Cleaning Your House Siding

photo (1)Mold is present everywhere including both indoors and outside.  Most times molds that grow on the outside of your house don’t pose health problems but it can definitely be an eye sore!  Mold can appear as discoloration or darkening on siding, decks and roofs.

Molds grow on surfaces usually where it is dark or shady, when temperatures are warm (although it can happen anywhere above freezing to nearly 100 degrees) and where there is a moisture source including humidity in the air.  Proper ventilation around the house is important.  If you have trees and plants that are growing close to the house it can provide an environment for mold to grow especially if it is on the north side of the house where there isn’t much sunlight.  Trimming the plants and keeping the surfaces of your house clean will keep the outside of your house mold and mildew free.

It is a good idea to wash your siding every year.  If you have a soft brush that attaches to the hose it will work well. If you need more than water and a brush you can use 1/3 cup mild household cleaner like TSP (trisodium phosphate) in a gallon of water.  If you need something stronger you can increase the cleaner to 2/3 cup and add 1/3 cup laundry detergent.  Always remember to rinse the siding after washing it.

If you have mold or mildew growing on the siding you can add 1 quart of bleach to the cleaning solution listed above.  Anytime you are adding bleach to clean you need to make sure that the cleaner you are using doesn’t contain ammonia.  Again rinse well after using this cleaner.

If there are plants located near where you are cleaning you need to protect them by covering them with plastic.  Be sure and rinse off any bleach solution right away if it comes in contact with your plants.

By providing regular cleaning and removing mold when it starts to grow you can prolong the life of your siding and keep your house looking nice.

Beth Marrs

I graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Adult Home Economics Education. I love to cook and entertain and spend time with my family.

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4 thoughts on “Cleaning Your House Siding

  1. My parents had a house in a beautiful middle class home in Michigan. The house was unfortunately located near several ponds which caused mold to appear all over the siding . We also noticed that it spreads and can cause horrible damage to the deck boards. Beth, this is wonderful information and I really enjoyed reading it. Thank you!

  2. Well written article. Whether it is a single room, house or office it should look clean and mold free. One of the best ways to get rid of house mold is by vacuuming your space on a regular basis. Every house corner should be cleaned properly and should not be wet.

  3. Christie, thank you for the feedback. For a large house or multiple stories or an out-of-control situation, I totally agree with you on getting help. Further, it is important for anyone cleaning their house siding to use a product that is right for the type of siding as some products should not be used on vinyl or metal. Also, one needs to be very careful if a power washer is used.

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