I live in a place where we’ve never had this problem. But when I go home to visit my parents this summer, I need to help them get their house in shape to sell. How to clean vinyl siding that has mold on it? They live in a really humid place and their siding is gross. They don’t have a pressure washer either.
Sunny D., Tucson, AZ
Thank you for asking how to clean vinyl siding. It turns out that I have personal experience in the best way to clean mold off vinyl siding to help you get the job done. And, it’s even possible to wash the siding without a pressure washer. I recommend renting one if you can, as it makes the job a lot easier.
The page where I have lots of tips about how to wash vinyl siding is here: https://www.tipsbulletin.com/homemade-vinyl-siding-cleaner/. I’ll draw from it to give you the brief version.
To begin, you’ll need a compound called TSP, or trisodium phosphate, that you can buy at a hardware store or your local home improvement store. You also need chlorine bleach and powdered laundry detergent; any brand will do.
To use this recipe, pour one quart of bleach into one gallon of water. Then add one-half cup of TSP and one-third cup detergent. Stir well to ensure that the ingredients spread evenly throughout the mixture.
Before we go any further, I have a couple of warnings. First, wear gloves to protect your skin. And second, cover nearby plants with a plastic dropcloth while you work to keep from killing them.
Now, apply the mixture to the siding and let it work for ten minutes before you scrub. Then rinse it well. You might need a second round to remove all the stains. Then you can use clove oil to kill leftover mold. This also works as a homemade moss killer if any is growing on the siding.
Additionally, you can clean the siding without a pressure washer. However, it is much more difficult. You’ll want a long-handled brush, a garden hose, and a ladder. Then it’s just elbow grease and hard work until you’re done.
A variation of this recipe can be used for mold and mildew in other areas of your home, too. One of the best ways for how to clean shower grout mildew is with bleach and water. If you don’t feel comfortable using bleach indoors, substitute hydrogen peroxide. Add the ingredients to a glass spray bottle and spritz the mildew. Wait several minutes and rinse. The grout should look as good as new.
Best of luck!