Vinyl siding is a trendy choice amongst homeowners in the US. It’s durable, easy to install, and comes in many colors. However, vinyl siding can still get dirty, moldy, and mildewy. But the plus side is: it’s super easy to clean!
We’ll share the best vinyl siding cleaners available for your home. We spent hours researching dozens of products, real customer reviews, and expert advice. With our buying guide, product recommendations, and FAQs — you’ll have the cleanest house on the block.
- Multipurpose cleaning ability
- Safe, eco-friendly formula
- Treats grease & grime
- For multiple surfaces
- Revives & removes stains
- Safe for plants
- Use this cleaner anywhere
- Provides quick results
- Renews old and worn vinyl
- Easy and effective
- Suitable for various siding materials
- Multiple applicable methods available
- Eco-friendly formula
- Versatile for multiple surfaces
- Cleans everything from dirt to mold
- Safe on many surfaces
- Removes tough stains
- Must-have for mildew
- Contains oxygenated bleach
- Safe on surrounding landscape
- Versatile product worth your money
Review Methodology: At Oh So Spotless, our meticulous evaluation process for the best vinyl siding cleaners ensures you can trust our recommendations. We analyze each product from a user’s perspective, utilizing our hands-on experience and professional expertise. Our assessment criteria include performance, effectiveness, and safety, comparing products based on these key decision-making factors. We gather quantitative data, research, and first-hand findings to measure and rank each cleaner’s performance. Our review covers essential factors such as ease of use, eco-friendliness, and value for money, while also examining design choices and their impact on users. Trust us to deliver reliable, fact-based insights on the top vinyl siding cleaners to help you make an informed decision.
The Best Vinyl Siding Cleaner of 2023
We’ve spent hours reading product reviews, expert advice as well as applying our own insight. We looked at each product’s purpose, cleaning ability, application method, formula, and more. With this information, we have a list of the seven best vinyl siding cleaners to get your house sparkling fresh!
Charlie's Soap Indoor & Outdoor Surface Cleaner
Best Multipurpose Cleaner
You’re not alone if you want all-in-one products to save money and space in the cupboards!
Our recommendation for the best multipurpose vinyl siding cleaner is the Charlie’s Soap indoor and outdoor surface cleaner.
This product cleans pretty much everything. If you need to freshen up your vinyl or totally restore it — choose this product.
What We Like
Multipurpose Cleaning Ability
The tagline on this product is that it “cleans everything from false teeth to diesel engines”. So when we say it’s multipurpose — it’s multipurpose.
Use it on any indoor or outdoor surfaces, including decks, cars, boards, bikes, driveways, siding, walls, engines, furniture, grills, and more. Of course, this includes your vinyl siding.
Safe, Eco-Friendly Formula
Charlie’s Soap is an eco-friendly company, and this product is no different. It’s non-toxic and biodegradable. It contains no abrasives, perfumes, phosphates, bleach, lye, dye, or fillers.
You don’t even need to wear gloves when applying it. It’s made with naturally derived ingredients, proven strong enough to clean your home, but gentle enough to treat the environment kindly.
Treats Grease and Grime
This product was initially intended to cut grease and grime. While it can do more than that now, it still wonderfully cuts through grease and grime. It gently releases these stains inside and outside the home, providing clean results.
Super Easy to Apply
You’ll need a spray bottle to use this. But once you have that, it’s super easy to apply. Simply spray on, scrub, then rinse off.
For tougher stains, leave it on for 30 minutes before rinsing.
What We Don't Like
Requires Scrubbing and Rinsing
Charlie’s Soap indoor and outdoor cleaner isn’t a totally effortless cleaner. First, it requires scrubbing. Not a lot, but do keep this in mind.
Secondly, it can be pretty tricky to rinse it away thoroughly. Some customers note there is a residue left behind, and it needs a few rinses.
Product Specs
| Formula | Concentrated, but can also use at full strength |
| Application | Apply with a pressure washer, mop, cloth, or spray bottle |
| Type of Siding | Any |
| Purpose | Cleans, eliminates grease and grime |
| Size | One gallon |
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
Zep House and Siding Pressure Wash Cleaner
Best Budget Pick
On a budget, but still, need to get that vinyl siding spick and span? Zep House and Siding Pressure Wash Cleaner offer two bottles for an incredible price. It’s less than half the cost of our above pick.
