Cleaning Cedar Siding Mildew

Use it to clean fences decks furniture cedar siding or roofing barn board and log homes.

Cleaning cedar siding mildew.

For the best results thoroughly inspect your western red cedar siding trim and or decking first for any damage mildew and dirt. Mildew is a common form of discoloration of paints and stains caused by staining fungi. When it is time to refinish clean off the mildew with a mild bleach solution oxygen bleach is preferred or commercial mildew remover. Tip 1 cleaning surface dirt surface dirt should be removed from cedar shake siding before attempting to remove black spots from the mold.

Re staining does not solve a mildew problem. Make any necessary repairs then clean the cedar with warm water and phosphate free soap. One method that usually works successfully is to use a wood cleaning product. The oxygen bleach comes as a granular powder that mixes with water.

It is non toxic to trees and vegetation and will not remove natural color from the siding. You can dry wood siding using a dehumidifier or a space heater. Dry the siding first if you notice signs of mold growth. When you have completed your cleaning let it dry for 48 hours and then apply our cedar seal to protect it.

Note that you should avoid applying the bleach solution in direct sunlight or to unfinished wood. The safe and effective way to clean the wood is oxygen bleach. Your standard household whitener. It appears to make mildew vanish but on porous surfaces such as wood or vinyl siding chlorine evaporates too quickly to get to the fungi s roots guaranteeing regrowth.

Mix a commercial wood cleaner in a regular garden sprayer according to the manufacturer s directions and spray the cleaner onto a small area of your cedar shakes starting at the top and working your way down. Start by cleaning a small area. Removing the the wood mold with oxygen bleach. Clorox regular bleach 2 makes cleaning outdoor mold and mildew easy.

Typically these products work better when used according to directions found on the product s container. The solution should not be used for aluminum gutters or windows. The side of the house with the least sun exposure can be the worst spot with the cedar developing mildew or mold that looks black. It is highly toxic to vegetation.

When mildew gains a foothold homeowners often turn to diluted chlorine bleach sodium hypochlorite a k a. Get rid of that grunge by cleaning your cedar siding with an. For moldy siding wait until the weather is also dry to effectively take. If necessary a stiff bristle non metallic brush can be used.