How to Remove Stains from Vinyl Siding

Vinyl is among the most popular choices for siding among homeowners—and for good reason.  Cost effective, durable, and sharp-looking, vinyl presents itself as an affordable-yet-sleek option.  Why drop serious coin on anything else when vinyl saves you money and protects your home for decades—all while looking good?


But what happens when you’ve had an accident and got a little wild with that wood stain?  Replacing siding can get expensive and become a headache rather quickly, but fortunately, thanks to vinyl’s easy nature, you can remove the stains yourself.

Easy DIY Method

Wood stain is tough to remove, but with a little patience and the right products, you can remove it yourself. You’ll need:

• 1 gallon of hot water
• 3/4 cup of oxalic acid granules
• A bucket
• Rubber gloves
• Ladder, if needed
• Scrub brush and soft sponge
• Stain removal product
• Pine cleaner product
• Deck stain remover
• Oil-based cleaner
• PVC Clear Pipe Cleaner
• Cloths or paper towels

Gather your ingredients.  You can find oxalic acid granules and stain removal products at your local home improvement store or online.  You can find PVC pipe cleaner at your local plumbing store. You’ll be using a variety of cleaners to tackle the wood stain.  Wood stains are notoriously difficult to remove, so it will take more than one type of cleaner to remove stains from vinyl siding.  The process involves a series of attacks on the wood stain, using all of these different chemicals from your arsenal.

Step One: Oxalic Acid

Mix the oxalic acid granules with the gallon of hot water.  Mix well (and don’t forget to wear your gloves for protection) and apply the mixture onto the stain.  Allow the mixture to set for about five minutes. After the mixture has set for a few minutes, scrub the stain with a soft sponge.  Continue soaking the stain by reapplying the mixture and allowing it to set.  For the second round, use a tougher scrub pad to vigorously remove the stain.

Step Two: Stain Remover

You’ll be going after the stain again for round two.  This time spray the stubborn stain with your stain removal product.  Allow the product to soak into the stain for a few seconds (it’s recommended you let the application sit for about ten to thirty seconds).  Grab clean microfiber cloths or paper towels to wipe the product away off of the stain.

Step Three: Pine Cleaner

There’s a good chance the stain is still not completely gone, so attack it with additional cleaning products.  For this round, you’ll be using cleaning products that contain pine to help remove the wood stain.  Using something like Pine-Sol or Simple Green, apply the cleaner to the stain and let it sit for longer—about ten minutes. Use your scrub brush (make sure that your brush is soft bristled, so you don’t scratch the vinyl siding), scrub the stain after the pine cleaning product has set for ten minutes or longer.

Step Four: Deck Stain Remover

Wood stains and deck stains are one in the same, so it makes sense to use a deck stain remover to tackle this difficult stain.  Pick up a deck stain remover like Olympic at your local hardware store and for the fourth attack, apply it against the stain, let stand for a few minutes, the proceed to scrub it off.

Step Five: Oil-Based Cleaner

Wood stains often refuse to budge with just one cleaner, so this time, use a cleaner that’s oil-based.  These cleaners are often called “orange oil-based cleaners” and you can find them at just about any store.  Products like Goo-Gone or Orange Goojoo will work for this step.  Rub the cleaner onto the stain with a clean rag.  Certain oil-based cleaners will have pumice in their mixture, allowing you to rough up the stain and help pull it from the vinyl without damaging it.

Step Six: PVC Pipe Cleaner

You’re almost finished in what seems to feel like a never-ending battle against that wood stain.  Next, you’ll be using PVC pipe cleaner (a common brand for this is PVC Clear Pipe Cleaner and can be picked up at a plumbing or hardware store).  Vinyl siding is comprised of polyvinyl chloride, which just so happens to be the same material that makes up a PVC pipe.  Apply this cleaner to the wood stain, let it sit, then gently scrub after a few minutes.

Step Seven: Finish with a Magic Eraser

Finish your wood stain removal by spritzing some Goo Gone onto the stain and allow it to soak in for about five minutes.  Grab a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and wet it with Windex or another standard cleaner.  Rub the stain with the Magic Eraser.

Removing a Wood Stain

Wood stains are one of the hardest to remove.  Although vinyl is considered durable, it does scratch, making this process a real challenge.  If your house has newer siding, you can always remove a panel and replace it (and if you need help, a siding professional can give you a hand). See for yourself why 500,000 homeowners trusted Feldco for their home improvement needs. Talk to a product specialist today and get a free quote now.