If you have your own hot water pressure washer on hand, you can simply spend a few minutes cleaning the algae off. Check the manufacturer's directions to learn what temperature and pressure it should be on.
Preventing Potential Damage from Algae and Moss
These organisms can penetrate porous materials, leading to cracks, rot, and degradation over time. By utilizing pressure washing services, you eliminate not only existing algae and moss but also prevent further damage to your exterior surfaces.
- For Stubborn Algae: Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water or a diluted bleach solution (1 part bleach to 10 parts water). Make sure to test a small, hidden area first to avoid any damage. Apply the Solution: Use a sponge or brush to apply the cleaning solution to the affected areas.
Cleaning Siding (1,500-2,000 PSI)
A PSI range of 1,500 to 2,000 is suitable for this task, effectively removing dirt and algae without harming the siding.
A recipient of the Safer Choice label, Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner can be used in pressure washers and on all washable surfaces, and easily removes tough dirt and grime without the use of caustic chemicals.
Simple Green Oxy Solve Total Outdoor Cleaner lifts dirt and stains from mold, mildew, moss, and algae from outdoor surfaces such as wood, plastic, concrete, and more. The fast-acting cleaner uses peroxide to brighten and renew surfaces without bleach.
Can You Pressure Wash a Backyard Putting Green? While pressure washing may seem like an easy shortcut, it's too aggressive for most backyard putting greens and risks damaging the artificial turf fibers, backing, and infill layer over time.
Black Brush Algae - BBA (Audouinella sp.)
Often called as Black Beard Algae - this is a very difficult type to get rid of! The small black, dark-grey or reddish hairballs will grow in clumps or patches of fine black tufts with a length of half a centimeter.
Pressure washing can effectively remove dirt, grime, mildew, and other unsightly buildup from the exterior of your commercial building, including common areas, parking lots, parking garages, building surfaces, and even windows.
You need to raise the level of your chlorine – shock the pool – and maintain that high level until all the algae is dead. This may take 3 to 4 days. RUN THE FILTER 24 HOURS A DAY. You must maintain that high level of chlorine.
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.
Determine how severe the algae or other biological growth is. For heavy soiling, dilute 2 parts water to 1 part GK Greener Kleener. For light to medium soiling dilute 3 parts water to 1 part GK Greener Kleener. Easily apply the formula to the affected area using a garden sprayer or a brush.
Copper Sulfate or “blue stone” is probably the most commonly used algal treatments because of its availability and low cost. Copper sulfate comes in several forms depending on how finely it is ground.
Vinyl siding: Using high pressure on vinyl could strip the protective sealant, leaving an uneven appearance to the siding. Paint: Painted surfaces are prone to chip, peel or discolor with applied water pressure. Roof shingles: Shingles can lose their granules, detach or break if immense pressure is applied.
You can use a bleach and water solution made with Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach for cleaning algae and mold from exterior sealed non-porous surfaces like stucco and painted wood, siding, tile, brick and patio stone. In some cases, bleach and water are all that's needed to clean away mold and algae.
Blast the Algae Away With a Pressure Washer
A pressure of 1500-2000 psi is effective for most patios without causing damage. Then, start pressure washing at one end of the patio, moving systematically to cover all areas.
Clean patio with pressure washer
But be careful: depending on the type of material, the direct water jet can roughen or even damage the patio slabs. Hard types of stone can be cleaned with high pressure without hesitation, while only low pressure should be applied to softer natural stones.
Mold Armor E-Z Multi-Purpose Pressure Washer Concentrate is an outdoor pressure washer cleaner solution that powers through tough stains. This pressure washer detergent kills mold and mildew and powers away dirt, grime, and algae stains with its concentrated formula.
Use a pool brush to vigorously scrub any pool surfaces covered in algae, including the walls, floors and steps. Apply a green algaecide according to the directions on the label. Let the water circulate for 24 hours, then brush the pool surfaces again. Vacuum or backwash to remove any remaining dead algae.
Try using a glass-safe or acrylic-safe algae scraper (with the blade attachment) to remove the algae from aquarium walls. A simple razor blade can also work. Nerite snails are also a good first line of defense since they seem to like eating GSA.
Invertebrates like Amano shrimp or dwarf shrimp (like Red Bee or Red Fire shrimp) will help you keep this algae type in check.
Using a garden hose, spray only the section of siding that you're working on with water. Spray using a downward motion to avoid forcing water underneath the siding, where it could cause damage and rot. Using a scrub brush and the TSP/water cleaner, scrub the siding to remove the grime and dirt.
Clean Pressure Nozzle (Green)
All purpose: home siding, brick patios, wood, decks, driveways and sidewalks, garage floor, etc. For general tasks.
The best power washer attachment for garden hoses will allow you to accomplish several tasks. You might wash the car with it, or water the garden on lower settings and then crank up the jet stream pressure to reach under your home's eaves to clear out cobwebs.