do better with a less powerful washer (about 1,200-1,500 psi).
Mix one cup of bleach and 10 cups of water and put it in the spray bottle. Spritz the mixture on all areas with mold and mildew from top to bottom. Use a long brush or ladder to reach high areas of your siding, scrub away, then rinse with a hose. Rinsing will make deep cleaning with the pressure washer more effective.
Our Top Picks:
Krud Kutter House & Siding Pressure Washer Concentrate – $15.98 per Gallon. Mold Armor E-Z House Wash – $15.97 per gallon. Simple Green House & Siding Cleaner Pressure Washer Concentrate– $23.99 per gallon. Wet & Forget Outdoor Moss, Mold, Mildew & Algae Stain Remover – $20-$30 per gallon.
Instead of relying on high pressure to blast away dirt and grime, soft washing uses a combination of low-pressure power washing and cleaning solutions to clean surfaces. These solutions settle in the layers of dirt, eating them away from the inside. The cleaners then use low-pressure power washers to rinse the surface.
Even if your siding looks as clean as it did the day it was installed, it's best to give it a good wash every couple of years to prevent build-up and keep insects and spiders from building nests or webs in the nooks and crannies.
Winter: Although power washing in winter is possible, we don't recommend it in extreme cold or snow. However, we can power wash on warmer days or during breaks in the weather.
The average cost to pressure wash a house ranges from $500 to $900, with most people spending around $700 to pressure wash a 2,000 sq. ft. vinyl-sided home with normal grime levels, including the cost of all labor, equipment usage, and other materials.
You may be surprised to learn that pressure washers actually use less money than regular garden hoses! Therefore, by hiring a professional power cleaning service instead of trying to do it yourself with your hose, you're actually saving money on your water bill.
When cleaning your vinyl siding, it is important that you not use any cleaners containing organic solvents, undiluted chlorine bleach, liquid grease remover, nail polish remover, or furniture polish or cleaners. These products can potentially damage the surface of the siding.
Final Verdict. The Ryobi 1900 PSI Corded Electric Pressure Washer is our pick for the best pressure washer. After testing, we found it highly effective at cleaning typical surfaces around a home's exterior, including walkways, decks, fences, patio furniture, and cars.
Consider the following dry times for each type of siding: Vinyl: 24 to 48 hours. Wood: 3 to 7 days. Brick: 3 to 4 days.
Vinyl siding: Using high pressure on vinyl could strip the protective sealant, leaving an uneven appearance to the siding. Paint: Painted surfaces are prone to chip, peel or discolor with applied water pressure. Roof shingles: Shingles can lose their granules, detach or break if immense pressure is applied.
Professionals use a gas-powered pressure washer, a surface cleaner attachment, and a careful selection of specialized nozzle tips, surfactants, bleaches, degreasers, and oxalic acid for pressure washing.
It is not that one is better than the other, it is just that soft washing is meant for siding and pressure washing is meant for wood, concrete, brick, and so on. Power washing is ideal for grease stains on your deck or walkway for example. Soft washing is ideal for “Softer” surfaces like your roof or home.
Fastest Way to Remove Dirt: Pressure washing is one of the fastest ways to clean the vinyl siding. Cleans without Damage: If you do it correctly, pressure washing vinyl siding is safe and won't damage the siding. Get the Best Result: Since pressure washing is a top-down process, you will get the best results.
Can you use Dawn to clean vinyl siding? As long as you dilute this dishwashing detergent in warm water, you can use it to clean your siding. Dawn and similar dishwashing soaps are able to eliminate greasy stains, dirt and other debris without causing damage to your siding.
Homemade Cleaning Solutions
This will help you remove dirt and grime without scratching or damaging the actual siding. Some good cleaning solutions include: Mix 70 percent water and 30 percent white vinegar together to make a good all-purpose cleaner that's easy on vinyl.
Power Wash Siding
Expect to pay around $450 to $700 to power wash a 1,500 square foot home with vinyl siding. The labor cost would be around $75 to $175 per hour, with the project taking a maximum of four hours. By square footage, the cost to power wash will be around $0.35 to $0.55.