In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Help with green crud
cbxjeff
Member Posts: 17,597 ✭✭✭✭
My shop has metal siding and fiberglass overhead and service doors. I have a little power washer that cleans it without a problem but that only lasts for a few months. It occurs mainly close to ground level (concrete floor that extends a couple of inches past the siding). I use just detergent in the washer. Is there something better to use? Thanks guys.
It's too late for me, save yourself.
Comments
Sounds to me like you need to get it cleaned real well and then paint with a mold and algae resistant paint.
I don't know about most pressure washers, but my Honda powered Super Max has warnings in large printed stickers that say NEVER ADD BLEACH to the soap dispenser.
In a small 2 gallon hand pump sprayer. Mix 1 gallon clorox to 1 gallon of water with 1 cup of dawn detergent . Spray wall and let soak. Then wash .
We always get some green film on the North side of the house and garage.
I use detergent in the power washer and then before rinsing, I use a mild mixture of water and peroxide applied with my extendable scrub brush, and rinse.
Seems to last about two years. It also works pretty good on the dark stain from our aluminum facia and gutters.
They have some stuff you can spray that will kill algea and such for 6 months or more….bleach does NOT kill it. If you use something that actually kills the mold and algea it works a lot longer. You can find it online, things like "wet it and forget it" and others work well.
Its the same deal with bathroom mold….peroxide works better than bleach….because it actually kills it and not just "bleaching" it.
Ammonia is your friend.
…buddy had the same problem…go to the pool supply and get some bags of "Shock", comes in tiny granule's, mixes with water, apply using whatever method you choose…depending on your location and amount of rain you get, you may need to apply from time to time…
Bleach will eat up any protective layer siding has on it. It will just make it worse and the buildup will come back even quicker.
I used to install siding and Garage doors in my younger days.
Amazon has what we use. One time a year works great. Search for : MOLD ARMOR CLEANER
OK, so mix bleach and water 50/50 in a pump sprayer and spray the algae/mold. Let it set for a few hours and then pressure wash.
Would muriatic acid work? It's used to kill algae in swimming pools, but would it also attack the fiberglass and siding on your shop?
Wet & forget. It actually works!
Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Wet & Forget sounds good and it available here at Lowes. I'll have to dig a little to be sure it's OK to use in my sprayer.
I think they have a jug that screws onto the end of a hose as well as concentrate you can mix and spray.
I have to wash the white metal roof on my shop every spring due to the trees nearby. Use to spend 2 days with a pressure washer,a long handle brush and pump up sprayer.One of the young guys at work has a pressure washing business on the side.He suggest to buy a gallon of liquid pool chlorine at wal mart and mix a little of it with soap and water in a pump up sprayer.That worked so well I can clean the roof in less than a day
I get algae on the north facing fence. I found it is because the sun doesn't hit that side of the fence. No problem with south, east and west side.
how can bleach not kill algea and mold and chlorine does??? bleach is chlorine though only 5% or less, guess 5% isn't strong enough…….. though the wet and forget is good stuff