Is there anything homier than the look of your house, flanked by your blooming roses? Sadly, over time, dirt, grime, mold, and mildew can accumulate on your house siding, leaving it looking dull and worn, and even damaging it. No! Not YOUR home! House siding needs to be cleaned at least once a year. But traditional siding cleaners can contain plant killers like sodium hypochlorite (professional grade bleach) and sodium hydroxide. How can you clean your siding and protect your expensive landscaping at the same time?
With eco-friendly Pro-Tek™, you can restore the beauty of your siding–without harming your plants! In this blog post, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide. Did we mention Pro-Tek™ is just the ticket to get rid of artillery fungus?
Step 1: Gather the Necessary Supplies
Before you begin the cleaning process, gather all the supplies you will need. This includes:
- Eco-Friendly Pro-Tek™ Cherry or Lemon. Pro-Tek is a powerful cleaner that is safe to use on vinyl or wood siding. It is an environmentally friendly solution that effectively removes dirt, grime, mold, and mildew–without harming your plants. (Note: A lot of you have Pro-Tek™ HD, and it is amazing on grease and stains, but HD is NOT recommended for your plants. Take advantage of our Eco-Clean Siding Sale below and get some plant-friendly Cherry or Lemon.)
- Garden Hose: You will need a garden hose with a spray nozzle to rinse off the siding.
- Soft-Bristled Brush: Use a soft-bristled brush to scrub away any stubborn stains or dirt.
- Safety Gear: While Pro-Tek™ is non-toxic, and won’t irritate your skin like other cleaning solutions, it is essential to wear protective gear. Gloves will protect your hands from callouses and splinters. Safety goggles will keep your eyes safe from debris.
- Tunes and snacks. Let’s face it, cleaning the house siding is going to be a chore, but you can make it fun by adding good music and yummy eats.
Step 2: Prepare the Area
Before you start cleaning, it is important to ready the house and your plants. While Pro-Tek™ will work wonders on your carpet, today isn’t the day! Close any windows or doors to prevent soapy, moldy water from an unwelcome entry. Move any outdoor furniture or Little Michalea’s pink Barbie 4-wheeler so they’re not in your way. (If you move chairs, we recommend turning them upside down to keep the neighbors from having a seat and watching the show. Unless you don’t mind the company? To each their own.) Pro-tek™ won’t hurt your plants like bleach and chemical cleaners will, but it’s still a good idea to cover plants or shrubs with plastic sheets or damp towels. Wet leaves tend to scorch in the hot sun, so keeping them dry will protect them. Give your plants a good watering at the roots before you clean, too. It will lessen the amount of waste water they absorb.
Step 3: Dilute Pro-Tek™
Pro-Tek™ is super concentrated, so for any project you will need to dilute it with water. For house siding, a 10:1 dilution will make the mold and grime shiver in its boots! If you have a 10 quart bucket, mix 1 quart Pro-Tek™ with 10 quarts water. If you need help diluting give us a call. We’re pretty good at the math by now. We’d love to help you. 1.888.776.8351
Step 4: Test a Small Area
Before applying the solution to the entire house siding, it is always a good idea to test a small inconspicuous area to ensure compatibility with your wood or vinyl. We’re 99.9% sure you won’t have an issue, but better safe than sorry.
Step 5: Apply Pro-Tek™
Now comes the fun part! Using a garden sprayer or a soft-bristled brush, apply the diluted Pro-Tek™ solution to your house siding. Start from the top and work your way down, applying the solution in small sections. You did great! Time for a break while you allow the solution to sit for a few minutes to break down dirt and grime. Go get some lemonade!
Step 6: Scrub and Rinse
While you were enjoying a refreshing beverage, Pro-Tek™ was busy eating the mold and grime on your house siding. It’s fun to watch it disappear! Use a soft-bristled brush to gently scrub the siding, paying extra attention to any heavily soiled areas. Work in a circular motion to loosen stubborn stains. Once you have scrubbed the section, rinse it thoroughly with a garden hose. Useful tip: Avoid using high-pressure washers, as they can potentially damage your house siding.
Step 7: Repeat as Necessary
If it’s been a while since you’ve cleaned your house siding, you might have particularly tough stains or heavy soil. We got you. Apply more Pro-Tek™ solution, scrub, and rinse. We know you might be getting tired, but avoid letting the solution dry on the siding, as it may leave residue behind.
Step 8: Final Rinse and Inspection
Once you have cleaned your entire house siding, give it a final rinse to remove any remaining cleaning solution or debris. If you opted to let your neighbors watch you (kinda creepy, but we don’t judge), they’ll probably be the first ones to point out any spots you missed. Be a good neighbor and let them have a turn with the scrub brush. That’s how to handle know-it-alls, in our opinion. Inspect the siding closely to ensure all dirt, grime, and stains have been effectively removed. Congratulations! Your house looks AMAZING! Practically brand new.
Aren’t you glad you don’t have do this again until next year?
Need more Pro-Tek™ Cherry or Lemon? Take advantage of our Eco-Clean Siding Sale to save big. Send us before and after pics! We’d love to see them!
