Removing Soot From Wood Siding

Clean wood siding your home s exterior really takes a beating.

Removing soot from wood siding.

Soot is a black film that develops from fireplaces wood stoves or barbecues. Work from the top left edge of the stain to the bottom replacing the sponge as it becomes clogged with soot. Restoration of vinyl siding damaged by soot. Removing soot requires using a product that can loosen it and break it down.

Vinegar is such a product and is safe for most surfaces. Step 1 fill a clean plastic or glass spray bottle half full of white vinegar. Mix a solution of 1 3 cup powdered detergent 2 3 cup household cleaner and one gallon of water. How to clean soot from hard surfaces.

Sweep the siding with a stiff broom or brush to remove as much of the loose soot as possible. However generic foam cleaner will usually be enough to remove soot stains. It is not enough the simply clean soot off the surface. Automotive polishing rubbing mix or plastic resin cleaner may work to remove the soot stains from the vinyl siding on the outside of the building.

Diluted in water and applied often with a stiff scrub brush it can. To clean soot stains from walls begin by using a dry cleaning sponge to wipe the soot from the wall with downward strokes. Then repeat this process until you ve removed as much loose soot as you can. How to clean soot off of wood.

Test clean areas of heaviest damage first to determine if cleaning is even possible. Soot on vinyl siding can permanently alter the color of the siding so the siding may need to be replaced. Different types of siding will require different cleaning supplies. Next soak a sponge in soapy.

Begin by spraying the foam cleaner onto your siding. It is important to test the area with bleach to determine if the spots are in fact soot. This will prevent the soapy mixture from damaging any landscaping. Fill the rest of the bottle with water.

Wood is naturally spongy and tends to absorb soot and odors. Using murphy oil soap or wood cleaner and cotton rags clean all wood. Some black spots on the house siding could be mold or just plan dirt. If the soot reside is mostly dry you can use a chemical sponge dry cleaning sponge to clean the gross soot residue.

Using a pressure washer spray the siding with a mild degreaser. If possible buy one specifically designed for your home s particular type of siding whether it is wood vinyl aluminum or something else. Mold dissipates when you use bleach however soot remains. Begin by protecting plants and shrubbery with the plastic tarp.

It wasn t so long ago that trisodium phosphate tsp was a go to choice for tough cleaning jobs especially on exteriors.