Vinyl siding is “low maintenance” but it certainly isn’t “no maintenance”.  Last week Cheri wanted to wash our house.  We had never washed it so it certainly needed it.  We decided to hand wash it rather than use a power washer.  Since we have a ranch house I figured it wouldn’t be too difficult to use a long handled soft bristle brush.  Cheri bought some special (probably expensive) vinyl siding cleaner, which I’m sure dish soap would have been just as good, but using wisdom acquired through years of being married, I didn’t mention that fact to Cheri.  

I didn’t realize how dirty siding can get.  I thought God sent rain to wash houses.  But, you know, the dabburn EPA has cleaned up the air so much that rain doesn’t even have enough acid to clean your house anymore.  

It took about 4 hours but the house looks like brand new.  Cheri at first was a little intimidated with the height when she was atop the fully extended ladder trying to scrub the peaks of the gables, but I was able to talk her through it.  It wasn’t easy, but as long as I remained calm and kept my voice steady she didn’t know how close to death she really was.  I don’t want to appear immodest, but I did a pretty good job talking her up the last 15’ or so, even if I have to say so myself!