Every year we have to power wash the siding on the north side of our home. We get a green/black mold that comes back every year. Is there anything that will stop this? The problem isn't getting it off the house, the problem is that it comes back every year.
By Kath from CT
Hi Kath,
I searched the EPA website and couldn't find anything that specifically talked about mold on siding, but they do have a page where you can ask questions. Might be worth a try:
iaq.custhelp.com/
Good luck!
You can buy this at Home Depot, you won't be disapointed! You put it in a garden sprayer & spray it on once a year... then each time it rains, it binds with the rain to work. It's not harsh or bad for the enviorment. It's $40 for enought to cover 1000 feet. You dilute it 5 to 1.
Product info:
http://www.sprayandforget.com
Here's what they say:
Our revolutionary patent-pending, "No Rinse" concentrated cleaner that removes green and black algae, mildew, fungus, and lichen stains from roofs, siding, decks, brick, stucco, and other exterior surfaces. Spray & Forget is an eco-friendly, biodegradable, non-corrosive product that does not require damaging power washing and/or brushing techniques. In fact, no rinsing is required and your landscaping will not be compromised. Also an excellent preventative.
I had this problem. I sprayed it with bleach in a spray bottle every week till it stopped coming back,good luck.
Drive around and you'll notice that happens with most buildings' north sides. Especially those that don't seem to have several hundred feet between them and the next building or fence. I've heard that out in the forest, that's how you can tell which way is north - by the fungus that grows on the north side of the trees.
The north side of any structure whether out in the forest or at home gets the mold, mildew and moss. The north side of anything gets the least amount of sunlight. I don't think you can prevent this as it's the sun that kills and prevents it from growing in the first place. Noella is right, that mold and mildew tells you where north is.
Using a anti fungal soap when cleaning the house will help with the mold growing back each year the problem with most anti fungal soaps is that they are harmful to plants so I need to be really careful when using the soap now the mold will still grow back but is will decrease the speed of the growth of the mold
Unless, of course, you happen to be one of the great unknown who live in the southern hemisphere. Only a US resident could have posted the above. But then I suppose we should be grateful if he knows the next state to his own, let alone the next country.
Is it "Wet and Forget"? I saw this on Home Depot's website and didn't know if this is what you meant, or if this is a different product altogether?
Get out there and figure it out, start with the method of rapping the house to tight to save money on heat because the walls as re so sealed that there's no ware for the moisture to go . If the modern builder would look into this and not be so stuck on what money a homeowner would save on heating bills and think about one health for years to come, I think everyone would be a lot healthier and the houses wouldn't look so discussing.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
My house has some green and black mildew on the brick and siding. The house does not need painting. I am thinking of having it power washed to remove the mildew. What time of year should it be done? I live in the Southeast.
Hello,
we have white vinyl siding on our house and we get the green mold on ours too. what we do is every spring we spray it down with clorox. My hubby uses a sprayer that you pump by hand...I think it is also used for spraying plants and trees. anyway it works great. no need to rinse or scrub or anything. We were going to get ours powerwashed , but then we heard that is could put holes in the siding if the person doing it didn't do it just right, so we just spray it every year now with the clorox. hth.
I, personally, dont think power washing is all its cracked up to be... It forces water under the siding of your house or deck. (Dont forget water and wood dont mix...) The water goes in all the little invisible cracks. Also, for mold or mildew you need to use chlorine bleach... let it set and then rinse... Are you sure the green isnt moss? I have moss growing on my roof.. Moss and mildew can come together.. imho because each thrives in a wet or damp environment.. BTW, look into removing any trees, bushes, or plants that cover your house and prevent the sun from shining on the places where the mildew is growning... Best of luck...
I lived in Louisiana for about 20 years. I had my house pressure washed every year or two. It thoroughly took off any mold or dirt. The house was brick with exposed wood & trim & soffits. Any areas that didn't get direct sun, often got a little mold. The pressure washing also extended the life of the paint. I researched paint & bought the Valspar product made for the South with a mildew inhibitor in it. My paint lasted for about 16 years before it showed signs of needing to be redone in a year or two. The washer also did the carport floor & driveway. The brick house looked great after the washing & was worth the $70.00-$100.00 that it cost (last time I had it done in LA was pre-Katrina).
I have used successfully a product called "INSTAGONE".
Spray on and watch stains disappear and wash off. It worked for me.
yes, I am very concerned about water getting under the vinyl siding between the wood and siding. BAD! I have mold (not moss, I don't think) Peak of house is VERY high (built on a hill) Agree we power washing. Sure would be labor intensive to climb up a ladder and do by hand. but maybe only way.
Did you dilute the clorox w water? Does it get all over uyour clothing when spraying?
We also have white vinyl siding. I bought that spray it and forget it stuff but all it did was remove the green mold / not the black. We now use a 50/50 mix of water and bleech mixed in a hand pump sprayer. It works fast and we do it as needed. Get yourself full wrap-a-round eye protection to keep the mist out of your eyes. I didn't do that the first time and suffered for a day.
I run a power washing company in cape may, nj. People shouldn't fear that the washing will get under the siding and do damage. Pro's understand how siding is installed and wash it accordingly. Some homes are just too tall to apply mildew/mold spray safely. Find a reliable company and you wont have any problems.
Don't use power wash on wood siding and it striped out cervases it looked so bad we had to put vinlyl siding on .
Can I use sugarsoap on outside walls to clean green mildew off the house wall?
By Julie from New Zealand
