Mrs. Fixit: Clinging Vines

October 12, 2008 First off, clinging vines can harbor bugs, bees and various other critters, so make sure that you wear gloves and appropriate clothes while you're working.

Cut away any vines that you don't want on the house. Don't try just pulling them off because if you have loose mortar, paint or shingles pulling the vines could pull them loose too.

Once you've removed all of the greenery that you want, let it sit for a couple of weeks so that the remaining vegetation dries up.

Sometimes the little suckers and excess dried up vines can be brushed away with a stiff bristled brush, so try that first; it's the least invasive approach. Don't be gentle it's going to take some elbow grease to clean this mess off.

If they won't come off with a good brushing, soak the area well with water and then go back and try again. The water should soften them so you can get them off, but you'll likely have to go back with warm water and detergent to remove the residue left behind under the suckers. A credit card is a great gentle tool for getting off those 'lil suckers.

I'm Mrs. Fixit and it's just that simple.

Copyright © 2024 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.