Cleaning Mildew From Vinyl Siding?

[cold1313]

I've neglected my vinyl siding above the house (I have a brick ranch with vinyl up to the roof). I have mildew on there pretty good. I've trimmed back and removed some trees last fall to hopefully reduce that going forward.

What do you recommend to remove the mildew? My brother has a power washer I can borrow.

My concerns are something that won't effect the brick on the house - the brick is fine and doesn't need cleaned.

Also, we have three, tiny 5 pound dogs - so I need something that is safe around them and my 2 kids. I looked at whatever Home Depot had last fall and the entire label warned about how terrible it is for pets, other plants, shrubs, trees, etc.



I was hoping to get some first hand experience from some people on here.

 

[Peter 315]

I use this stuff from home cheapo.......https://www.homedepot.com/p/Mold-Armor-1-gal-E-Z-House-Wash-FG503/100625649

 

[dlctcg]

last year I used Simple Green Oxy Solve House and Siding Cleaner on my father in-laws place it work well... we chose it because it was non-toxic / biodegradable & safe for landscape / animals.... It worked better than we expected being every other product we looked at had all sorts of warnings all over them & this didn't

Here is the description:

Simple Green Oxy Solve House and Siding Cleaner removes dirt, pollution and stains from mold, mildew, moss and algae. The pressure washer concentrate is ideal for cleaning vinyl, aluminum, stucco, wood, brick and other types of siding. The fast-acting foam cleans using the power of peroxide. The safer, non-toxic and biodegradable formula meets the rigorous criteria of the U.S. EPA's Safer Choice Program and will not harm surrounding plants, lawns, pets or wildlife. Brighten and renew surfaces without harmful bleach while removing black streaks and lifting tree sap, ash and soot off of siding and trim.

It is available at Lowes or Amazon:

Amazon.com: Oxy Solve House and Siding Pressure Washer Cleaner - Removes Stains from Mold & Mildew on Vinyl, Aluminum, Wood, Brick, Stucco - Concentrate 1 Gal.: Garden & Outdoor

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have to clean my white steel gutters. I don't care what anyone says, I think some scrubbing is essential. I have a commercial pressure washer and a hot water unit in the making but really, spraying it down with some good cleaner, wiping it with a soft brush on a pole and hosing it off with a garden hose is probably all that is called for.

I have a (Fun) foam cannon too and it makes a vehicle look clean after you pressure wash it, but there is often still a film on the vehicle. For the fun of playing with the foam and not having to scrub, it's good enough.

 

[tallyho8]

Vinyl siding manufacturers recommend that you do NOT use a pressure washer to clean vinyl siding. It has many small drain holes on the bottoms and a pressure washer has so much power it gets water in these holes and behind the vinyl siding where it can do damage.

I have always sprayed on a solution of 50/50 water and full power bleach. Let it sit and 90% of the mildew disappears. Then I spray what is left, wipe it with a broom or car brush and hose it off. This works for me and the bleach is so diluted after you finish that it never harms anything of mine.

 

[newbury]

Lot's of people say do not use pressure washers. To me the key is to only use them so the water is falling down. I've a fair amount of siding. I'll get above some of it and spray down. One side of one house reaches about 35' above ground, that side I spray so it falls in an arc. Takes longer but works.
There are a couple of products like wet and forget that are ok for pets after they dry.

 

[TractorGuy]

I go back and forth between using a pressure washer or the 50/50 bleach water method. Bleach and water is the best way. Especially when the mildew is heavy. Sometimes it takes two applications.

I mix it in a garden sprayer to apply. Get a ladder to hit the high areas. Let it sit a while but don't let it dry before rinsing.

Too strong on the bleach will take the finish off aluminum window frames so don't go any stronger than 50%>

 

[Birdhunter1]

I use a bleach and automotive soap mixed together, I wet the siding then use the same brush I use on my vehicles on a handle 6' long. Then I pressure wash it off.

 

[Motorboatin]

 

[BoylermanCT]

I go back and forth between using a pressure washer or the 50/50 bleach water method. Bleach and water is the best way. Especially when the mildew is heavy. Sometimes it takes two applications.

I mix it in a garden sprayer to apply. Get a ladder to hit the high areas. Let it sit a while but don't let it dry before rinsing.

Too strong on the bleach will take the finish off aluminum window frames so don't go any stronger than 50%>

Been cleaning my parent's house this way for years. Spray on the bleach solution with a pump sprayer, leave it on for a while but don't let it dry and the rinse with a garden hose sprayer nozzle.

 

[spitter]

TSP and bleach is the best cheapest mix you can use to remove mold mildew pollen and just about any other stains on anything on your house decks brick vinyl etc.:drink:

 

[polarred21]

I used Purple Power diluted in a pump up sprayer for about 15 years the used a pressure washer to clean. A lot of pressure washing still required.

