How To Clean Cedar Siding

Removing the the wood mold with oxygen bleach.

How to clean cedar siding.

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. Stand roughly 4 feet away from the cedar while washing. Apply the solution with a clean garden sprayer allowing it to soak for 15 minutes. The oxygen bleach comes as a granular powder that mixes with water.

Hold the hose in one spot for about 20 seconds before moving on to another part of the siding. Clean the soap and remaining grime off the siding. 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. Use the wood cleaner according to instructions on the product s packaging.

Make sure to rinse away all bleach because any bleach left behind may discolor the cedar. Be sure to keep the hose pointed downward to avoid forcing water up behind the shingles. There is no need to scrub the area. 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 non toxic to trees and vegetation and will not remove natural color from the siding. 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. If you had mold growing dry the siding a second time with a heater or.

Rinse your siding with water. Cedar shingles can also grow moss and algae or develop iron staining which requires periodic cleaning. Apply this to the entire surface of cedar siding making sure that the wood is completely saturated with it. The cedar bureau recommends using a solution of 1 part bleach to 3 parts water.

This is a cleaning solution specially designed for removing any stubborn stains or greasy marks on the wood. Turn the hose end sprayer back to the light hose spray setting. Cleaning away the age is the first step in caring for cedar shingles. The safe and effective way to clean the wood is oxygen bleach.

If necessary a stiff bristle non metallic brush can be used. Make any necessary repairs then clean the cedar with warm water and phosphate free soap.