The long term solution to algae and mildew growth on your vinyl siding includes identifying and repairing the root cause.
How to wash algae off of siding.
Wash your home at least once a year with a liquid soap and garden hose to remove tree sap and other contaminants.
Vinyl siding can provide the exterior of your home a fresh clean appearance and requires much less maintenance than paint.
Using diy home ingredients like borax baking soda or vinegar.
When mildew gains a foothold homeowners often turn to diluted chlorine bleach sodium hypochlorite a k a.
Use the above mixture in the same power washer used in step 1.
The algae may appear brown or green in color and remain damp diminishing the appearance of your home and spreading out over time.
Suitable for hand and pressure washer usage these cleaning solutions work to remove dirt grime and mold.
Algae feeds especially well on sugar.
Always test any type of cleaner on a small section of siding to be sure it doesn t stain streak or otherwise damage the siding.
Find out how to best clean your vinyl siding with 7 homemade vinyl siding cleaner recipes.
Unlike mold this type of growth is mainly cosmetic and can be removed using minimal force and a few basic materials.
A good cleaner to try first is a mixture of 70 water and 30 white vinegar.
Algae growth is most common in areas that are shaded and due to the lack of sunlight remain damp for longer periods of time after it rains.
Green growth on your siding happens because your siding is not clean.
Your standard household whitener it appears to make mildew vanish but on porous surfaces such as wood or vinyl siding chlorine evaporates too quickly to get to the fungi s roots guaranteeing regrowth.
The bleach mixture alone should remove the algae mold and moss that is sometimes mistaken for algae.
If you have a lot of trees on your lot or if you have an abundance of woody plants these plants will leave a slight film of sugar deposits on your siding over time especially during spring when pollen and sap are running.
However vinyl siding that is left damp can result in the growth of unsightly algae.
How to remove algae from siding 1.