Never tried bleach until last year, I WAS AMAZED! All these years, and all you need is maybe 25% bleach and water in a sprayer. Just spray it on and it magically disappears! Just rinse and good to go.

 

[lman]

TSP and bleach is the best cheapest mix you can use to remove mold mildew pollen and just about any other stains on anything on your house decks brick vinyl etc.:drink:

I was going to get some bleach the other day and was surprised at how much the price of bleach has gone up, apparently due to use against coronavirus. I balked at the price and decided to look at other options.

 

[Gunny]

Wet N Forget - works extremely well, easy to apply and it leaves a residue that inhibits future growth.

 

[RalphVa]

If you're the least bit worried about the bleach changing the color of the siding, there's something called Jomax that you can mix with the bleach. Haven't bought any in years. Assume it's still available. Still have some.

Ralph

 

[EddieWalker]

The TV show This Old House had an eppisode about using a pressure washer on a house with wood lap siding. They used the pressure washer on the walls, soffits, around the windows and basically the entire side of the house that they where working on. Then they came back two months later and cut open the walls. The black mold was everywhere and when they opened up the soffit, they found that the insulation was still wet.

I've been remodeling and repairing homes full time since 2002 and I've seen the back sides of sheetrock inside of an interior wall that you could see the pattern of the bricks in dirt. If air can get though bricks to the point that dust builds up in the brick patter on the sheetrock, after going through insulation, then a pressure washer is going to get water into a house where you don't want it.

From what I understand, a house is built to withstand 40 mph winds and anything above that will get through or damage the house. It is also designed to shed water that falls from above, not forced onto it from below. I would never pressure wash a house.

Lowes and Home Depot both sell house washing solutions. They are basically bleach and soap misctures that you spray on the house wtih a pump sprayer. Then you let it sit for a bit and hose it off. If there is some remaining, you can do it again, or scrub it with a brush and then rince it off. This is the only way to safely clean a house.

For extreme mold and alge growth, I use outdoor cleaning bleach. Clorox has a green label at the box stores and it's only a couple bucks for a gallon. Laundry bleach is the safest and lowest percentage of bleach. Outdoor cleaning bleach will burn through your cloths and just the spray from hosing it off will turn your clothes white. On some rental properties I'll use Swimming Pool Shok. This is the highest percentage of bleach that I'm aware of that you can buy. It's strong enough that you need to be aware of where you are getting fresh air and not spending too much time in a small area when spraying it. That stuff works great at killing mold. The nastiest 2x4's will look clean enough to eat off of the next day!! just kidding about that, but it's a significant change.

For a house with vinyl siding, I would suggest chosing something from the store to start out with. JOMAX is sold at Lowes and it's my favorite. If you need something stronger after trying JOMAX, then go with bleach.

Remember that you are only able to clean what is on the surface of your siding. If the siding itself has become stained, then you can kill off everything living on it, and remove all debris and dirt on it, but you will never succed is removing a stain if it's gotten that bad.

 

[EddieWalker]

Here is a link to JOMAX that you can buy at Lowes


Zinsser JOMAX(R) House Cleaner and Mildew Killer Product Page

 

[newbury]

I was going to get some bleach the other day and was surprised at how much the price of bleach has gone up, apparently due to use against coronavirus. I balked at the price and decided to look at other options.

Try chlorine pool shock suitably diluted. NOT FOR HUMAN INJECTION

The TV show This Old House had an eppisode about using a pressure washer on a house with wood lap siding. They used the pressure washer on the walls, soffits, around the windows and basically the entire side of the house that they where working on. Then they came back two months later and cut open the walls. The black mold was everywhere and when they opened up the soffit, they found that the insulation was still wet.

I've been remodeling and repairing homes full time since 2002 and I've seen the back sides of sheetrock inside of an interior wall that you could see the pattern of the bricks in dirt. If air can get though bricks to the point that dust builds up in the brick patter on the sheetrock, after going through insulation, then a pressure washer is going to get water into a house where you don't want it.

From what I understand, a house is built to withstand 40 mph winds and anything above that will get through or damage the house. It is also designed to shed water that falls from above, not forced onto it from below. I would never pressure wash a house. <snip>

It was your horror story that convinced me to only use pressure washers in a down direction on my siding.

 

[rekees4300]

Try chlorine pool shock suitably diluted. NOT FOR HUMAN INJECTION

FAKE NEWS :rotfl:

 

[TractorGuy]

I bought some of the high price house wash concentrate from Lowes or HD. Can't remember which. It didn't touch the mildew on my siding. Total waste of time and money.