Plus, the formula is concentrated. So in total, it makes up to 20 gallons of siding cleaner which should last a seriously long time.
It is designed to be used in a pressure washer, but you can also use it manually.
What We Like
Use for Multiple Surfaces
This cleaner can be used on vinyl, of course. But it’s also good for aluminum and wood siding.
Finally, it can also be used for cleaning brick, gutters, cement, and hard coat stucco. Do not use this on deteriorated surfaces.
Revives and Removes Stains
The Zep House cleaner revives your siding so that you can have a super clean exterior once again. It also removes stains of dirt and mildew. So your house can go from dull and dingy to bright and clean.
Safe for Plants
The Zep House cleaner will not cause damage to your plants. Of course, make sure to dilute it first if not using it in a pressure washer.
Professional Grade Product
This is a fantastic product if you want to clean as the experts do. It’s amazing at removing stubborn stains that have been set for a while, including mildew.
What We Don't Like
Timing Is Important
We recommend not using this product on a sunny day. If it dries before you’ve rinsed it, you can end up with streaky lines on your siding, which are difficult to remove. The sun can flash dry the product.
Might Cause Eye Irritation
This product might cause eye irritation, so wear goggles for extra safety (1). Also — keep away from children and pets.
Product Specs
| Formula | Concentrated — up to 20 gallons |
| Application | Manual or pressure washer |
| Type of Siding | Vinyl, wood, aluminum, brick, hard coat stucco, cement |
| Purpose | Removes dirt and mildew, and brightens |
| Size | One gallon (two bottles) |
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
Simple Green Pro HD
Best for Power Washing
The Simple Green Pro HD is a good option for power washing. You can use it in any pressure of power washer.
But it can also be diluted with water and applied to siding with a mop, cloth, or sponge.
The Simple Green Pro HD is a professional-grade product that you can use at home or in your residential building.
What We Like
Use This Cleaner Anywhere
This cleaner can be used on a multitude of surfaces. It can be used in the kitchen or bathroom for cleaning. You can also use it on floors, walls, industrial equipment, and appliances. Also — try it out on automotive or recreational vehicle cleaning and degreasing.
Works In Various Cleaning Equipment
You can use this cleaner in a pressure washer, dip tank, carpet cleaner, ultrasonic cleaner, and more. If you have cleaning tools that can take a solution, you’ll get tons of use out of this product.
Great Results In a Short Time
If your vinyl siding is looking a little worn, this will do the trick — quickly. It removes tough grease, grime, and stains super quickly.
Plus, it deodorizes! So if your home area has been stinky lately, this can solve the issue.
Renews Old and Worn Vinyl
If your house is aging, and your vinyl has been through a lot — this product can renew it. You don’t need to use a lot of elbow grease, either. A light scrub or using the pressure wash can make your vinyl look brand new again.
What We Don't Like
Costly
For what it is, it’s a little costly. Customers find it works just as well as dish soap — so it might not be worth the pennies for you. However, it does make up to 14 gallons, unlike a bottle of dish soap!
Product Specs
| Formula | Concentrated — makes 14 gallons |
| Application | Apply with a pressure washer, mop, or cloth |
| Type of Siding | Vinyl, wood, metal, and more |
| Purpose | Cleans, eliminates grease and grime |
| Size | One gallon |
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
Mold Armor FG503 E-Z House Wash
Best Cleaner for Mold and Mildew
Mold and mildew up the side of your house is never a pretty sight. The Mold Armor House Wash is our top pick for cleaning away mold and mildew.
It can even remove old stains, all without scrubbing! You just need to spray this onto your siding, wait for five minutes, then rinse it off.
Note, though, that this is not intended to be used with a high-power pressure washer.
What We Like
Easy and Effective
This no-scrub product is easy to use yet effective — removing mold, mildew, algae, and its accompanying stains. Simply spray on, wait five minutes, then rinse off! Whether they’re tough or light, this product can remove them.
Suitable for Various Siding Materials
You can use the Mold Armor House Wash on many types of siding. It works on vinyl, aluminum, and wood siding, brick stucco, concrete, trim, painted decks, fences, and more.
Multiple Application Methods Available
You can apply this product in a few ways — all being very easy. First, you could use a power washer, as long as it’s not high pressured.
