Clean Cedar Siding Before Staining

Power washing can damage the wood and bleach can damage a power washer.

Clean cedar siding before staining.

Dealing with surface contaminants once the surface is in good condition re inspect for dirt mildew stains cedar bleed chalkiness and other foreign substances. Cedar shingles can also grow moss and algae or develop iron staining which requires periodic cleaning. Use a thick brush when staining. Cedar siding after mold removal cleaning and brightening.

Though it may be more time consuming always clean your cedar siding by hand. While you can use household bleach to kill mold and algae it tends to make the cedar shingle s surface fuzzy because of the excessive pulping reaction when using it. Get rid of that grunge by cleaning your cedar siding with an oxygen bleach and choosing a protectant that doesn t feed future mold growth. Before staining replace rotting or decayed wood and remove loose stain and eroded wood fibers by sanding scraping or power washing the problem surfaces.

If cedar is aged having grey weathered and or ugly black mildew all over the best cedar cleaner by far is oxi clean laundry detergent saving time and money and is also a must before staining. Now the cleaned and brightened cedar wood siding is ready to stain. In the past he had used oil based wood stain products but found the mold and mildew returning within a few years each time. Staining the restored cedar siding.

Department of agriculture s forest services laboratory recommends cleaning cedar shingles with an oxidizing bleach as opposed to a household bleach to avoid damaging the wood. Do not attempt to power wash your cedar siding. After you have washed it wait for it to dry before applying any stain to the cedar.