Green deposits, algae and moss can build up on patios, fencing and walls, in shady areas which don't get a lot of sunlight. This creates moist spots where algae and moss can grow, on concrete, wood and stone. This build up is also more common on soft and irregular surfaces, rather than straight, harder ones.
Vinegar Solution
Vinegar is the perfect option in such cases. Used similarly to bleach, vinegar is known to kill many species of fungus including harmful mold. Spraying a vinegar solution (1 cup of vinegar per gallon of water) onto the surface, saturating it fully, should kill most strains of mold.
Steam cleaning can kill algae and remove it from concrete. Load water into your steam cleaner. Allow the machine to warm up, and then blast the algae with spurts of hot steam. Once the surface has been thoroughly steamed, scrub the area with a brush and finally rinse the area with clean water.
Algae and lichens prefer to grow in damp, humid areas. They need plenty of water to grow and often paved patios do not have sufficient drainage to stay dry. Algae also grows faster in shaded areas as water does not evaporate as quickly.
Not only can this mossy, slippery, green carpet be unsightly, it can also cause numerous health problems to humans, animals and the environment ranging from toxicity to slips and falls. Additionally, green algae breaks down cement, resulting in future expenses if not properly maintained.
One of the keys to fungus and algae prevention on concrete is to control the flow and presence of water. For exterior surfaces, this is commonly achieved with a suitable design that uses gravity to channel the water flow away from the structure.
To combat mold and algae stains on concrete, consider Mold Armor E-Z House Wash concrete cleaner. This water-based cleaner uses Microban foaming technology to lift dirt and mold from concrete surfaces, and provides long-term stain resistance. It works on most stains in minutes with no scrubbing required.
Best for Mold and Mildew: Wet & Forget Outdoor Mold & Mildew Cleaner. If you're dealing with black or green stains on your concrete from mold, moss, or algae, the Wet & Forget Cleaner is an easy way to get rid of them. The spray is bleach-free and non-acidic.
Green mold is also very common in houses and like blue mold often appears in damp areas such as on shower walls and damp corners. As with most molds, green mold can be removed by scrubbing it away with a solution containing bleach.
Mix water with baking soda in a ratio of 1:1 and then spray the solution on the surface affected by green mold. Leave the solution for at least 10 minutes before cleaning it with a wet cloth. You can repeat this process till you find the green mold has disappeared from the surface.
Hydrogen peroxide is one of the most effective environmental cleaning solutions for mold. Not only does it kill mold, but it also gets rid of bacteria and fungus. To kill mold with hydrogen peroxide, pour 3% concentrated hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle. Spray the solution directly on moldy surfaces.
If the whole lake or pond has a bloom, they typically last for several weeks until conditions in the lake change and the algae die and decompose.
Blue/Green Algae
You guessed it – you'll need the good ole' scrub brush and some borax. In the same way that baking soda can be a spot treatment for black algae, household borax does the same for blue and green algae.
Removing unsightly mould, lichen or algae from your patio has never been so easy – all that is required is your bottle of Wet & Forget, a garden sprayer and tap water: Spray on a dry day and it has to remain dry 4 to 5 hours after application. Mix one part of Wet & Forget with five parts of water in a garden sprayer.
Neutral pH neutral cleaners are ideal for cleaning sealed concrete surfaces free from embedded dirt and deep stains. They can also be used on unsealed indoor or outdoor concrete surfaces that only require a mild cleaning. Alkaline concrete cleaners have powerful degreasing capabilities.
The green algae growth was influenced by both the type of cement and the type of fly ash used. The results show that any addition of classic fly ash increases the risk of green algae colonization on the surface of concrete. 1. Introduction Green algae and cyanobacteria require light, air humidity, and minerals to grow.
The discoloration is caused by iron sulfides and ferrous oxides in slag cement. This discoloration seems to occur more often on concrete cast against large continuous slick form panels such as plastic coated plywood or steel forms which are more airtight than forms made with regular lumber.
If you have an algae problem, your best friend is white vinegar. White vinegar can quickly kill algae but is not harmful to birds, insects and the majority of plants. Use a mixture of one part water to one part white vinegar to spray down the area and kill the algae.
Vinegar is an all-natural solution for cleaning concrete. It kills mildew and mold, removes grime, and helps treat set-in stains.
Whether your patio is sealed concrete or cement, or even sealed concrete pavers, a bleach and water solution makes it easy to clean away built up soil, stains from leaves and pollen, mold, mildew and algae.
The TSSPro 750 is remarkable because it's a water-based acrylic sealer and keeps surfaces free of green algae. Many sealers out there help with algae control, but not many of them uniquely target green algae. However, this product does exactly that and much more.
Vinegar does not dissolve concrete itself but can degrade the cement that binds concrete together. As a weak, dilute acid, vinegar will cause only minor damage to concrete but can take the shine off polished surfaces. It can, however, be used to remove small amounts of cement from tools.