How to Clean the Aluminum Siding Of Your Home in Ottawa, Ontario.

Does your exterior aluminum siding in Ottawa, Ontario look a little dated and soiled?
It probably just needs a good washing, and that’s what we’re about to share in today’s article.

Ideally, you should clean your siding using a high-pressure cleaner, and if there is mold, you should first remove it with a solution based on bleach or white vinegar.

Inspect your coating.

Any repair is always done before washing.
With a pressure washer, you risk sending water jets under the blades, which could damage the wall behind it.
If you are not experienced in the area of repairs, plan to bring a professional to make the necessary repairs.

Check for Mold Spots.

They are green, gray and sometimes black.
Pay particular attention to the dents and the lower part of the siding.
The eradication of mosses and molds requires specific products.
A simple wash, even with a pressure washer, will not be enough.

Prepare Your Cleaning Solution In A Bucket.

Fill the bucket with hot water and add in a biodegradable detergent.
Read the instructions on the product packaging.
If you have to add bleach or vinegar, add about 1 part for every 4 parts of water.
If mold is present, add bleach or vinegar to your solution.
Do not mix bleach with a product containing ammonia.

Protect All Plant Parts.

If there is lawn or flowers at the bottom of your siding, protect them with a film that allows them to breathe and but still protects them from detergent overspray and residues.

Moisten Your Siding With The Solution.

Take a sprayer and work from top to bottom spraying the entire siding with the solution. Once the entire surface has been treated, leave it on for a few minutes before scrubbing it.
The prewash helps to loosen the surface dirt, before tackling the more encrusted dirt.

Scrub the Surface.

Always move from top to bottom. Start scrubbing a portion of 30 to 40 cm high by 1 to 1.5 m wide.
If the dirt does not come off well, wet your brush again.

Rinse off The Scrubbed Part.

When the strip is clean, rinse it with a garden hose fitted with a nozzle set on a slightly wide spray. Always rinse from top to bottom.

If you’re using a pressure washer;

Start the high-pressure washer.

• Place yourself at sixty centimeters –depending on the results and splashes, you will adjust this distance. Generally, the spray is perpendicular to the siding or slightly dipping.
• A pressure washer is not a harmless tool. If misused, it can leave marks or deteriorate the coating.
• See if the cleaning is effective. If there is dirt left, you will scrub with a sponge dipped in detergent, after which you will rinse with a low-pressure spray.
Note: Trisodium phosphate (TSP) is a cleaning product, but it is extremely irritating and dangerous for the environment. Avoid as much as possible any product containing TSP unless you have an extremely stained siding.

Need Help with Exterior Home cleaning and Painting in Ottawa, Ontario?

If you need help cleaning and painting the exterior of your home in Ottawa, Ontario, our team at Millers Painting Company can help.

We offer free paint consultancy alongside high-quality residential and commercial painting services in Kanata, Nepean, Barrhaven, and Westboro areas of Ottawa, Ontario.

To get started with us, book a FREE estimate or call us on 613-979-5435.

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