But you can also apply this with a sprayer, roller, or sponge. So whatever materials make up your house, this cleaner will work.
No Scrubbing Required
One of the most exciting elements for homeowners is that you don’t need to scrub. This product does its magic while just sitting on the siding. It’s effortless for you.
What We Don't Like
It Contains Bleach
Note that this product contains bleach. So if you want something more eco-friendly, choose a different option. Because it contains bleach, wear protective gloves, eyewear, and old clothes.
Also, make sure to follow directions properly to protect your plants. Keep away from pets and children.
Finally — many pressure washers are not compatible with bleach products. So check the manufacturer’s instructions there, too.
Overpriced Bleach Product
Considering this is basically bleach, it’s expensive compared to regular Clorox bleach. You might get more for your money by using regular bleach diluted.
Product Specs
| Formula | Can be diluted or used at full strength |
| Application | Manual or pressure washer |
| Type of Siding | Vinyl, aluminum, and wood siding, brick stucco, concrete, trim, painted decks, fences, and more |
| Purpose | Kills mold and mildew and removes the stains |
| Size | One gallon |
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
Simple Green Oxy Solve Outdoor Cleaner
Best Eco-Friendly Vinyl Siding Cleaner
It’s important to be kind to the environment. For an eco-friendly vinyl siding cleaner, we recommend the Simple Green Oxy Solve Outdoor Cleaner.
It’s a safe, orally non-toxic formula. It uses peroxide to clean siding without the use of other harsh chemicals.
It’s biodegradable and approved by the EPA. So you can clean your vinyl siding with a clear conscience when you choose Simple Green.
What We Like
Eco-Friendly Formula
As mentioned, this is an eco-friendly choice. It’s kind to your home, skin, and garden. It won’t kill your lovely plants.
Versatile for Multiple Surfaces
You can use the Simple Green outdoor cleaner on a multitude of surfaces. It works on vinyl as well as wood, plastic, stone, composite, brick, metal, asphalt, and fabric. So, this product will come in handy a lot!
Cleans Everything From Dirt To Mold
This cleaner tackles dirt and grime but also stains from mold, mildew, moss, and algae. So if that’s what’s dampening your vinyl siding, Simple Green can help.
Uses the Power of Hydrogen Peroxide
If you know your cleaning stuff, you’ll know how handy hydrogen peroxide is. It’s a non-toxic but effective cleaner that works like bleach but without harsh chemicals. Well, that’s what’s in this outdoor cleaner.
What We Don't Like
Not for Harsh Stains
Simple Green is best for light and new stains. If you have an old, big stain — customers mentioned that this product might not do the trick. Or, you might have to get scrubbing really hard to remove it.
Product Specs
| Formula | Concentrated — up to 21 gallons |
| Application | Manual or pressure washer |
| Type of Siding | Vinyl, wood, composite, metal, fabric, plastic, wicker, concrete, stone, brick, and asphalt |
| Purpose | Lifts dirt, grime, and stains from mold, mildew, moss, and algae |
| Size | One gallon |
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
Goo Gone Patio Furniture Cleaner
Best for Stain Removal
If you need to spot treat stains on your vinyl siding, Goo Gone patio furniture cleaner is a top choice!
It can eliminate stains from food, mildew, grease, tree sap, bird droppings, and general dirt.
You can use it on your siding but also on furniture, too. It’s compatible with resin, metal, glass, wicker, plastic, wood, canvas, vinyl, and more.
What We Like
Safe on Many Surfaces
It’s a happy day when you find a stain remover that tackles a variety of surfaces! The Goo Gone outdoor furniture spray works on all sorts of furniture and siding materials. Whether you have a wicker chair, vinyl siding, or stains on your glass windows — keep this product nearby.
Removes Tough Stains
This product can handle most tough stains. Grease, grime, tree sap, mildew, food, and dirt stains are among the many stains this product can remove.
Must-Have for Mildew
If mildew is a big problem you face, this is a must-have product. Many customers rave about this product, stating it zapped away years of mildew build-up.
Easy To Use
No need to dilute this product into a bottle, pump sprayer, or pressure washer. Simply spritz it from the bottle onto the stain and let it do its thing.
