What is the best uPVC cleaner in the UK?
It’s a question we’ve been asked many times by our clients. After all, if you’ve cleaned the inside of your gutters, why wouldn’t you want to freshen up the outside of them too? And it’s not just gutters that need a bit of TLC now and again. The whole look of your home could be totally transformed by a drop or two of uPVC cleaner.
With that being said, we’re going to take a look at some of our personal favourites which we’ve relied on to do a good job over the past few years. So without further ado, let’s get in to it.
Quick Look:
- Best Overall: Unger Rub Out
- Runner-up: Thompson’s uPVC Restorer
- Best Solvent uPVC Cleaner: Soudal
- Best uPVC Cleaner Cream: Everbuild
- Budget Choice: Inspired
Best uPVC Cleaner Overall: Unger Rub Out
If you’re basing your buying decision on quality alone, then Unger Rub Out is the best uPVC cleaner currently on the market in the UK. The performance and cleaning power of Unger Rub Out is quite frankly unmatched.
The tough formula is fantastic when used on uPVC or PVC and cleans stains, mineral deposits and rust away with ease and without the need to have an array of different tools to help. You simply apply the formula and as it says on the bottle – rub out the stains.
Whilst Unger Rub Out can be used on objects such as guttering, window and door frames the 0.5L bottle goes a long way and can even be used on your windows due to the fact that the formula is gentle on glass.
The obvious downside to Unger Rub Out is the fact that it is very expensive. You can expect to pay north of £50 per litre for this stuff but it’s likely that you’ll decide the professional finish is worth the price.
Pros
- A professional standard uPVC cleaner
- Works well on a variety of different stains including water and lead
- Multipurpose nature means you can use it on your windows too
Cons
- Very expensive
Final Verdict On quality alone, it’s hard to see past Unger Rub Out being the best uPVC cleaner.
Runner up: Thompson’s
Whilst Unger Rub Out does a great job at cleaner uPVC and PVC, it does come with a hefty price tag that some might not be willing to pay. With this in mind, if you’re looking for a cheaper option that can give you performance that is close to Unger Rub Out, we’d recommend Thompson’s uPVC Restorer.
With a heavily concentrated formula, we’ve used this beauty countless times over the past few years with clients always amazed at what a little bit of dirt removal can do for the look of their property.
But it’s not just for professionals. Assuming you’re OK with traversing a ladder, this formula is quick and easy to apply so you’ll have smooth and clean looking gutters in no time without the need to hire a professional.
Our favourite feature of this uPVC restorer is the fact that it doesn’t scratch the surface when applied unlike some other, cheaper brands. And to give you a good idea as to how strong it is (despite being a water-based formula), it’s known to get rid of wood stain as well as marks made by sharpies.
Pros
- Cleans almost any stain including sharpies
- Quick and easy to use
- Saves money on replacing unsightly gutters
Cons
- None
Final Verdict Before replacing unsightly gutters, give this uPVC cleaner a go.
Best Solvent uPVC Cleaner: Soudal
This industrial strength cleaner, despite being incredibly strong, is non-abrasive so you can have peace of mind that you’re not going to be scratching the very surfaces you’re trying to spark new life into.
In terms of results, you can expect anything from your gutters, windows and door frames to be almost as good as new after giving them a good clean with Soudal. This is because the fast acting formula quickly attacks deep ingrained dirt, restoring much of the original sheen of your surface. We’ve even used this on other stains as well as removing pesky masking tape residue.
Pros
- Fast acting and quick drying
- Doesn’t take much physical effort when cleaning due to its power
- Non-abrasive properties mean you won’t scratch any of your surfaces using this product
Cons
- Has a very strong odour
Final Verdict If you’re looking for the best solvent uPVC cleaner, we’d definitely recommend Soudal.
Best uPVC Cream Cleaner: Everbuild
The reason we prefer a good cream cleaner like Everbuild’s is purely down to the fact that when working with these cleaners often, having something that’s solvent free is a big bonus. Especially if it cleans as well as something like Soudal too.
Truthfully speaking, Everbuild isn’t quite as powerful as Soudal’s solvent based cleaner but of course has the advantage of having much less odour which makes it more pleasant to work with.
Whilst the formula isn’t as powerful as Soudal, that doesn’t mean you can’t get similar results though. In our experience, a little bit of added elbow grease goes a long way with Everbuild’s uPVC cream cleaner and should result in a clean and attractive sheen finish.
To get the best finish, our top tip would be to work in small areas as opposed to applying this stuff all at once. By spreading the cream over a small area you can ensure you work with it before it fully dries which can be a bit of a pain.
Pros
- Less toxic than other brands makes it easier to work with
- Great value for money
- Achieves a clean and attractive finish when used on old looking uPVC and PVCu.
Cons
- You’ll need to work a bit harder to get the same results as a more expensive solvent based brand
Final Verdict Everbuild’s cream uPVC cleaner is cheap and gets the job done with a bit of elbow grease.
Good Budget Option: Inspired
Having tested this cleaner, we came to the conclusion that it probably wouldn’t match up well against some of the stronger cleaners on this list but it certainly does a good job assuming your stains aren’t already ingrained too much.
Water stains as well as nicotine stains pose no problems for this cleaner and as it’s safe to use on indoor uPVC too, would be a good option for any smokers out there.
One of our favourite aspects of this product is the spray nozzle which makes application nice and easy. Following the same ‘spray and wipe’ principle as common household cleaners, there’s no learning curve to mastering the use of this cleaning product.
Pros
- Very cheap despite being good quality
- Precise nozzle makes the application process very easy
Cons
- Not strong enough to tackle tough, ingrained stains
Final Verdict If your uPVC has some minor stains and grease buildup, all you’ll need is this cheap uPVC cleaner.
uPVC Cleaner Buyer’s Guide
When buying a uPVC cleaner, there’s a few things you should bear in mind to ensure you buy the right product for the job.
Buy Something Specific
Whilst it might seem like a cheap option, regular household cleaner or soap and water just isn’t going to make the cut when it comes to cleaning stains off of uPVC.
Buying a specific uPVC cleaner will ensure the job is very easy and ultimately doesn’t waste your time.
Solvent vs Solvent-Free
As you might notice, uPVC cleaners come in a variety of different forms, one of which is solvent-based. So should you go with solvent or solvent-free cleaner? Well, the choice depends on the state of your uPVC as well as if you’re happy working with the strong odour.
If your uPVC surfaces haven’t been cleaned in years and have some ingrained stains it’ll probably be a good choice to go with a solvent based cleaner. Solvent based cleaners are no nonsense and will tackle anything from water stains to lead stains. If you’re just doing a general clean, a water-based cleaner might be a good option for you.
Price
Of course, different cleaners will come at different prices. In general, you will pay for high quality. For example, the best uPVC – Unger’s Rub Out is also one of the most expensive ones too. That’s not to say the cheaper brands won’t do a good job however. Many of the brands listed on this article are fantastic cleaners that won’t break the bank.
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