How To Get Rid Of Mildew On Cedar Siding

Removing the the wood mold with oxygen bleach.

How to get rid of mildew on cedar siding.

For high areas use an extension on the roller or climb a ladder and use your paintbrush. 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. Mildew and tannin stains are often the causes of dark spots on cedar shakes. If the stain lightens or disappears after two or three minutes it s mildew.

If not it s probably just dirt. After the wood has been thoroughly rinsed and allowed to dry refinish with a coating that contains an effective mildew cide. In many cases the mildew will spray right off. When it is time to refinish clean off the mildew with a mild bleach solution oxygen bleach is preferred or commercial mildew remover.

If you run into stubborn mildew accumulations though use the. The safe and effective way to clean the wood is oxygen bleach. Pour vinegar and water in a spray bottle and shake to mix. A few drops will be fine.

Courtesy of rust oleum when mildew gains a foothold homeowners often turn to diluted chlorine bleach sodium hypochlorite a k a. Re staining does not solve a mildew problem. Spray away mildew starting at the top of an exterior wall and work your way downward. It s also safe for plants that may inadvertently get dripped upon during the cleaning process.

You ll want to leave the cleaner on for at least 15 minutes up to 30 minutes to ensure that it removes the old coating. Do not let it dry. Mix the cleaner according to the instruction and apply it to the stained cedar siding with a brush or roller. To test if the wood is covered with mildew or just dirt dab the stain with a cotton swab dipped in household chlorine bleach.

One method used to determine if spots are from these two conditions is to treat them with a solution of bleach 1 part diluted with water 9 parts. It is non toxic to trees and vegetation and will not remove natural color from the siding. Oxygen bleach removes algae mold and mildew from cedar restoring much of the wood s natural beauty. Your standard household whitener.

For an aromatic cleaner add your choice of essential oils.