Technology continues to solve problems and make our lives easier at almost every turn. Imperfect technologies improve and change until they’re almost unrecognizable. Dry ice blasting for vinyl siding is a perfect example of progress in action.

Did you know that dry ice was first patented in 1925? After almost a hundred years, new applications for the solid form of carbon dioxide are still being found today. The world would be quite a different place without it.

If you’re looking for the best option to tackle efficient vinyl siding cleaning, we’ve got you covered. Read on to find out more about how dry ice can work for you!

Vinyl Siding Cleaning

Vinyl siding is a popular option for finishing the outside of a house instead of using wood. The vinyl is shaped to resemble the fit and finish of batten board or shakes. Vinyl is a popular option in this regard because it’s longer lasting than wood and needs comparatively little maintenance.

This doesn’t mean it’s completely maintenance-free, however. If you’re reading this article, you’ve probably noticed that it’s time to give your vinyl siding some much-needed attention. Vinyl needs a good clean now and then, the issue comes when considering how best to go about it.

Conventional options are time-consuming and require a lot of effort. Buying equipment to tackle the walls of your house can also be expensive, especially when you’ll only need them once or twice a year. Hardly the best investment of your money, so there are other options worth considering.

Conventional Methods

To understand why dry ice cleaning is such a great option, it’s worth understanding the drawbacks of conventional methods. Exterior cleaning is often done in one of two ways. The application of high-pressure water or the catalytic action of chemical solutions.

The high-pressure cleaning process uses water to essentially blast away whatever it comes into contact with. It’s a relatively quick process but can easily damage vinyl siding if the operator isn’t careful. Water has a habit of piercing into any available space, and the last thing you want is water pooling behind your siding, inviting dampness and mold.

Chemical solutions are effective in stripping the growth of mosses and fungus, as well as bird droppings. The problem is that these chemicals don’t simply disappear once their job is done, often seeping into the ground surrounding your house. Some chemicals will outright kill your lawn, leaving ugly patches where the runoff can scorch the earth.

Dry Ice Blasting Advantages

Dry ice is the frozen form of pressurized CO2. A naturally occurring gas that surrounds us at all times; we even breathe it out as part of our physiology! This means that there’s no possible damage to the environment, as the process of dry ice blasting leaves no mess or residue behind.

The ice pellets evaporate in the cleaning vinyl siding process, which works differently from the potentially destructive force of high-pressure water.

While the dry ice is expelled under similar pressure and velocity, the kinetic force isn’t quite as extreme. This allows for operations such as cleaning vinyl exteriors to be done much more safely near other fragile materials. Dry ice is much more effective at removing certain substances that chemical and high-pressure water may struggle with.

The action of dry ice isn’t simply that the ice cleans with force; its freezing nature makes dirt and grime brittle. The sudden and severe change in temperature distorts and weakens unwanted substances causing them to lift off easily.

Not Just a Vinyl Siding Cleaner

While dry ice blasting is perfect for all your vinyl siding cleaning needs, there are many other applications in which it excels. Due to the size of the tiny ice particles and their freezing nature, they’re effective for cleaning even the smallest cracks and holes. Porous materials such as wood and even some tough fabrics can benefit from their unique properties.

Wood that has gone untreated is a particularly common problem; it’s beautiful while well maintained but can be a headache to clean up. Restoring wooden decking to its former glory often involves a lot of strenuous sanding, which makes a mess and takes a lot of time to do properly. Dry ice blasting swiftly removes mold so commonly associated with outside decking, for example.

If you’re curious to learn more or are wondering, ‘is there any dry ice blasting near me?’ you can check us out here!

Mechanical parts covered in hard-to-shift grease and oils are no match for dry ice blasting, either. Dry ice blasting is the perfect solution for cleaning around hard-to-reach metallic areas, especially if there are plastics and wires to navigate. Dry ice won’t strip paint you want to be left untouched or damage other aesthetics when used carefully.

No Mess, Great Results

If you’re looking for thorough vinyl siding cleaning without the headache of a messy cleanup or potential damage, dry ice blasting is the way to go. This approach to cleaning avoids the downfalls of more conventional methods while including all of their benefits.

It might sound complicated or unusual, but it’s as simple as hiring professionals to get the job done. When you’re left with perfectly clean sliding and nothing to clean up, you’ll wonder why you hadn’t done it sooner.

If you’ve got any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d love to hear from you!