How to safely wash white plastic garden fence rails and arbor?

Pam Park
by Pam Park
We have white vinyl fencing and an arbor which are surrounded by gardens. They are quite dirty and gross looking and it is more than time to clean 'em up! I bought Shaklee's "Basic H" as I seem to recall that it is 'safe' around plants. Now I'm quite unsure.... Will Basic H be safe for my plants?
  11 answers
  • Pam Park Pam Park on May 13, 2014
    PS- this is a honest question - otherwise, I don't have any Shaklee connections
  • Lavende Lavende on May 13, 2014
    If you have access to a power washer, it should do the trick in just a few minutes and without needing any added chemicals or elbow grease
  • Pam Park Pam Park on May 13, 2014
    Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas.
  • I have never seen nor heard of it hurting plants - shoot I know some that used to add some to the bottom of the hole before they planted a tree or bush. Pressure washing is bad & can make a big mess unless you know exactly what you are doing - I would do a light mist, wipe it down with a sponge or cotton rag (using Basic H, dishsoap, or... with plenty of warm water) then lightly spraying it off Do not use anything abrasive as you will just be making life harder on yourself as it can scratch the posts making it easier to hold dust, pollens etc... allowing stuff to grow on them
  • Pam Park Pam Park on May 13, 2014
    @No search results.SLS - thank you
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on May 14, 2014
    I don't know if it's a good idea, but there seem to be folks who use the stuff as fertilizer, and there are no warnings on the label about its use around plants.
  • Stick to power washer, but place large drop clothes over the plants if they are really close to the rails and arbor so you do not risk hitting them with the high power of the water. Also do not expect the plastic fence or arbor to become really white again. The plastics used tend to darken and stain over time. I know nothing that will remove these stains.
  • Leslie Long Leslie Long on May 16, 2014
    I have never used the product you mentioned but I have used Simple Green for this type of cleaning. I spray it on siding, the mildew on my pool deck or patio stones, wait about 15 minutes and then follow behind with a pressure washer or hose sprayer. It somehow loosens the mildew so it rinses right off. You can see it working as it becomes a yellow foam as it cleans. Simple Green will not harm your plants or grass either. It is biodegradable and non-toxic.
  • Ang1287539 Ang1287539 on Feb 24, 2015
    Use vinegar/water mixture. It cleans and wontvharm plants.
  • Paula Long Paula Long on Jun 10, 2015
    Go to Lowes or Home Depot and pick up house and siding cleaner for vinyl, I use that for my vinyl fencing and it works like a charm. Wash it on and just spray it with water to rinse and you are done
  • B. Enne B. Enne on Jun 10, 2015
    The Windex in the green bottle (that you hook up to a hose) for exterior windows, cleans white vinyl siding well and doesn't harm plants (at least it used to say that on the label--I haven't used it for a while).