Black Stains On Vinyl Siding

Mix a strong solution of siding cleaner or other strong detergent and hot water.

Black stains on vinyl siding.

The black stains on the vinyl siding shown at left may be a fungus or a black agae. Bleach works but if the house is in a generally damp area and the siding is facing north the mold fungus will just come back. Over time and through repeated changes in weather vinyl siding will attract and develop mold or. Scrub the area with a scrub brush and the solution.

Begin by spraying a 5 foot wide section of the siding from the ground to the top. The black tar like spots that are all over your vinyl siding are more than likely a fungus called sphaerobolus stellatus better known as artillery or shotgun fungus. Thankfully regular maintenance of your vinyl siding is fairly straightforward and simple. For tough spots like paint drips tar and pencil and pen marks use a nonabrasive bathtub cleaner or nylon scrub pad.

Pour the cleaning solution into a power washer. How to clean spots on vinyl siding general cleaning tips. But testing is probably not justified. Dish washing soap can be used instead of laundry detergent.

Protect yourself with rubber gloves and goggles. A microscopy lab examination of a sample from this surface would be needed to know for sure. If you are worried about damaging the vinyl you may use a lower pressure pump sprayer. Although it s most often found on the east coast it can grow anywhere and especially thrives in areas that have cool damp springs or rainy fall weather conditions.

You basically have to stay on top of it remove any tree branches that are up against it make sure your waterspouts or gutters aren t keeping it wet a lot and ask at the hardware if there is anything you can apply to slow down growth. Clean tough stains off with a nonabrasive cleaner or a homemade vinyl siding cleaner of soap and water that won t damage the surface of the vinyl. By the growth pattern we think this is almost certainly a dark colored algae. Remember not to angle the sprayer upward to keep the solution from seeping under the siding layers.