Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Sina Kamran. Sina Kamran is a Hardscaping Specialist and the Owner of Design Scapes, Inc. in Santa Monica, California. With over 15 years of experience, he specializes in customized, site-specific hardscaping and landscaping design/build projects. He's a certified National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) designer, a certified installer with the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI), and a Rain Bird Certified Irrigation Professional. Additionally, Design Scapes, Inc. has many 5-star rated reviews.
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A wood fence can collect all sorts of build-up outside. Mold, mildew, mud and algae can all become problems over time. You may be wondering how to clean a wood fence without harming your plants or the surface. Luckily, by taking steps to prepare the surrounding area, and using the right equipment and tools, you can have a spic-n-span wood fence in no time.
Steps
Cover the ground around the fence with plastic. If you have plants you care about or you decide to use a chemical cleaner, you’ll want to cover the area around the fence with plastic. Go to your local hardware store and purchase enough plastic sheeting to cover the plants and grass up to at least 3 feet (0.91 m) from your wood fence.[1]- Purchase just enough plastic for one section and move it with you when you move to the next to save money.
Remove heavy debris with a wire brush. A stainless steel wire brush prepares a wood fence for painting, but it is also handy at getting rid of stuck on dirt and grime. Run a wire brush over any caked-on or large pieces of debris. Be careful not to scrub a wire brush into a painted fence too deeply.- If you don’t already have one, purchase a wire brush at a hardware or home improvement store.
- Substitute a plastic bristle scrub brush for a wire brush and use a little more pressure.
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Spray the fence down with a garden hose. Make sure you have a garden hose handy, whether or not you’re using the assistance of a power washer. Wet your wood fence down and remove surface dirt by spraying all over with a garden hose on medium to high pressure.[2]
Use a lower powered washer. There’s no need to spray your wood fence with the most powerful washer because the pressure can warp and indent the wood. Look for a pressure washer with a strength between 1500 and 2000 psi and steer clear of models with an engine over this.[3]
Snap on a 25-degree tip. A 25-degree tip on a pressure washer will fan out the water for a gentler wash. Attach a green 25-degree tip onto the end of the pressure washer sprayer. Whether you rent or own a pressure washer, you should have a variety of color coded tips and a 25-degree is typically green.[4]
Stand two feet away from your fence. Regardless of the tip you attach or the strength of your pressure washer, it’s a powerful tool. Make sure you stand at least 2 feet (0.61 m) away from your wood fence to prevent any damage.[5]
Spray the water in long, even strokes. Standing 2 feet (0.61 m) away, use long, even strokes to spray off debris and bring your wood fence back to life. Slowly move the spray tip 1 foot (0.30 m) closer to the surface and spray the length of the fence using even strokes until the wood looks brighter.
Vary the areas you concentrate on. Don’t damage your wood fence by spraying too long in one spot. Change the area you’re spraying frequently. After you’ve brightened several fence posts using long, even strokes and you don’t see any more color change on the wood, move over to the next set of fence posts.
Use an 18-degree tip for added cleaning. If your fence is not coming as clean as you'd like it, change the pressure with an 18-degree tip. Snap off the 25-degree tip and snap on an 18-degree tip. The added pressure should be enough to clean your fence spotless without damaging it.
Use oxygenated bleach on a wood fence. Mix together an oxygen bleach powder, like Oxiclean, according to the manufacturer's directions. Apply the mixture to a water dampened fence with a large painter’s brush, leave it for 15 minutes and then scrub the surface with a plastic, bristle scrub brush. Rinse the mixture and any remaining residue with a garden hose.
Remove mold and algae with chlorine bleach. Get rid of green residue from algae or mold by mixing two parts water to one part chlorine bleach. Add a teaspoon of dish soap for extra cleaning power and scrub grime away with a bristle brush. Concentrate and use a little elbow grease on stained areas. Rinse your wood fence off thoroughly after you scrub all areas down.
Use a commercial wood cleaner. You can also buy a pre-mixed cleaning solution to clean your wood fence by hand. Go to your local hardware or home improvement store and look for a cleaner specifically for wood. They will often be geared towards wood fences and decks. Follow specific instructions given by the product's manufacturer.
Use white vinegar to remove mildew. Mix 1⁄2 cup (120 mL) white vinegar to one gallon of warm water to remove unsightly mildew or moss. Apply the mixture with a sponge, let it sit for 15 minutes and scrub your fence with a bristle brush. Rinse with water from a garden hose thoroughly afterward.
Community Q&A
- QuestionBe sure the bleach is fully rinsed before applying vinegar -- mixing the two can cause deadly gas!
CageyCatTop AnswererYou are absolutely correct. Some chemicals should never be mixed. Further, some chemicals should never follow the deadly-mix chemical. Use one-- or the other -- not both, not even if rinsed. - QuestionIs chlorine bleach the same as chlorine from a pool store?
Community AnswerNo, the pool store chlorine is approximately 10% chlorine. Store bought chlorine bleach is 1.5 -3% chlorine - QuestionI have been told to use a mixture of white vinegar and epson salts. Is this a good idea?
Lina DaSilvaTop AnswererUsing a mixture of white vinegar and Epsom salts as a cleaning solution for a wood fence can be effective, especially when dealing with mildew and mold. Vinegar is a natural disinfectant. It helps kill mold, bacteria, and mildew, which are common problems on wood fences, especially in damp environments. Epsom salts can help in the cleaning process, although they're more commonly known for their use in gardening and health. In this context, they can act as a mild abrasive to help scrub away dirt and grime.
Tips
- Purchase a long-handled scrub brush for cleaning that’s easier on your back.Thanks
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about external house cleaning, check out our in-depth interview with Sina Kamran.
References
- ↑ https://www.longfence.com/content/how-to-clean-a-wood-fence-without-a-powerwasher-in-three-easy-steps
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0Jb85Fi-6M
- ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/garden-structures/fences/how-to-renew-wooden-fences/view-all
- ↑ http://pressurewashr.com/pressure-washer-nozzles-101/
- ↑ http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to/a9413/everything-you-need-to-know-about-pressure-washers-15826265/
About This Article
Your wood fence can collect mud, mildew, or dirt over time, but luckily you have several easy options to clean it. If your fence has a few patches of dirt, scrub them off with a wire brush. Just be careful not to scrub too hard so you don't remove the paint. You can also remove small amounts of surface dirt by spraying down your fence with a garden hose. If you need to wash your fence more thoroughly, apply an oxygenated bleach with a large paintbrush. After the bleach has been on the fence for 15 minutes, scrub it off with a plastic-bristled brush. If you’re trying to get rid of mildew, apply a solution made from 1/2 cup of white vinegar and 1 gallon of water to the area with a sponge. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then scrub it off with a brush. For tips on how to clean a fence using a commercial wood cleaner, read on!
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