A good “rule of thumb” is to clean vinyl siding every 2 to 3 years. It's not recommended that you go longer than just a few years without power washing, as homes might hold lots of dust and debris that homeowners overlook, and pressure washing also cleans away bothersome insect nests and termite tunnels.
Pressure washers are easy to operate and are perfectly safe for cleaning your siding, contrary to what you may have heard before. The trick is to use lower water pressure so the water doesn't get behind your siding or damage the surface.
If your house has vinyl siding, you must be careful when power washing them. The panels can become loose or take damage if the water pressure is too high.
Wash vinyl siding with a soft cloth or ordinary long-handled, soft bristle brush. For textured surfaces, use only a soft bristle brush to keep the grooves in the texture stain-free. For best results, start at the bottom of the house and work up and rinse the cleaning solution completely before it dries.
Your house is built to withstand rain and other moisture, and it can even withstand a low PSI with a pressure washer, but when pressure washers are used at full capacity, you may end up with soggy carpet, wet attics, and mold. When done incorrectly, a pressure washer can damage siding, even knocking it loose.
Even if owning a pressure washer is technically cost-effective in the long run, the hassle of storing and maintaining one might not be worth the money you save. Owning a pressure washer is kind of like owning a lawnmower—they take up a lot of space, require maintenance, and you have to winterize them.
No matter the surface, power washing your home is the best way to get rid of mold, mildew and stains on your home's siding, driveway, deck, and fencing. A fresh look is a great way to feel pride in your home and is a way to contribute to your neighborhood's community.
As a rule of thumb, vinyl siding should be pressure washed once a year. If the siding looks visibly clean and doesn't have any mold or mildew, grime or debris buildup, then you can pressure wash it once every two years.
Household Cleaner #1: Bleach Solution
One of the most popular alternatives to power washing your siding is detergent, bleach and water. If your white siding is beginning to look a little green, then this is the route you want to go, as it is very powerful against mildew and mold.
In general, houses should be power washed at least once a year any time between March and November. As it gets later in a calendar year, you'll want to make sure your home is taken care of before the freezing temperatures and winter weather arrive.
There is no way to bring back the color once it has faded. The only thing to do is make sure you have a good quality vinyl siding installed when you have it replaced. If it is faded so much that washing will not bring it back you should go on and paint it rather than replacing it with more vinyl siding at this time.
Can you use Dawn to clean vinyl siding? Yes, when diluted with warm water, an all-purpose cleaner such as Dawn creates a soapy mixture that is gentle on the vinyl siding, yet effective at removing dirt, grease, and other imperfections.
For cleaning your house's driveway, you need a pressure washer set to 2,500 to 3,000 psi. For other areas, like the vinyl sidings, decks, or glass, the pressure should not exceed 1,500 psi. For soft materials, like softwood, you should use even lower pressure, around 500 to 600 psi.
Cleaning wood siding
A high-pressure power washer can dent metal, and on wood, it can force water under the surface, which can damage a piece of wood siding. It can also damage whatever is under the wood siding and potentially cause mold.
Gas will give you more power, but you really only need 1300 to 1600 PSI for most exterior cleaning needs, including vinyl siding. Gas pressure washers usually range from 2000 – 4000 PSI and cost more than electric.
Using a garden hose, spray only the section of siding that you're working on with water. Spray using a downward motion to avoid forcing water underneath the siding, where it could cause damage and rot. Using a scrub brush and the TSP/water cleaner, scrub the siding to remove the grime and dirt.
70% water, 30% white vinegar makes a great all-purpose vinyl siding cleaner that removes light mold and mildew stains. For a stronger solution, mix together one-third cup powdered laundry detergent, two-thirds cup powdered household cleaner, one quart liquid laundry bleach and one gallon of water.
The amount of time it takes to pressure wash a typical house ranges from about 30 minutes to 2 hours. An additional 15 to 30 minutes of setup and pack up time is also needed. Pressure washing has two parts – applying the cleaning liquids and then rinsing (pressure washing) the exterior.
The main difference with power washing vs. pressure washing is the heat. The jet wash in a power washing machine uses heated water, whereas the water in a pressure washer is not heated.
Water blasters have become a popular piece of household equipment and for those keen on tackling a bit of DIY they can be an effective tool when used correctly for general cleaning and washing down surfaces. However one thing you should never use your water blaster on is your house!
The high pressure put out by a pressure washer can easily cut through flesh and cause very serious injuries. Pressure washers cause high-pressure water injection, which is extremely dangerous. These injuries many times result in amputation or severe nerve damage.
Medium Duty 2000-2800 PSI
Medium-duty pressure washers do a better job at cleaning dirt buildup and oil stains than low-duty pressure washers. This classification ranges from as low as 2,000 PSI to as high as 2,800 PSI. You can use a medium-duty pressure washer for almost any surface.