The best way to get rid of those algae is through power washing. Generally, the best recommendation to clean the algae off is to pressure wash or power wash. Power washing can effectively clean the algae because high water pressure can force out any growth that has gone down in the pores of the siding.
Mix four cups of vinegar with a quarter cup of salt and some water and spray your tarmac driveway, leave the vinegar solution for 15-20 minutes before washing away with water. Continue spraying your tarmac for up to a week. Once complete, wash your driveway thoroughly using dish soap and warm water, or tarmac cleaner.
Chlorine is still one of the most effective killers of algae so doing a super-chlorination of 10-20 ppm of chlorine can go a long way towards wiping out the algae. Liquid chlorine is an ideal shock for algae because it is fast acting and does not add cyanuric acid (CYA) or calcium to the water.
Shock Your Pool
Shocking is the process of adding chemicals to your pool to raise chlorine levels and kill bacteria and algae. We recommend using a calcium hypochlorite shock to treat your algae problems.
Hardware stores and home centers sell products designed to kill moss and algae, but you can save money by using inexpensive chlorine bleach or a non-creamy hand dishwashing detergent, such as Dawn.
TIP 5: USE BLEACH OR VINEGAR
Oxidized bleach immediately starts to kill algae cells once it comes into contact with it. Bleach, however, should not be your first option, especially if the area you plan to rid of algae is near plants or grass.
I've had fantastic success cleaning algae from just about every outdoor surface using liquid dish soap and my favorite exterior cleaning brush. This brush is one that's made to clean RVs. It's got lots of bristles that are about 2.5 inches long and they're soft.
Apply a mustard algaecide following the label directions. Allow the water to circulate for 24 hours. Use a pool vacuum or backwash the pool again to remove the remaining dead algae. In persistent cases, brush the pool and apply algaecide once more after two to four days.
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.
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.
People frequently do not realize that you can actually damage your concrete driveway, patio, or other concrete areas by pressure washing. Most people believe that concrete is solid and almost invincible.
The quick answer is yes, power washing can degrade a concrete surface.
Pressure washing a house with bleach is a good approach to get rid of mold, moss, and substantial dirt. On the other hand, Chlorine is an excellent choice for removing oil stains from concrete floors. To avoid long-term damage, chlorine is ideal if you plan to pressure wash your backyard floor or driveway on your own.
When added to water containing algae, H2O2 breaks down into water and oxygen, releasing free oxygen radicals in the process. These free oxygen radicals can then react with and destroy the cell walls and membranes of algae cells, causing them to die off.
Hydrogen peroxide is especially effective against green algae and blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). It is heavier than water and sinks to the ground, which is useful if you're dealing with algae near the ground and somewhat of a hindrance if the algae are higher up in the tank.
Since baking soda is highly alkaline and reacts when mixed with an acid, many people assume it can be used to change the pH of a pond to discourage algae growth. However, even a large amount of baking soda dissolved in a pond will have little to no effect on either algae or pH.
Clean the area or surface regularly and use a specialist green stain remover, such as our Green Growth Remover, which helps prevents regrowth and delays it coming back. Good drainage and air circulation. Don't place your favourite pine wood planter in a dark, shady corner. Move your patio furniture around regularly.
Yes, dilute apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a great choice for combatting algae in your bird bath the natural way. The higher pH value of the ACV makes it too acidic for algae to grow.
Mix two gallons of water, two cups of oxygen bleach, and one cup of borax. Stir the recipe until everything dissolves. Add ¼ cup of dish soap and stir. Apply the cleaning solution and scrub with a brush.
In general, add one pound of shock to your pool for every 10,000 gallons of water. But if you're experiencing an algae problem, you'll need to add double, triple, or quadruple the amount of shock.
Eliminating an Algae Bloom
To eliminate a green algae bloom, the recommendation is to breakpoint chlorinate to 30 ppm. Adding less than the breakpoint dosage can create more combined chlorine, exacerbating the problem.
Dead algae has a distinct appearance, looking grayish in color and dusty when it accumulates in the bottom of the pool. Once the pool water is clear, it's easy to see down there.