Nowadays, vinyl fence installation is becoming more popular in residential homes. The merits are certainly there, with vinyl fencing being a great addition to any yard. With its rugged yet aesthetically pleasing looks, and the long-lasting toughness that it brings, vinyl fencing is definitely a top choice for anyone looking to spice up their yard.
While the material is not susceptible to rotting, splintering, warping, or even play host to pests, it is essential to remember to clean and maintain the fencing properly. This is especially important in climates where there are the full four seasons. By ensuring that your vinyl fencing is cleaned and maintained all the time, you will be saving yourself time and money in the future.
In order to give your vinyl fencing a longer lifespan and help make your yard look good, here are some ways you can go about cleaning and maintaining the newest addition to the yard.
Ways To Clean and Maintain Vinyl Fencing
Despite its hardiness and general durability, you have to remember that your vinyl fencing can still be sensitive to certain chemical cleaners such as bleach. Otherwise, it is perfectly well-placed to reap the benefits of other cleaning agents that you might have in mind.
Hosing It Down
For a light cleaning, you can just use your garden hose to spray your vinyl fencing with water. The likes of dirt, pollen, dust, or potential chalky residue can be gotten rid of with just a powerful stream of water. If you require a more comprehensive clean, try using a sponge with warm, soapy water. That will work well for most cases.
Another alternative is to use a pressure washer. Be wary of the different kinds that you may have access to, each comes with different specifications and abilities.
Consider pressure washers with the range of 2,000 to 2,800 PSI, this will give you the right amount of pressure to help you give the vinyl fencing a good wash.
Getting Into Cracks And Crevices
In addition to the basic cleaning, you might want to get real deep into the cracks and crevices that may have appeared in your vinyl fencing. This is where a simple cleaning solution can be really helpful.
Just combine a bucket of warm water with a small amount of dish soap or cleaning agent, get it all sudsy, and use a towel or dishcloth to soak it all in and scrub the fence with. This should help you get the more stubborn stains out, and give the vinyl fencing a new shine yet again.
In the case of more stubborn stains, such as mold, you will need the help of a specialized cleaner. There are many different kinds out there, and can help with specific problems such as iron stains or mold. Find what you need, and get to work. Otherwise, consider using a xylene cleaner, it should work wonders for all kinds of tough stains.
Last Resort
This will likely be your last option if everything else does not work. Bleach, by itself, can cause harm to the vinyl fencing. However, if you water it down before using it to clean, it should still be able to provide a good clean without causing damage to your fencing. If you have a non-white vinyl fencing in place, then bleach should definitely not be on your list.
Regular Maintenance
Instead of worrying about tough stains that may appear down the line, have a maintenance routine in place to give yourself the best shot at keeping things neat and tidy. Be sure to give your fencing a good spray every week, as well as a nice soapy wash every few weeks. This will keep you safe from potentially damaging and tougher stains in the future. There are also protective coatings to look into, especially against mold.
Conclusion
There are certainly many different ways one can go about keeping vinyl fencing clean and presentable. The more you know about what to do, the better chances you will have in maintaining your fencing. Try out the solutions above, and you will be surprised at how much time and effort you can save yourself in the future.