First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Hose off loose dirt before you scrub.
- Mix mild dish detergent with water; bleach is for black spots only.
- Test a hidden spot before anything stronger.
Siding stains often clear with a garden hose and a soft brush, and a mild dish detergent handles most of what's left. Pressure washers can damage siding in the wrong hands, so keep the hose for the rinse and test any cleaner on a hidden spot first. Chlorine and harsher products call for more care.
Rinse latex or mulch marks with the hose before you reach for a brush, so loose grit doesn't scratch the panel. Dried stains on vinyl siding usually need a second round of dish detergent and a gentle scrub rather than more hosing. On aluminum siding, go gentle with the brush so the finish doesn't scuff.
Before you start
What this material 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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- Garden hoseFor the first rinse and the final rinse.
- Soft brushScrubs the siding without marking it. (opens Amazon)
- Mild dish detergentThe only cleaner the main steps need. (opens Amazon)
- Plastic drop clothProtects plants and nearby surfaces from overspray. (opens Amazon)
- Household bleachOnly for a diluted dab on black spots, used last. (opens Amazon)
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5 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 5
Clear debris and protect plants
Sweep away leaves and loose debris before anything else. Cover nearby plants with a plastic drop cloth, and spray them with water to dilute any overspray.
Step 2 of 5
Test a hidden spot first
Test any cleaner, and any pressure washer setting, in an inconspicuous area before you use it on the main wall. Wait to see how the siding reacts, and move on only if the test spot looks the same.
Step 3 of 5
Rinse, then scrub gently
Rinse the siding with a garden hose, then scrub with mild dish detergent in water and a soft brush. Start gentle, and only reach for a pressure washer if the scrub doesn't lift the stain.
Tip. Work in small sections so the scrub stays even.
Careful. Never aim a pressure washer upward at vinyl; keep the spray angled down.
Step 4 of 5
Rinse out the soap
Rinse thoroughly with the hose so no detergent is left on the siding. Move to the next section only after the one you just scrubbed is fully rinsed.
Step 5 of 5
Dab black spots with diluted bleach
If black spots remain, dab only those spots with a diluted household bleach solution, never full strength. If they lighten, they're likely mildew, so rinse the bleach off right away with the hose.
Tip. Dab with a cloth or small brush rather than pouring it on.
Careful. Never mix bleach with ammonia or a detergent containing ammonia; it forms a toxic gas.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best stain removers for siding, roof & exterior
Pick a mild liquid dish detergent for the scrub, and an oxygen-bleach deck cleaner only for wood. Read the label on any product before you use it.
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.
See what to do for what you're seeing →If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →Know the stain? Use its own guide
Every stain on siding, roof & exterior
Mold & outdoor3
Discoloration & marks5
Water, rust & minerals5
Paint, glue & adhesives4
Oil & grease1
Wax, gum & sticky2
Body fluids2
Ink, marker & crayon1
No match. Try the main search for anything else.
How to tell it's working
You'll see the stain lighten as you scrub, and the rinse water should run clear. If the mark doesn't change after a gentle scrub, don't push harder; the bleach dab is only for black spots, and the remedies below cover the rest.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your siding, roof & exterior
Latex, mulch, spider, oil-based and splatter marks
The mild detergent scrub is the safe first move for latex, spider, and splatter marks, and it's the only cleaner you need. Oil-based splatter is the one to keep from smearing, so scrub it lightly and rinse before it spreads.
Mulch leaves a reddish-brown tint. Don't reach for an acid brightener on vinyl unless a hidden test spot comes out clean.
Aluminum siding
Aluminum siding gets the same gentle start: hose it, then scrub with mild dish detergent and a soft brush. Skip baking soda scrubs on aluminum, since they're listed as unsafe on it.
If a stain doesn't lift, dab only the black spots with the diluted bleach, as the last step, and rinse it off right away. Keep to a soft brush rather than a metal one at every stage.
White vinyl siding
White vinyl shows every mark, so the detergent scrub and hose rinse are the best choice. Stick to plain detergent and water, and skip colored vinegar, which can leave a stain.
If a mark won't lift, test in a hidden spot first and then move to the bleach dab on black spots only. Rinse each section right after you scrub it so no film is left to show.
