How to Clean Soffit Vents from Aluminum and Vinyl Materials

The attic vent plays a major role in contributing to the prime condition of a house. It starts with soffit vents that draw the air from the outside, which is required to build effective air circulation and reach comfortable temperature control.

Soffit vents can get dirty, and it needs to be cleaned a minimum of once every couple of years, better yet, every single year. Below, you can discover a practical DIY guide on how to clean soffit vents made from aluminum or vinyl materials.

How to Clean Aluminum Soffit Vents

Before getting into the walkthrough steps on cleaning the soffit ventilation, let’s get familiar with it first. Soffit refers to the material installed on the roof’s eaves or overhang. It typically has tiny openings called soffit vents.

The purpose of soffit vents is to let air from the outside get into the attic, thus allowing airflow circulation without letting moisture build up around the ceiling beam or any interior part of the house.

how to clean soffit vents

Soffits are made from different material types. One of them is aluminum. Here’s how to clean soffit vents if you have aluminum soffits at home:

  1. Access the soffit using a ladder.
  2. Spray the soffit using a hose to wet its whole surface.
  3. Wipe down the material by using a cleaning pad and cleaner for aluminum materials.
    • Note: You can create your cleaning solution or buy commercial cleaners.
  4. Wipe down spots with stubborn dirt with a soft-bristled brush.
  5. Rinse the cleaning remnants by using the hose.
  6. Let it dry and once it is no longer wet, examine if there’s any part that needs to be cleaned more thoroughly. Repeat the steps above if necessary.

How to Clean Vinyl Soffit Vents

Here are the steps to clean vinyl soffit vents:

  1. Access the soffit using a ladder.
  2. For vinyl soffits, you need to attach the hose to the closest source of hot water.
  3. Wear rubber gloves as a safety measure equipment when using hot water.
  4. Spray the soffit using a hose to wet its whole surface.
  5. Wipe down the material by using a cleaning pad and cleaner for vinyl materials.
    • Note: You can create your cleaning solution or buy commercial cleaners.
  6. Wipe down spots with stubborn dirt with a soft-bristled brush.
  7. Rinse the cleaning remnants by using the hose.
  8. Let it dry and once it is no longer wet, examine if there’s any part that needs to be cleaned more thoroughly. Repeat the steps above if necessary.

Cleaning Soffit Vents with Leaf Blower

Just because lights from the outside can get through the soffit vents to the inside doesn’t necessarily mean that they aren’t dirty. You need to check under the area by using a flashing light to observe its condition—no need to worry. You have dirty soffit vents. It’s only proof that air can move through them. You only need to get them cleaned to make sure they are functioning properly.

If you need an extra step to the guides above, you can clean the vents fit using a leaf blower. Locate its nozzle against the vents.

Cleaning the soffit vent is not something that you should neglect. Beyond ensuring good air circulation, maintaining the vent condition can help to make sure that your house is protected from the likes of damage or pest.

Moreover, working vents also means that you can save energy by not overworking your HVAC system. Hopefully, the guide on how to clean soffit vents above can show you the proper way of doing this chore that you can follow easily.

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RoofLast is an experienced author and roofing expert. With years of practical experience in the field authored several informative articles on various aspects of roofing, including installation, maintenance, and repair