Clean Cedar Siding With Bleach

It wasn t so long ago that trisodium phosphate tsp was a go to choice for tough cleaning jobs especially on exteriors.

Clean cedar siding with bleach.

In the past chlorine bleach was often recommended to remove dirt stains and mildew from siding but chlorine bleach is a toxic compound harmful to plants and the environment. Use wash safe cedar wash to clean old cedar shake roofs cedar shingle siding cedar fencing or any other cedar used outdoors. How to clean cedar siding with bleach. Make any necessary repairs then clean the cedar with warm water and phosphate free soap.

How to clean stained cedar siding. When mildew gains a foothold homeowners often turn to diluted chlorine bleach sodium hypochlorite a k a. Both chlorine and oxygen bleach have great anti microbial qualities that allows them to clean and disinfect the surfaces they are applied to. I d try the bleach solution on a test piece or in an inconspicuous area to be sure it works all right.

Unfortunately even in small amounts chlorine bleach eats away at the material it is applied to and in the case of your cedar siding it can weaken your wood s fibers. 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. If necessary a stiff bristle non metallic brush can be used. Diluted in water and applied often with a stiff scrub brush it can.

The black coloring or darkening of the cedar siding is caused by mold growth. Staining the restored cedar siding. In the past he had used oil based wood stain products but found the mold and mildew returning within a few years each time. Use on old cedar to remove the outer dead gray layer of wood pulp plus stains from mold and mildew then reveal new clean looking cedar.

Oxygen bleach is non damaging. Use as the ultimate specialty surface prep before sealing staining or painting cedar. About oxiclean oxiclean contains hydrogen peroxide surfactants and other ingredients that give it powerful cleaning action. As long as there is no finish on the cedar there shouldn t be if your test pieces lighten up i d put drop cloths down and just sponge the bleach onto the paneling it ll work a little faster if you warm the solution.

For the best results thoroughly inspect your western red cedar siding trim and or decking first for any damage mildew and dirt. Oil stains that are. Cedar siding after mold removal cleaning and brightening.