The Cedar Bureau recommends using a solution no stronger than one-part bleach to three parts water. Apply it with a pump sprayer and let it sit for about 15 minutes before rinsing it off with a garden hose. Be sure to keep the hose pointed downward to avoid forcing water up behind the shingles.
You simply keep the wood siding wet with the oxygen bleach solution for 15 minutes. It will remove the mildew and deep-clean the siding. Lightly scrub the siding before rinsing with clear water from a garden hose. Avoid the temptation of using a pressure washer.
The best way to restore your cedar siding or cedar fence to its original glory is with soft washing. Instead of the robust streams of high-pressure water used in pressure washing, soft washing uses a low-pressure technique with a special mixture of highly effective and biodegradable cleaning solutions.
Absolutely! The official OxiClean website gives step-by-step instructions on removing stubborn stains from decks, patios, deck furniture, and more. Since these surfaces are made from wood, it is perfectly acceptable to clean cedar siding with the product.
The best clear Cedar finish stain for outdoors is Linseed oil, hands down. Linseed oil is the primary ingredient in any oil finishes, which dries clear. You can find other clear water-based stains, but will not last nearly as long as a Linseed oil based stain will.
Natural Siding Cleaning Solutions
OxiClean is just one of many different brands of oxygen bleach cleaners. Oxygen bleach, aside from being great at cleaning siding covered in mold or mildew, is perfectly safe for you and the environment.
Chlorine bleach is the traditional and most popular form used in households, most often in the washer to get stains out of laundry. The powerful ingredient is sodium hypochlorite, which is a toxic substance and is not good for your cedar siding, as it can damage the wood fibers.
The best woods for bleaching include oak, beach, ash, and gum. Varieties like poplar and pine are already so light that removing further natural wood color might render them bland and lifeless. Others, like cedar, redwood, rosewood, and cherry don't take bleach well.
Can you pressure wash cedar siding? Yes, you can pressure wash cedar siding by using a low PSI pressure washer or adjusting a pressure washer to its lowest PSI setting. This protects the cedar from being damaged from too high of pressure because it is softwood.
The semi-transparent deck stain works on pressure-treated wood, cedarwood, Firwood, and most softwoods. You'll get years of protection against water and UV rays, color fade, and gray with this high-quality, premium coated deck stain.
In a bucket, combine ½ cup oxygen bleach and 1 gallon hot water. Scrub the affected areas with a stiff brush dipped in the solution. Rinse with water.
Algae and molds can be cleaned quite easily and effectively with bleaching agents such as sodium hypochlorite (liquid household bleach) and sodium percarbonate (the active ingredient in some commercial cleaners). Bleaching agents quickly kill mold and algae, but they also can degrade wood.
Mix the powdered bleach according to directions on the bottle, such as 4 parts water to 1 part powder. Apply the solution with a clean garden sprayer, allowing it to soak for 15 minutes. The bleach will remove much of the discoloration. Use a nylon-bristled scrub brush to remove the rest.
Wet a section of siding with your garden hose. Apply solution and scrub. Use a soft-bristle brush to apply the cleaning solution section-by-section, scrubbing firmly enough to clean without damaging the siding surface. You can purchase an extendable brush specifically for cleaning siding, or use a long pool broom.
70% water, 30% white vinegar makes a great all-purpose vinyl siding cleaner that removes light mold and mildew stains. For a stronger solution, mix together one-third cup powdered laundry detergent, two-thirds cup powdered household cleaner, one quart liquid laundry bleach and one gallon of water.
Don't use it on jewelry, wicker, or other non-suggested materials and surfaces. OxiClean should not be used to clean the following materials: jewelry, latex paints, woven baskets, unpainted wicker, jute, teak, or finished woods.
OxiClean is a popular choice for tackling mold on clothes. It's oxygen bleach, which is gentler than chlorine bleach but still effective for killing mold and mildew.
Boiled linseed oil, despite not providing much water-resistance to wood when applied in the usual way associated with furniture, will do much to slow the weathering to that natural grey/silver colour if applied heavily and re-applied periodically.
To prevent cedar from fading to gray, you need to seal cedar fence with a stain that blocks ultraviolet light and contains a mildewcide, according to Family Handyman.