How To Clean Cedar Siding

The safe and effective way to clean the wood is oxygen bleach.

How to clean cedar siding.

Cleaning away the age is the first step in caring for cedar shingles. Apply this to the entire surface of cedar siding making sure that the wood is completely saturated with it. While you can use household bleach to kill mold and algae it tends to make the cedar shingle s surface fuzzy because of the excessive pulping reaction when using it. Rinse your siding with water.

Make sure to rinse away all bleach because any bleach left behind may discolor the cedar. Removing the the wood mold with oxygen bleach. If there is mold or mildew brown or black spots it needs to be killed with a commercially available mildew killer cleaner or warm water and oxygen bleach. Step 2 spray the test section of the cedar siding with the bleach and water mixture and allow it to soak into the test area for 15 minutes.

The cedar bureau recommends using a solution of 1 part bleach to 3 parts water. Hold the hose in one spot for about 20 seconds before moving on to another part of the siding. Use the wood cleaner according to instructions on the product s packaging. Make any necessary repairs then clean the cedar with warm water and phosphate free soap.

If necessary a stiff bristle non metallic brush can be used. Apply it with a pump sprayerlet it sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing it off with with a garden hose. Mix the powdered bleach according to directions on the bottle such as 4 parts water to 1 part powder. It is highly toxic to vegetation.

Cedar shingles can also grow moss and algae or develop iron staining which requires periodic cleaning. If you had mold growing dry the siding a second time with a heater or. Turn the hose end sprayer back to the light hose spray setting. Stand roughly 4 feet away from the cedar while washing.

This is a cleaning solution specially designed for removing any stubborn stains or greasy marks on the wood. Mix three quarts of water with one quart of household bleach and 1 2 cup of ammonia free dish washing liquid in the garden sprayer. Department of agriculture s forest services laboratory recommends cleaning cedar shingles with an oxidizing bleach as opposed to a household bleach to avoid damaging the wood. Clean the soap and remaining grime off the siding.

Be sure to keep the hose pointed downward to avoid forcing water up behind the shingles. Apply the solution with a clean garden sprayer allowing it to soak for 15 minutes.