First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Erase loose marks first with a soft eraser, such as an art gum eraser.
- Blot and tamp the wet area instead of rubbing it.
- Pretest any cleaner on an inconspicuous area first.
Pencil and pool chalk marks on siding are a loose powder that gets ground into the surface, so lifting the dust comes before any wash. The material you're cleaning sets how hard you can go and which cleaners are safe to use. A fresh mark may lift with a wash and rinse, while one that has weathered in may need repeat rounds.
Pool chalk does stain siding, so work from the top down to keep runoff from streaking the lower boards. Scrub vinyl gently, because hard pressure can leave a dull patch that picks up dirt faster. If the mark still shows after a couple of rounds, repeat the warm, sudsy wash on that one spot, rinse it with clear water, and check it in shade before you go further.
Before you start
What siding, roof & exterior can take
Safe to use2
- Water
- Oxygen bleach
Use with care5
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
5 items
What you'll need
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- Soft art gum eraserLifts the loose pencil or charcoal particles before any water touches them. (opens Amazon)
- Mild liquid dish soapMakes the warm, sudsy water that lifts what the eraser leaves behind.
- Soft cloth or spongeWipes and blots without scratching the siding. (opens Amazon)
- Garden hose with a low-pressure sprayRinses the soap off gently, since low-pressure spray is the recommended rinse.
- Clean, dry clothWipes the siding dry so no soap film is left behind.
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Erase the loose marks
Rub a soft art gum eraser lightly over the mark in short, gentle strokes. Keep going until the eraser stops picking up gray, because the loose particles come off first. Don't press hard or scrub, since that works the particles further into the surface.
Tip. Wipe the eraser crumbs away with a dry cloth so they don't smear into the mark.
Step 2 of 5
Pretest on a hidden spot
Pick a spot nobody sees, such as a low corner or the back of a shutter, and wet it with the warm, sudsy water you plan to use. Let it dry, then look for streaks, a color change or a dull patch. If the spot looks fine, go ahead; if not, stop and rethink the method before you touch the mark.
Step 3 of 5
Wash with warm, sudsy water
Dip a soft cloth or sponge into warm, sudsy water, wring it out, and wipe the marked area with light, even strokes. Work from the edges toward the middle so the mark doesn't spread across the panel. Blot and tamp any wet spots rather than rubbing them.
Careful. Don't let cleaners or soap dry on the siding.
Step 4 of 5
Rinse with clear water
Rinse the area with clear water from a garden hose on a low-pressure spray, working from the top down so the soapy water runs off the siding. Keep rinsing until no suds or slippery film are left. Let the water run down the boards rather than aiming it up at them.
Tip. Rinse a little past the marked area so no soap line is left at the edge.
Step 5 of 5
Dry and check the mark
Wipe the siding dry with a clean cloth, then check the spot in shade. If the mark is gone or only a faint shadow is left, you're finished. If a clear gray mark remains once the siding is dry, it has set in and needs the set-in treatment below.
Tip. Check in shade, since sun glare hides a faint mark.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for pencil on siding, roof & exterior
A soft art gum eraser covers the first pass, and the warm, sudsy water and a clear hose rinse cover the rest. Buy a commercial deck cleaner, made for wood, only if you reach the set-in option.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on siding, roof & exterior, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
A clean spot dries even, with no gray edge and no dull patch. A faint shadow that stays after drying can be leftover particles, so one more pass with the eraser and the wash may clear it.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your siding, roof & exterior
Vinyl siding
Vinyl takes warm, sudsy water and a rinse, but nothing harsher. Keep organic-solvent cleaners, undiluted chlorine bleach, liquid grease remover, nail polish remover and furniture polish away from it, since each can damage the surface.
If you use a pressure washer at all, keep it off the upward angle and never aim it up under the boards. Otherwise, the steps as written are the whole job.
Fiber cement siding
Fiber cement can't take a high-pressure power washer or an abrasive sponge. Don't use bleach, acid or a hard metal brush on it either, since those can damage the surface and finish.
Stay with the eraser, warm sudsy water and a low-pressure hose rinse, and use a soft cloth or sponge for every pass.
Cedar and other soft woods
Western redcedar and other soft woods can't take aggressive scrubbing with caustic cleaners or power washing, because it removes wood from the surface. Keep your scrubbing light and skip the power washer altogether.
Never use steel wool or a wire brush on wood board products, since leftover iron reacts with the wood and stains it. Stick with the eraser and warm, sudsy water first.
Weathered or grayed wood siding
Wood that has gone silver and gray from weather may have little natural color left to show. If all of that color has leached out, the wood stays silver when dry and those fibers should be left in place.
Only the pencil or charcoal should come off, so stop once the mark is gone instead of trying to bring back the wood's original tone.
Old, dried or set-in stains
A mark that has sat on siding for weeks or years is harder, because the particles have had time to work into the surface. Start by repeating the eraser and the warm, sudsy water wash before trying anything stronger.
If a mark has dried into wood siding and one more wash doesn't lift it, the set-in option is a commercial deck cleaner. Keep it wet on the wood for about 15 minutes, misting with a hose if it dries, then rinse it off with clear water.
On vinyl or fiber cement, don't go stronger than the water wash, because a mark that survives it is better left faint than scrubbed through the finish. What's realistic is a lighter mark rather than a perfect one, and a faint shadow is a fair result.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on pencil on siding, roof & exterior?
Most household remedies for pencil marks don't suit siding, and an eraser with mild soap and water is all it needs. Here is what to skip and why, along with the one remedy that's built into the steps.
Skip5Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use gasoline, lighter fluid or carbon tetrachloride.
These are sometimes suggested as solvents, but pencil on siding doesn't need them. Keep any solvent away from open flames, pilot lights and sparks, and don't smoke while you work.
Don't start with a strong cleaner.
If you don't know what the siding is made of, begin with the eraser and warm, sudsy water only. Stronger cleaners and removers are for the set-in option, and only where the material allows them.
When to call a professional
Call a professional if the mark survives the set-in option or the siding is damaged, since they can judge the material. If the wood is old enough that it may be CCA-treated, don't cut or burn it, because sawdust and smoke contain arsenic.
Questions
Does pool chalk stain siding?
Yes, it can, because pool chalk is a powder that rubs into the surface the way pencil lead does. Erase or wipe off the loose powder first, then wash with warm, sudsy water and rinse well.
Will water alone remove pencil marks?
Usually not on its own. Pencil particles don't dissolve in water, so the eraser has to lift the loose marks first and the sudsy water carries away what's left.
Why is the mark still there after it dries?
The particles have likely worked into the surface, so it's a set-in mark. Repeat the eraser and wash once, then use the set-in option if a clear gray line remains.
Will the wood look silver after cleaning?
If the wood has weathered to silver, it may stay that way when dry. Where all the natural color has leached out, those fibers should be left in place rather than scrubbed back.
Can I use bleach on siding?
Not on vinyl or fiber cement, and only with caution on wood siding. Skip chlorine bleach; if a mark won't lift, use the set-in option instead.
Is a pressure washer safe on siding?
No, the safer choice on vinyl and fiber cement siding is a low-pressure hose rinse. Erase loose pool chalk first, then wash with warm, sudsy water and rinse well.
Pencil on other materials
Other stains on siding, roof & exterior
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.