What We Don't Like
Requires Scrubbing
The Goo Gone cleaner requires a bit of scrubbing and elbow grease. Even the most satisfied customers had something to say about the ease of use.
Yes, it’s spray-on, so it’s easy to apply. But it takes some effort after that to get rid of stains. A top tip, though, is to let the product sit longer than the package instructions. Just don’t let it dry on your siding.
Product Specs
| Formula | Ready to use |
| Application | Spray on |
| Type of Siding | Wood, plastic, vinyl, metal, and glass |
| Purpose | Remove stains |
| Size | 24 ounces |
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
DEFY 2.25 LBs Cleaner
Best No-Scrub Vinyl Siding Cleaner
No one craves scrubbing things clean. With the Defy Cleaner, you can get your vinyl siding sparkling clean with no scrubbing.
Although this is advertised as a wood cleaner, it works great on vinyl. It’s also compatible with fences, aluminum siding, sidewalks, and driveways. So you can get versatile use out of this product.
To use this product, you just need to apply it to the siding with a sprayer, mop or brush. Wait 20 minutes, then rinse off with water.
What We Like
Contains Oxygenated Bleach
Oxygen bleach is a safer alternative to chlorine bleach. So this is an excellent option for eco-cleaning of your vinyl siding! It can brighten, freshen and remove stains from your vinyl.
Safe for Surrounding Landscape
This is a safe option if you have lots of grass and plants around your house’s siding. DEFY has stated that it won’t harm grass and most plants. Generally, oxygen bleach isn’t known for killing plants at all (2).
Versatile Product Worth Your Money
The DEFY cleaner can be used on wood fences, wood siding, vinyl siding, aluminum siding, sidewalks, driveways, and more. If you have these materials around the home — this is a top product to choose.
Brightens Up Worn Vinyl
This product can brighten up weathered wood and vinyl. If your vinyl has dulled down after being in direct sunlight, this product can change that, giving your home new life.
What We Don't Like
Don’t Let It Dry
For the best, most aesthetic results — don’t let this product dry. It might leave streaky and uneven finishes. Instead, go in small sections at a time, rinsing the product off after 20 minutes max.
On the Pricier Side
Compared to our other recommendations, this is quite expensive per ounce. It’s great that it’s concentrated, making up to five gallons. But it’s still one of the more expensive options.
Product Specs
| Formula | Powder — makes five gallons |
| Application | Apply with sprayer, mop or brush |
| Type of Siding | Vinyl, wood and aluminum |
| Purpose | Cleans, brightens, and removes mildew |
| Size | 36 ounces |
Our Ratings
Community Feedback
| Product | Best | Formula | Type of Siding | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie’s Soap Indoor & Outdoor Cleaner | Multipurpose Cleaner | Concentrated | Any | Cleans, and eliminates grease & grime |
| Zep House & Siding Pressure Wash | Budget Pick | Concentrated | Six types | Removes, and brightens dirt & mildew |
| Simple Green Pro HD | For Power Washing | Concentrated | Vinyl, wood, metal & more | Cleans, and eliminates grease & grime |
| Mold Armor FG503 E-Z House Wash | Cleaner for Mold and Mildew | Can be diluted or concentrated | 8+ types | It kills mold,mildew & removes stains |
| Simple Green Oxy Solve Cleaner | Eco-Friendly Vinyl Siding Cleaner | Concentrated | 11 types | Lifts dirt, grime & stains |
| Goo Gone Patio Furniture Cleaner | For Stain Removal | Ready to use | Wood, plastic, vinyl, metal, & glass | Remove stains |
| DEFY 2.25 LBs Cleaner | No-Scrub Vinyl Siding Cleaner | Powder | Vinyl, wood & aluminum | Cleans, brightens, removes mildew |
How To Choose the Best Vinyl Siding Cleaner
Here are some important details to note when shopping to get the best vinyl siding cleaner for your home.
Ingredients
Don’t use products with organic solvents such as acetone, undiluted bleach, liquid grease remover, or furniture cleaners. This can damage the vinyl (3).
Look for assurance that the product won’t damage or kill grass or plants. If you have greenery around, you don’t want your vinyl siding cleaner to ruin them.
Environmental Impact
Look for products with the EPA Safer Choice label — this means it’s safer for you and the environment (4). Noting that a product is biodegradable and labeled as non-toxic are also key qualities to look out for.
