4 Easy Steps To Keep Your Shake Siding Clean

Cleaning the siding on your house may seem like a project better left to the "I'll do that later" pile; however, the steps to clean and maintain polypropylene siding are relatively quick and easy. Add these straightforward steps to your list of spring and fall clean-up days and your siding will continue to look vibrant and beautiful. 

1. Prune trees and bushes

Contact with bushes and trees increases the chance of mildew and moisture getting under your shake siding. This build-up of moisture can cause more damage the longer the contact continues. Basic landscaping will help your siding stay dry and ultimately in need of less cleaning.

2. Maintain gutters and inspect your downspouts

No one loves cleaning out gutters or downspouts; however, the benefits outweigh the bothersome annoyance of keeping them clear of debris. This step will help your house and siding at the same time. Rain and debris leaking down onto your siding can damage not only the siding but also increase the chances of damaging the internal structure of your house.

3. Adjust your sprinklers

By far the easiest step on the list, this can be done in minutes. Adjust the sprinkler's water path away from your siding. Hard water can make mineral deposits on the siding, usually in the form of little white dots. If you have these on your siding spray the siding with vinegar and let the vinegar soak -  longer for more stubborn deposits. After soaking, scrub with a non-abrasive brush and wash off with your garden hose.

4. Apply liquid detergent and scrub

Ordinary liquid laundry soap cleans your siding with no lasting damage. All you'll need is a bucket of diluted laundry soap and a non-abrasive brush to apply. To wash off the soap, use your garden hose. If you have tougher stains, you can make a mixture of 1/3 cup detergent, 2/3 cup Trisodium phosphate and a gallon of water. Again use a non-abrasive scrubber and your garden hose to wash off.

Your fall and spring "honey-do" list will fly by with such easy steps to keep your siding clean. Polypropylene siding is low-maintenance but with all the extra charm and character of real cedar siding.