How To Clean & Maintain A PVC Fence
Posted by Lee Benson on 21st Jan 2025
PVC fencing is quickly becoming a popular selection across Aussie homeowners for a few key reasons. On top of looking great and offering visual versatility, PVC fence panels are also highly durable and low-maintenance, requiring only minimal upkeep to keep your fencing in the best working condition.
Given the widespread installation of PVC fencing across the country from bush properties to coastal homes, our team at Outback Fencing thought it was about time we shared our expert tips on how to clean PVC fence panels. Below, we'll outline some helpful ways to clean and maintain your PVC fence, no matter what style of fence you have on your property.
How to Clean PVC Fencing
Fence cleaning often gets overlooked, maybe because it disguises itself as something outside of our properties or because it typically harnesses natural, organic colours that blend in. However, fences have a large surface area, which means when they’re unclean, they can be a big hindrance to the visual appeal and hygiene of your space without you really noticing. Not only this, but cleaning is a part of fence maintenance and prolonging its life, which means you shouldn’t just leave it to an annual spring clean.
Dirt, grime and environmental pollutants or debris accumulate on PVC fencing over time. One of the main differences between timber and PVC fencing is that PVC won’t absorb grime and dirt, which is a great thing long term, as it means being proactive about removing it will help you restore its conditions. Here are some tips to follow to keep your PVC fence clean year-round:
Plan a regular cleaning regime
Of all the things you need to know about PVC fencing, how to clean it without damaging the panels is one of the most helpful. When you routinely clean your PVC, you might find it easier to follow a set of steps that you repeat each time. Here is how this can look:
First, give the fence a pre-rinse with your garden hose. You can then use a soft bristle brush and a bucket of detergent and warm water to scrub the dirt, grime and debris from the PVC panels. We suggest using mild detergent as a front-line defence, but vinegar also works great to remove mildew and grime and is natural, environmentally friendly, and packs a strong punch.
Don't scrub too hard and avoid using an abrasive scrubbing brush as this can damage the PVC fence. Don't apply too much pressure either (avoid using a pressure washer) – simply scrub it like you would your kitchen bench.
If you have PVC slat-fencing, you will need to wipe between the slat poles too. Or if you have full-privacy PVC fencing and you can’t reach the top, try using a clean mop or wrapping a cloth around the end of the broom to clean the top area.
Once your fence has been fully scrubbed and cleaned, give your panels a post-cleaning rinse to wash away loose debris and you can then let it dry naturally.
Do this cleaning regime routinely. Once a month or every couple of months is perfectly fine to keep your fence clean and in good condition long term. If you have other PVC products, like planter boxes, clean these at the same time and follow the same method.
Apply a magic eraser to spots and marks
Much like the coated finish on the walls in your home, PVC fence panels can be wiped down, which is precisely the sort of material magic erasers were made for. This is a true industry cheat code because if you’ve ever used a magic eraser in your home, you'll know the results are not far removed from the promise in the name. Pure magic.
To use a magic eraser, spray the fence down with water, and wet the eraser like you would a sponge. Start from the top down, targeting the marks you can see only – it’s best not to use it to scrub the whole fence as it won't last you very long.
Perform stain removal on the remaining spots
Post-clean, you might notice some stains that will take a little bit more than elbow grease to eradicate and that a magic eraser isn't compatible with - primarily oil and rust stains. Stain removal is an important part of cleaning your PVC fence, but it’s usually less demanding than cleaning. When you do come across a stain on your fence, firstly identify whether it's a rust stain or grease and oil-based stain, and then apply the respective method below:
- Rust stains require a rust remover specially designed for PVC surfaces so that it doesn't scrape any fencing surface material. Apply the product following the instructions to avoid damaging the fence, and then rinse thoroughly with your garden hose.
- For grease and oil stains, you can apply a standard household degreaser or detergent directly to the stain. Let it sit for a few minutes and scrub it away with a soft brush. Repeat the process until the stain is removed and rinse thoroughly with your garden hose.
How to Maintain Your PVC Fence
Routine inspections
Along with your cleaning regime, regular inspections will help you stay on top of the state of your PVC fencing and pick up on any concerns early before they risk the integrity of your fence. You can integrate inspections into your cleaning methodology, as you clean each panel and post, and inspect for any damage, cracks, signs of wear, missing parts of screws, loose fasteners, discoloured areas or anything else that needs attention. During your periodic inspections of the fence, check for loose screws or fasteners and tighten them as required to help maintain the structural integrity of the PVC fence.
Once you have identified damage and you know how to repair your broken fence, go ahead and do that as soon as you can. You might need to find replacement PVC fence panels, PVC gates and latches to replace the damaged area – just make sure you select the right style of the replacement part. If you need instructions on how to perform a fix, you can find some online, or contact us here at Outback Fencing for more information.
Ensure proper installation
As prevention is better, easier and cheaper than a cure, the best approach to maintenance is proper installation. When you don't install your PVC fence properly, it can be left vulnerable to damage, loosened parts and failure, and its condition can deteriorate faster than when it’s installed correctly.
The best way to ensure proper fence installation is by using a reputable fencing service provider to install it for you. However, if you do want to do it yourself, make sure you have the right instructions and know how to install PVC fencing so that it’s done correctly and you protect your investment.
Protect your fence from contact with appliances and the elements
Another way to minimise damage to your PVC fence is to protect it from the possibility of damage in the first place. Primarily, you can do this by protecting your fence from the elements. In many cases, the purpose of fencing is to give you privacy and protect you from the elements like sun and wind, but the elements are undiscriminating in what they target, and your fence may need protection, too. Protect your fence from direct contact with plants, specifically ones that are rooted close to the fence and have the potential to grow towards the PVC fence panels and damage their structure. You can counter this concern by planting trees and plants at least a metre away from the fence, or use stakes to influence their growth away from the fence.
While PVC fences are particularly durable against extreme weather conditions, prolonged exposure to extreme heat or cold can slowly weaken their structure and affect their performance. A way to provide extra longevity for PVC fences is to design garden plants with a line of scrub or hedge along the line of the fence to provide shade and insulation for the fence. This can help reduce the impact of the elements on fences in windy areas. These types of plants also have short roots and their shape can be manicured, so they shouldn’t damage the fence.
You should also make sure to avoid direct contact with landscaping and gardening tools like lawnmowers and whipper snippers to prevent accidental scratches and damage. Set up a system, such as laying a cover over the fence, when you are landscaping to keep it in top condition.
A Long Life Requires a Caring Hand
PVC is versatile in its functionality as well as its looks. It comes in varieties that include tall, boundary fencing for privacy and security, PVC picket-fencing for your front yard, post-and-rail fencing for agricultural and animal needs, and many more.
When you consider this versatility with the benefit of the material itself – it’s durable, easy to maintain and lighter than timber – it’s easy to see why PVC fence panels have gained their status as one of Australia’s most popular fencing materials. Maintaining your PVC fence will help prolong its life, and it will also help boost the value of your property when it comes time to sell. So long as you stay on top of cleaning and maintaining your PVC fence by following the tips outlined here, you’ll have a beautiful and high-performing fence for years to come.
For everything and anything you need to know about PVC fencing, get in touch with the team at Outback Fencing today.