Formula
Vinyl siding cleaners are either formulated as ready-to-use or concentrated. Concentrated formulas are more economical since they go a longer way, but they need to be diluted. However, if you are using in a pressure washer, the machine will do it for you.
Ready-to-use formulas are convenient but won’t last as long.
Application Method
You can use your cleaner in a pressure washer — but there are two other application options: built-in and manual.
Built-in means the product has a spray head or hose end. So you can spray it all over your vinyl siding. Or you can connect it to your outside tap and use it that way, mess-free.
Manual means you’ll need to pour the solution into a basin or bucket. Then apply it manually with a sponge, brush, or cloth. If you have a cleaner that works with a pressure washer, you will likely also have the option of manual application.
Type of Siding
While all of our recommendations work on vinyl siding, some are compatible with other siding types. If you have multiple materials in your house or are offering to help out a neighbor, check out these details. Many cleaners will work on a multitude of surfaces, such as brick, cement, wood, and more.
Purpose
Different siding cleaners have different purposes.
Some are formulated specifically for removing stains, while others attack mold and mildew. Others are meant to freshen and brighten, while some just do general cleaning.
Depending on your needs, note the purpose of the best vinyl siding cleaners so you can find the right one for you.
FAQs
Is It Okay To Power Wash Vinyl Siding?
Yes, but be careful. Vinyl siding isn’t as durable as other materials, such as metal and brick. Test in a small area of your vinyl siding on a low pressure first to check if the siding responds well.
Is Bleach Bad for Vinyl Siding?
If you use the bleach properly, it’s diluted, and you rinse it away, it shouldn’t damage your vinyl siding (5). The Mold Armor FG503 E-Z House Wash we recommend contains bleach. But because it is diluted, it’s not going to damage your siding.
How Do You Clean Vinyl Siding Without Scrubbing?
First, you can use the pressure washer. The pressure of the liquid acts as a scrubber to remove dirt from the siding.
But if you choose a good quality formula and let it soak on the vinyl for a decent length of time, you shouldn’t need to do much scrubbing. Simply rinsing it off afterward with a hose or cloth should easily lift and remove the dirt.
How Often Should You Clean Vinyl Siding?
Roughly once a year. However, if you live in a humid or dusty place, it might need to be more often to keep mildew and dirt under control.
Definitely check the vinyl siding every four months to see if it could benefit from a light clean. Prepare for a deeper clean once a year, but if the vinyl looks pretty neat — wait until next year!
Can I Make My Own Vinyl Siding Cleaner Solution?
You definitely can. If you’d like to be eco-friendly and save money, then this is a great option.
One recipe we recommend is this:
- Mix 3.5 cups of distilled white vinegar and ½ gallon of water in a bucket.
- Use a long-handled scrub brush to apply the solution to one section of the siding at a time. Start at the top and work your way down.
- Work in small sections, rinsing the vinegar solution off before it’s dry.
- Repeat in the next section.
How Do You Restore Color To Vinyl?
The best way to restore color to vinyl is to clean it with a vinyl siding cleaner like this Zep House and Siding Cleaner to remove the grime. Then apply a color restorer like this Rejuvenate to bring the old color back to life.
Is There a Wax for Vinyl Siding?
It’s not typical to wax your vinyl siding. If you’d like to add a protective sealant, a great option is Vinyl Brite Clear Protective Coating.
How To Use Vinyl Siding Cleaners Safely
- Work from the top down: There are narrow gaps between each piece of vinyl siding. If you go from the bottom up, you risk getting water in those gaps, which can cause dampness underneath the siding. Also, the dirty water drips down, so if you clean the bottom first, the dirt from the top will trickle down at the end.
- Shut off the power: Before you start cleaning, shut off the power to the exterior of your home. Water and electricity do not mix!
- Cover lighting and outlets: Use a plastic bag or protective cover to shield outside lights and outlets so they don’t get wet.
- Use low pressure: If using a pressure washer, use low pressure so that you don’t damage the vinyl.
- Wear gloves and glasses: This is an important tip, especially if you’re using a pressure washer since the cleaning solution can spray back at you. It’s best to keep your skin and eyes covered since many solutions can irritate your skin and eyes.
Bonus Tip
