Cleaning a Vinyl Fence

Vinyl material is the easiest to upkeep of all fence material, but even vinyl needs up keep every now and then. This article will go step by step on how to clean your vinyl fence. Also, it lists tips on how to make your fence last longer and how to avoid needing a repair.

HOW TO CLEAN VINYL FENCE:

Materials Needed:

• Water hose
  

• Bucket of soapy water or spray bottle of vinyl cleaning solution.
  

• Soft cloth rags
  

• Soft scrub brush (for tougher stains or dirt)
  

Level of Difficulty:

• 2 (Out of 5) – Vinyl fence is relatively easy to clean but can require a little “elbow grease” or extra scrub for some tougher stains and dirty spots.
  

Recommended Time Frame for Cleaning a Vinyl Fence:

• For maximum results; you should clean your vinyl fence at least once every 3 – 6 months.
  

Cleaning:

A few reasons why you would need to clean your vinyl fence would be: dirt and/or grass from the ground accumulating on the fence due to cutting the grass, leaves, debris after a storm, and more  rarely,  a type of chalk build up can develop on parts of the vinyl fence. These reasons are not major and are easily cleaned as explained below.

The majority of vinyl fences can be cleaned very easily by just spraying the fence down with a water hose. However, if there are some tough stains that a water hose does not take care of just follow the method below and your fence will look brand new every time you clean it!

To prepare for cleaning a vinyl fence, you will want to decide if you are going to use a bucket of soapy water, a vinyl cleaning solution (can be purchased at your local hardware store), or a combination of both. If you are using a bucket of soapy water you will want to fill the bucket with water to your desired amount and mix an environmentally safe cleaning solution in the bucket. (TIP: If it is environmentally safe, it is vinyl fence safe)

After you have your bucket of soapy water, all you must do now is get your soft cloth rag wet via the water in the bucket and wipe down the areas of the fence that need to be wiped down. If you are using a spray bottle of vinyl cleaning solution, just spray the areas of the fence that need cleaned and wipe with a dry soft cloth rag. When you are finished cleaning an area of the fence, rinse it off with a water hose and allow it to air dry.

Things to Avoid:

• NEVER paint a vinyl fence
  

• NEVER place a barbeque next to your vinyl fence
  

• NEVER screw attachments to your vinyl fence this could void your warranty.
  

• AVOID hanging heavy items on your vinyl fence (i.e. potted plants, heavy ornaments.)