how to clean aluminum siding

Aluminum Siding

If you're the do it yourself type, this task is easy unless you have two or more stories in your home to contend with. If you have more than one story then I would recommend calling a professional.

Aluminum siding is one of the most popular choices for home siding for homes across the United States. One of the most important reasons for it being so popular is aluminum siding will last a long time. It's also considered

to be low as far as maintenance is concerned.

To get the most out of your aluminum siding, you'll need to invest some time and a few dollars to keep it looking like new. To clean your siding, sometimes two steps are needed, yet other times three or even four steps are needed, none of which will break the bank.

Follow along using our four step guide to achieve results you can be proud of.

Cleaning Aluminum Siding – Rinsing

1. Like running your dishwasher on the rinse cycle before using the normal cycle to obtain better results, before you perform the main cleaning of the aluminum siding you should first perform a quick rinse. This can be accomplished with a well-directed stream of water from your garden hose.

Be certain to direct your spray in a downward direction over the siding. If you spray upward, water will most certainly get under the siding by gaining entry in the drain holes located under the lower portion of the siding. Most of the dirt and grime will fall off with a quick rinse but always work from the top down.

Cleaning Aluminum Siding – Hand Washing

2. Hand washing aluminum siding usually will remove any dirt or grime still remaining. Use a bucket of warm water with Spic and Span, 409, or any other all-purpose cleaner along with a long-handled soft bristled brush and begin scrubbing any dirt or grime still remaining. Scrub with the length of the aluminum siding starting at the top and working downward.

To prevent the surface from drying out and having to scrub the area again, work in three or four-foot sections from top to bottom and then rinse. Rinse dirt, grime, and soap off using your garden hose, directing the water stream in a downward path.

If there are still stains after hand washing, then continue with the next step. If there are no stains, then congratulations, you are done.

Cleaning Aluminum Siding – Mildew

3. There may be stains that are caused by mold and mildew. To clean aluminum siding having mildew use a solution of one part bleach and four parts water. Spray this mixture on remaining spots.

If mold or mildew is the culprit, spraying with a bleach solution will remove it. It's not uncommon to have a mildew problem on aluminum siding depending on where you live. Highly humid areas experience this problem more often than low humidity areas.

Scrubbing with just a soft bristled brush and soapy water will not kill the mildew or mold. If the stain does not dissipate then proceed to the next step, otherwise you're done.

Cleaning Aluminum Siding – Pressure Washing

4. For persistent stains, you may need to pressure wash the aluminum siding. Pressure washers can be purchased or rented fairly inexpensively from any home improvement center. Follow directions that come with the pressure washer when completing the connection and during use.

You'll want to use a washer that accommodates mixing of your cleaner and water together. You don't want a really powerful pressure washer which can easily damage your siding. Start at the top and work downward.

This last step should remove any remaining dirt and grime.

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