Household cleaning and maintenance has become relatively easier now that we can use pressure cleaning techniques. Pressure cleaners are multipurpose cleaning devices which can be used to clean a house and all its surroundings of dirt, mud and even oil and grease stains. Aluminum sidings which are practically maintenance free but grime and dust do build up on them and need to be removed regularly.

Pressure cleaning is the best way to make sidings look like new. To use a pressure cleaner to clean the aluminum sidings in your house you need a pressure washer which you can either buy or hire, a mild laundry detergent, access to an outdoor hose and electric power outlet.

Step 1

Close all windows and doors near the sidings. Make sure that no part of the siding is loose and repair any part that requires fixing. Otherwise the water sprayed at high pressure will cause damage.

Step 2

Cover up all flower beds or plants below the sidings with plastic sheets to avoid any damages. Also make sure that there are no exposed electrical fixtures in the vicinity.

Step 3

Remove all moveable items like furniture from near the house.

Step 4

If your aluminum sidings look hazy and show a tinge of green which could be mold, then bleach it. Use a mixture of a cup of bleach in about 60 ounces of water for this. Spray the siding with this mixture using a garden mister.

Step 5

Connect the pressure cleaning unit to an electric outlet. Fix the outdoor hose on to the cleaner and test wash a small area near you so that you know how to control the machine.

Step 6

Use the washer to rinse off the bleached area of the sidings.

Step 7

Fill up the detergent dispenser and dip the injector into the solution. The detergent should be a mild one and the amount you use should be enough to make a very light solution.

Step 8

If the sidings are at a height which the normal wand of the washer cannot reach then you can use a telescopic extender and if it is not absolutely necessary do not use a ladder. Standing on a ladder while pressure cleaning, could be dangerous.

Step 9

Begin washing the aluminum sidings with side to side movement. Start at the top and slowly proceed downwards. This ensures that the entire surface is cleaned. Make sure that the pressure cleaner is set at the lowest pressure level.

Step 10

As soon as you finish spraying the entire area, remove the injector tip, purge out the pipe and nozzle and rinse the washed area very thoroughly with plain water before the detergent dries. Otherwise the residue will leave ugly stains on the aluminum. Repeat the rinsing process if necessary to remove all dirt and grime and detergent suds from the sidings.

For pressure cleaning aluminum sidings which have not been cleaned for a long time you can use a 1% solution of Trisodium Phosphate in place of the detergent.