Unless your home’s exterior is made of brick, it probably has some kind of siding. Home siding is more durable than it was years ago, but there are certain things you should do to keep it looking its best.

If you follow the tips highlighted here, your home’s siding can look like new for years to come!

Avoid Using Harsh Chemicals to Clean Siding

Cleaning your siding on a regular basis can make it look much better, even if you eventually decide to replace your siding with a new color or material. Cleaning your siding every year or so is an excellent way to keep it looking its best. 

All sorts of items can steadily accumulate on siding to make it look old and grungy, from mold, mildew, pollen, and dust to grass stains and cobwebs. So what should you use to clean your siding?

Some homeowners might be tempted to use cleaners that contain bleach or other harsh chemicals. But these substances can harm your siding by damaging the finish, bleaching out the color, and even dissolving the sealants that protect it.

The best way to clean siding safely is to use warm water, soap, and perhaps some white vinegar. If you wish to use a stronger cleaner, test it on a small section of your exteriors to make sure it won’t cause discoloration. 

Use a Power Washer With Care

Let’s say you haven’t cleaned the siding on your house for a long time, and you wish to apply a power washer. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s essential to keep the jet of water at your eye level while you clean. 

If the jet is sprayed at an angle, moisture can seep behind the siding and get into your home’s walls and insulation. If too much water infiltrates the siding, the result may be mold, wood rot, and other nasty developments that will cost a lot of money to repair. 

Do Ten Feet of Siding at a Time

Many experts recommend scrubbing every part of the siding, but to do it in 10-foot sections with a soft brush. You should clean from top to bottom of a siding section so there’s no streaking, and rinse the surfaces every few minutes. 

Check for Siding Breaks

As long as your siding is intact, it will keep your residence safe from moisture, insects, and expensive structural damage. However, though siding can be quite sturdy and rugged, problems may still appear from time to time. 

That’s why you should inspect your siding annually and search for breaks and cracks that could lead to problems down the road. Damage to the siding can allow water to leak in during rainfall or when you use a power washer.

Also, older siding made from vinyl may get brittle after a decade or so, and develop cracks and breaks that expose your home’s interior to the elements. It’s also a sharp idea to check your siding for damage after any heavy rains and wind. 

When you notice breaks in your siding, it should be replaced. This is the time to bring in siding contractors chicago to fix the broken panels.

Clean Mold and Mildew Correctly 

Siding will usually protect the interior structure of a home from mold and mildew. But mold may sometimes emerge from dirty areas of the siding, but this can be removed easily as long as you manage to stay aware of it. 

Many exterior siding experts recommend using warm water and soap with a bit of vinegar to remove mildew and mold. 

Fortunately, modern home siding is designed to last many years with minimal care. If you follow our advice, your home siding will last as long as possible and keep looking like new.