House siding and sprinkler
Sprinkler stains on house siding follow the same gentle order: hose first, then the detergent scrub and a full rinse. Work on the whole run of siding that the spray hits, not only the mark, so the clean area matches.
If the mark stays, test a stronger cleaner in a hidden spot first, and skip acid, which isn't supported on vinyl. Stop as soon as the stain lifts.
Cedar siding
Cedar is a soft wood, so hand-scrub it with a soft brush and mild detergent along the grain, then rinse well. For mildew, an oxygen-bleach deck cleaner can work: keep it wet for about 15 minutes, then scrub along the grain.
Let the cedar dry fully before you judge the color, since wet wood looks darker than it will once dry.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Old vinyl stains that have been sitting for months often need a second pass rather than a stronger cleaner. Repeat the detergent scrub and hose rinse on the same spot, and wet the area first so the brush has something to work with.
A stain that has dried into the siding responds better to a longer wet soak than to harder scrubbing. Keep the spot damp with the hose between passes, and never let the detergent itself dry on it.
If the mark is still there after careful repeats, stop rather than switching to a harsher product. Use the bleach dab only on black spots, as the last step, and call a pro if the mark is large or the siding is cracking.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on siding, roof & exterior?
Dried, old, or stubborn stains on vinyl often tempt people toward kitchen and fabric remedies. Some of these suit vinyl siding and others don't, so check before you reach for one.
Works1Skip5Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use solvents or undiluted bleach
Vinyl can't take organic-solvent cleaners, including nail polish remover, furniture polish, and liquid grease remover. Undiluted chlorine bleach is also off the list, so keep any bleach diluted and last.
Don't use steel wool or wire brushes on wood
Leftover iron from steel wool or wire reacts with the wood and stains it. Use a soft or synthetic-bristle brush along the grain instead.
Don't let soap dry on the siding
Dried soap or cleaner can leave its own mark, so rinse each section right after you scrub it. A quick rinse now saves a second round of scrubbing later.
Don't scrub cedar hard or power wash it
Caustic cleaners, aggressive scrubbing, or a pressure washer on soft woods like western redcedar remove wood from the surface. Hand-scrub with a soft brush instead.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
Black spots return within months
Mildew thrives where moisture lingers. Keep gutters, downspouts and dryer vents from discharging onto the deck, allow airflow between boards, and clean after the last major pollen event.
Mildew covers a large area of vinyl siding
PEPA lists a solution of 30% vinegar and 70% water for larger mildew areas. Rinse it off before it dries.
Wood looks silver when dry even after cleaning
The wood's natural color has leached out. Leave those silver fibers in place, because they absorb stain well.
Red-brown streaks run down cedar or redwood
That is tannin bleed. Use an oxalic-acid wood brightener per its label, then rinse.
When to call a professional
Call a pro if the siding is cracking, or if the stain covers a large area and you're not comfortable running a pressure washer. A pro can test the right cleaner and pressure before any damage happens.
Questions
How do you clean stains on vinyl siding?
Start with a hose rinse, then scrub the stain with mild dish detergent in water and a soft brush. Rinse the area thoroughly before the soap dries. Test the cleaner in a hidden spot first, and keep the spray angled down.
Is it safe to clean stained asbestos siding?
No, so don't scrub, pressure wash, or power wash asbestos siding yourself. Have a licensed asbestos professional look at it before you clean or remove anything. That's the safe starting point for any old siding you suspect contains asbestos.
What stain remover works on vinyl siding?
Start with mild liquid dish detergent and a soft brush; it's the safest place to begin. Bleach is a last-resort dab for black spots only, diluted and rinsed off right away.
Can you use bleach on white vinyl siding?
Only as a diluted dab on black spots, and only as the final step after the rest of the cleaning is rinsed out. Plain detergent and water handle the rest of the white siding.
What if the stain has been on vinyl siding for months?
Repeat the detergent scrub and hose rinse on the same spot, and keep it damp between passes. Stop once the spot stops changing, and don't reach for a harsher product.
Can you pressure wash vinyl siding?
Yes, but test the setting in a hidden spot first and use the lowest pressure that cleans. Stop if the siding starts to crack or flex, and call a pro if you're unsure.
Related
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.