If you had good intentions to give your vinyl fencing or railing a good cleaning this fall, but never got around to it, it’s not too late! Now is the time to clean everything off before the holidays and start the
new year fresh.
One word of caution: vinyl is more brittle in extreme cold, so if you’re in the middle of a deep freeze, you might want to wait until things warm up. But if your outdoor temps are at or above freezing, now is a fine time to take care of any dirt that built up over the summer or fall.
It's an Easy Job
The good news about vinyl cleaning is that it’s very easy to do. Since vinyl isn’t porous, dirt, algae, or other substances are on top of the vinyl, not embedded in it. Most wipe off quite easily. You can use water with a little bit of non-abrasive cleaning agent (like dish detergent). Simply add the detergent to the bucket of water, dip a rag or cloth into the water, and remove the dirt. Some stubborn spots might require a bit of elbow grease, but most dirt and discoloration will just wipe off. If you find a substance you can’t remove, we suggest a melamine eraser pad like a Magic Eraser® to solve the problem.
Once you’ve removed the dirt, rinse the vinyl to remove any residue and move to the next section.
Can You Pressure Wash It?
You can also use a pressure washer to clean your vinyl, but make sure it’s set to the correct setting. Too much pressure could damage the material. And of course, never use abrasive cloths or cleaners on your vinyl.
Learn More
If you’d like a more detailed look at how to clean your vinyl fence, railing, or garden items, take a look at our whitepaper, 7 Insider Tips for Cleaning Your Outdoor Vinyl, which has additional cleaning
tricks and hints. You can download it here: