We use vinegar/mr clean mix and a sponge mop then rinse with a hose. We can't use bleach because of the flower beds. We have to do this every two years to the north face of our home.
We use vinegar/mr clean mix and a sponge mop then rinse with a hose. We can't use bleach because of the flower beds. We have to do this every two years to the north face of our home.
-Lud
I've not had any luck with any of the big box products unless some mechanical agitation was used. Doesn't take much. A brush like Lee posted on a painters pole will get you pretty far off the ground but might not work on a 2 story house if you've got it higher up. Luckily around here it seems to mostly form in the bottom 6-10'. I assume the air is less humid and there's more circulation higher up.
I pretty much can't be around bleach (I start coughing badly) so I've never tried that but I'd be real careful where any overspray goes.
Google "soft wash power-washing." If you dig deep enough, you will find several recipes. The one I use, go to Home Depot, and in the swimming pool section, you will see the pool bleach. It is 11% concentrate, vs the 4% Clorox. Mix it 50-50 with water, and add a cup of Dawn to help it stick to the siding. Spray it on, let it sit for app. 5 minutes. On my vinyl siding, it made the siding look new. It also cleaned the facia and soffit very well. I spray it on with my power-washer with a low pressure nozzle, but using a pump sprayer would be just as efficient. I agree with the above comment about not using high pressure on vinyl siding.
I’d never satisfactorily cleaned painted aluminum gutters until someone recommended Simple Green®. Give it a try if you’re not happy with results using bleach or other detergents.
Look on Amazon for a product called "X14". Don't even bother with the bleach/vinegar/baking soda/whatever - X14 is what you want, and will solve your problem instantly.
I also use the Hudson Self-Mixing Hose End Sprayer as Bob Vavricka mentioned above. It's really does work well, providing the cleaning media isn't too thick to begin with. It's very convenient not having to pre-mix the solution.
I also use this sprayer to spray along the foundation of my home each year to protect against, or kill off, carpenter ants, termites, or other insects as well. It's a handy tool to have.
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I have had good luck with this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001N7RZC0
Mold Armor for your house.
My experience is that it also depends on how long it has been there. If this has been there for a few years, you need to scrub it. If it is relatively new, give this stuff a go. Well, it helps regardless. What I like is that you can spray, wait, then rinse off.
It is not expensive and it is easy to use. i would for sure try this before paying someone to come out. Keep the container in case you want to try mixing up your own solutions with vinegar (or whatever.... and I am not recommending for or against vinegar, but someone did mention using it).
I believe EZ House Wash was the other product I mentioned in #7 the name of which I couldn't remember.
I looked over the house more carefully and noticed that the soffits were pretty dirty (it's a 3 story house so the soffits are very high) so I decided to get the whole house power washed.
Thanks for all your suggestions
Dennis