How To Prevent Mould

 1. Regular cleaning

Mold travels through air and will attach itself to surfaces and grow if it is given the chance to.  A good way to prevent it is to clean regularly (usually every couple of months) as this will prevent  it from building up too much on surfaces.  It will also allow you to check regularly for any new mold that has begun to grow.  The best way to clean siding surfaces is with a hosepipe and a soft brush.  Always remember to spray the water downwards though, so that it doesn’t gather in the siding panels.

 

2. Direct sunlight

Mold thrives in places that are dark and damp and one of the best ways to stop mold from growing is to allow plenty of sunlight onto the outside of your house.  This could mean that you need to trim back trees or shrubs in order to allow as much light as possible through to your house.  Another advantage of trimming back the trees is that it will allow the air to circulate easier which will keep your siding drier and make it harder for the mold to grow.

 

3. Remove climbing vines

While they might look appealing, climbing vines are actually aiding the growth of mold as they block out sunlight and prevent your siding from ever drying out properly.  If your siding is always damp and lacking sunlight then it is the perfect conditions for mold to grow.  Therefore, it’s a good idea to remove the climbing vines and ivy so that the mold has less of a chance to grow on the siding of your home.

 

4. Remove moss

Moss has exactly the same effect as climbing vines as it creates a dark and damp environment on the siding which is perfect for mold to grow in.  Therefore, to prevent mold you should remove all moss from your home.

 

5. Act fast

One of the best ways to stop prevent mold is to stop it in its tracks as soon as you see any of it starting to grow.  The best thing to do is to use a solution of diluted bleach and water to remove it.  This will stunt the growth of the mold and should stop it from getting a good hold on your house as it would take even more time and effort to remove otherwise.

 

6. Use mold resistant cleaners

There are some cleaning products that contain ingredients that kill the mold before it has chance to grow.  Therefore, it's a good idea to use a mold resistant cleaner on the siding surface as it will prevent mold and mean that you can clean the siding less often.

 

7. Be careful with sprinklers

Even though you might not realise it is a problem, using a sprinkler too close to the siding on your house can aid the growth of mold as it will make the siding wet.  As wet siding is perfect for mold, you should make sure that sprinklers are not used too close to your home’s siding so that you can keep it as dry as possible.

 

8. Maintain rain gutters

Another important thing to do when trying to prevent mold is to always make sure that your gutters are free from blockages.  This is because water can spill out of a blocked gutter and make your home siding wet.

 

9. Check ventilation ducts

Ventilation ducts from clothes dryers can produce steam outside your house which can attract mold spores.  Therefore, it’s a good idea to check them regularly to make sure that they are clean and that there is no build-up of moisture in them.

 

10. Good insulation

Good insulation can also help to prevent mold from growing on the outside of your home as the drier and more ventilated your home is then the less chance there is of mold growing.

 

 

H2: How to clean mold from siding

A good solution to use for removing mold from your home’s siding is 70% water and 30% white vinegar.  However, if the mold is particularly stubborn then you will need to make a stronger solution using the following recipe:

 

1 gallon of water

1 quart of liquid laundry bleach

1/3 cup of powdered laundry detergent

2/3 cup of powdered household cleaner

 

You will also need a soft sponge.  It’s also a good idea to have a spray bottle, although it’s not necessary.

 

H3: How to clean mold from siding

1.  The  first thing to do is to hose the siding surface down as light mold will usually come straight off with just water.  You should begin spraying the siding at the bottom and then move up to the top.  Always make sure that you don’t spray any water under the edge of the siding as the water could get in through the seams and cause problems.

 

2. Rinse the siding down again, from the top to the bottom this time.

 

3. Cover any plants with plastic drop cloths so that they don’t get damaged or burned off by the cleaning solution.

 

4. Now you can use your cleaning solution on the mold.  The best way is to scrub the area with the solution and leave it for several minutes to soak in before you rinse it off.

 

5. Rinse the cleaning solution off the siding, beginning at the top and then moving down to the bottom.

 

6. If there is a lot of mold, or it is stubbornly refusing to come off, then you can continue to scrub with the solution and rinse it off until all of the mold has been removed.

 

H2: What not to do

Never use anything such as liquid grease remover, furniture polish, or undiluted chlorine bleach as they might cause serious damage to the surface of the vinyl siding.  You should also never use steel wool or and abrasive scrubber as they can also damage the surface of the siding.

 

H2: Should I use a pressure washer?

A good way to remove mold from the siding is to use a pressure washer.  However, it’s best to get a professional to do the job as it is easy to damage the siding with a pressure washer - it could cause dents or even put a hole in the siding.  Even if it didn’t damage the surface then it could leave streaky marks which wouldn’t be very appealing to look at.

 

If you do decide to do the job yourself then you should always use the widest setting on the washer and point it directly at the siding and not upwards.  You should always keep moving the nozzle of the pressure washer - never remain in one spot for long - so that you don’t force any water underneath the siding as that could cause problems even bigger than mold.

 

A good way to clean off the mold is to use a mold-killing agent with pressurized hot water.  Some products contain chemical agents that kill the mold quickly before it begins to grow and they are good to use as they mean that you don’t need to clean the