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Cleaning spider dropping from vinyl

5brown1 | Posted in General Discussion on July 30, 2007 11:01am

I have an apartment building sided in white vinyl. The North and East sides where the security lights are located become magnets for bugs and spiders. They leave an ugly mess on the siding. I haven’t come up with anything that will get the spots off. I’ve tried Simple Green, straight bleach, ammonia, laundry stain remover, 409, vinyl siding cleaner and in the past power washing.
I’ve tried searching on line for ideas but didn’t come up with anything that would work on a building.
Any one have any suggestions on products which might take the stuff off or better yet experience removing it?
Thanks for your help.

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Replies

  1. paulc127 | Jul 30, 2007 11:06pm | #1

    I know it sounds overly simple but try white vineager. I've also had success using a high concetration of oxyclean detergent dissolved in distilled water.

    Good luck

    1. 5brown1 | Jul 31, 2007 04:08am | #5

      Thanks I'll give those a try.

    2. 5brown1 | Jul 31, 2007 08:22pm | #12

      The white vinegar did not work but the Oxyclean did a pretty good job.
      I believe it removed 95% of the mess. I still have to see if I can find the house wash recommended by another poster but I'll be surprised if it does a better job.
      After I get the mess cleaned up I'm going to apply Tempo to try to keep the spider population away. Another poster suggested Talstar which I would try but I already have the Tempo on hand.
      Thanks for the suggestions.
      I'm still open for any other ideas as the Oxyclean will be washing a rather large area on a ladder by hand (when I could be golfing).

      1. User avater
        Sphere | Aug 01, 2007 12:30am | #13

        Scrubbing bubbles toilet cleaner, spray it on, let do its thing, hose it off. It IS POO afterall, LOL.  Or oven cleaner, but I'd test that somewhere not too conspicous in case it makes a REALLY clean spot.

         

        Edited 7/31/2007 5:31 pm ET by Sphere

  2. sledgehammer | Jul 31, 2007 12:01am | #2

    Are you sure it's bugs. Shotgun or artillery mold leaves unremovable spots.

    1. 5brown1 | Jul 31, 2007 04:09am | #6

      Yep, lots of spiders.

  3. kate | Jul 31, 2007 12:59am | #3

    Paint the siding dark brown or charcoal gray.  SW now has a special paint for vinyl.

    If you do paint it, don't pick out the corner boards & window trim in white - just do it all one color.  Makes for a less chopped-up look, unless your building is a Victorian or a Stick-style, which were made for a polychrome paint job...

    1. 5brown1 | Jul 31, 2007 04:14am | #7

      I'm not up for painting just yet but I always wondered how one could get a good paint job on vinyl as the expansion and contraction exposes areas where the pieces overlap. In the winter I can see areas where there has not been much fading because of the summer expansion of the pieces of siding.

      Edited 7/30/2007 9:17 pm ET by 5brown1

      1. kate | Jul 31, 2007 06:07pm | #11

        Supposedly, the new vinyl paints allow for that - I have no personal experience yet.I suspected that you weren't ready to paint yet, but it's the only real, long-term solution. I hate jobs you have to keep doing...

  4. Dogmeat12 | Jul 31, 2007 01:07am | #4

    I've had good luck using Olypic House Wash. You just hook a garden hose to it to spray it on, wait 15 minutes, and wash it off. It does leave the windows spotty so plan on cleaning them when you are done.

    1. 5brown1 | Jul 31, 2007 04:15am | #8

      I'll see if I can find some to try.
      Thanks

  5. User avater
    Luka | Jul 31, 2007 04:20am | #9

    When I read this title, I thought...

    "Jeez, I wish -I- had some cleaning spiders. If I did, I certainly wouldn't care where they were dropping in from..."

    ;o)


    Yeh... That'll work.

  6. JHOLE | Jul 31, 2007 05:09am | #10

    Google a product called Talstar.

    I live on Lake Erie And can tell you about spiders.

    I have none now - on my residence.

    I could arrange for 100 of my neighbors to sing the praises of the stuff, but I don't feel like it.

    It is an amazing product.

    Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City

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