How Do I Remove Algae, Mold, and Mildew from Wood Siding? 

Homes in across Virginia are in the perfect environment for the green and black mold, mildew and algae to grow on the siding of a house.  With the warm and moist conditions throughout a good portion of the year, poor air movement during different times of the year, and many homes sites built with trees surrounding them it is just about inevitable that wooded sidings will get algae, mold and/or mildew on them. 

DO NOT POWER WASH! 

That’s how not to get rid of the unsightly condition, from algae, mold, and/or mildew.  Speaking from experience, after I spent an entire summer staining the cedar siding on a house, the following year some algae, mildew, and mold accumulated on the siding.  Decided to power wash the siding.  After power washing the house the prior summers worth of work of staining was washed off. 

The best way to remove algae, mold, and/or mildew from a cedar siding is to follow the directions below. 

• Obtain a 1-1.5 gallon hand sprayer. 
• Mix in the sprayer 25% solution of bleach with water. (Have not experience any damage from solution on bushes, but annual plantings and flowering perennials need to either be removed or be extra cautious). 
• Drench the siding where algae, mold, and/or mildew is present and let solution sit for 20 minutes or so and rinse off with a garden hose. (You may have to repeat this process a couple of times where areas have more algae, mold, or mildew.  In about ½ day time, a 2000 square foot, two story home can be cleaned. 
• When finished with the bleach solution, hand sprayer, and garden hose the paint/stain will still be intact to the house.  Plus using this method, with the bleach solution, the house will look like it has been painted or stained again.