Apr
28
2009
If you’ve noticed the black algae stains on your roof then you’re probably already in the process of trying to find an effective roof cleaning product. I have a bit of bad news for you, however. The truth is that there really aren’t any very good products on the market right now.
It can be tempting to always rely on the ready-to-mix cleaners that can be found for different sorts of cleaning projects around the home, but cleaning roofs is a whole other matter altogether. It might be hard to believe, but you can actually put together a homemade chemical solution for roof cleaning from everyday household products. If you make a lot of use of your clothes washer then you probably already have the main ingredient.
There’s a serious issue involved with using those fad products that you find online and in the stores, and it involves possible roof damage. That’s right, using the wrong roof cleaning solution can actually do more harm than good, especially if it’s reliant on high pressure cleaning. Let’s just say that power washing a roof is not the brightest idea in the world, okay?
There are a few proprietors of roof cleaning chemicals who claim that their product can work without a pressure washer, and this might be technically true, but look at the fine print and youll see that with this method youll have to wait several months to see results! In addition, if the stains are severe, you’d be looking at having to do multiple applications over the course of weeks or months. What a waste of your valuable time!
So you’re wondering what this magic homemade solution consists of? The most important part of the concoction is bleach or chlorine, also called sodium hypochlorite. You might be scared to use this for outdoor cleaning but I assure you that it is, hands down, the safest and best way to rid your roof of black stains.
Putting all the parts together is very simple. Just add ten gallons of liquid chlorine or bleach to ten gallons of water from the spigot. You can also add a cap of liquid laundry detergent if you need some clinging action. Time to get out the ladder and prepare for action.
Now it’s time to watch the magic happen! Keep the pressure washer locked up and instead gently apply your homemade roof cleaning mixture to the shingles. Give it several minutes to work, then pull the hose up to the roof level and rinse until all the soap and algae is gone.
A few final important notes. Make sure you have a helper on the ground to wet down any shrubbery around the perimeter of the home during chemical application. Also take great care to protect yourself from the bleach as it can be detrimental to your skin, lungs, and eyes.
