Help! My vinyl siding turned white after using chemicals to clean it!

Using paint removal chemicals on vinyl siding can discolor the underlying siding and turn it white. This most often appears as white spots or streaks and is a serious headache.

We have spent years figuring out how to fix this problem, only to find little on the internet about this exact problem. After trial and error on dozens of projects and thousands spent on different products and replacing customers' siding, we finally found the solution that works best for us.

In this article, we will first explain the chemical to solve this problem, but keep reading to learn how to prevent discoloration in the first place, and how to better remove stains.

Vinyl Renu

The best solution is to use Vinyl Renu. Vinyl Renu is a vinyl siding and exterior surface restorer designed to bring faded, chalky, or weather-worn vinyl back to a deep, rich, like-new color. Instead of painting, it works by penetrating the vinyl to replenish the lost resins and UV-stabilizers that originally gave the siding its color and sheen.

Vinyl Renu

After cleaning the surface, you apply Vinyl Renu like a wipe-on coating; it bonds molecularly to the vinyl, restoring color, boosting UV protection, and creating a water-repellent finish that lasts several years. It’s basically a long-lasting rejuvenator that makes old siding look freshly installed without the cost or maintenance of paint.

Vinyl Renu lasts for 10 years, and reapplication is easy.

Vinyl Renu is pricey (a gallon is over $100), and if you have a small spot in an area of the house that isn't super obvious, any vinyl restore product, such as Rejuvanate All Floors Restorer, will work. We have some experience, but not much, with this product specifically, so do not expect it to last long. An annual application may be required.

Vinyl siding can be cheaply restored with this product, available at Menards.

This is some vinyl siding that discolored after using Mostenbocker's Lift-Off Latex paint remover. While discoloration is uncommon when using this product, it does occur.

Vinyl Siding before restoration

In this case, we used the Rejuvanate All Floors Restorer. It worked pretty well, but not perfectly. Below is what you can expect from one coat of this product. It looks pretty good, but not great.

Vinyl Siding after restoration (first coat)

What to avoid when cleaning vinyl siding

Avoid cleaners containing xylol, xylene, or other alcohol-based solvents when cleaning vinyl siding (PVC) because these chemicals can soften or partially dissolve the surface layer of the vinyl. That outer “cap stock” contains the pigments and UV stabilizers that protect the siding; once it’s damaged, the color can become blotchy, permanently discolored, or prematurely faded. Harsh solvents also strip away protective additives and can leave the surface more vulnerable to future weathering. Stick to mild detergents or vinyl-safe cleaners to maintain the siding’s integrity and appearance.

For more on how to clean vinyl, and our time-tested chemical recommendations- read our article here.

Hopefully this was helpful, and best of luck!

Contact EcoWash today if you have any questions or would like a professional pressure washing or deck staining estimate.