Making your Holiday

Home Algae-Free

Many holiday homes accumulate a degree of green algae on the north sides of their homes. This algae will grow on decks, window sills, and siding. It grows just like algae grows in the woods on the north side of trees. Remember in scouts, how you could always tell which way was north? Well, the same scientific principle applies in this situation.

Getting rid of this ugly green color is not that hard to do. This article will explain some helpful tips on how to do away with it. Do not buy extra chemicals at a local hardware store. You will be wasting your money. Instead buy a gallon of Clorox.

Spray Bottle

Fill a spray bottle with half Clorox and half water. (This will be very strong). It should be strong enough to cut off anything. Make sure you have a bucket of rinse water, with a sponge and some dry rags or cloth. The spray bottle is used for small areas, where the algae grows. Spray the algae generously and let it set for a few moments. Soon you will see streams of green running from the spray you just put on. Now just wash it off with your rinse water and sponge. Take your cloth and dry the area. Sometimes, if the algae is thick, it might make for a greenish stain. Simply repeat the process and rinse it off again.

Buckets and Hose

For larger areas, you will need two buckets, brush with extension handle, and garden hose. Fill one bucket with Clorox and water. One rinse bucket with sponge, garden hose with speed nozzle on it. Do the same process as the spray. Except use your brush to put on the cleaner. Again, let it sit a small amount of time. Use your bucket o rinse water, if you need too. Otherwise, use your garden hose. Adjust your speed sprayer and rinse off the area.

For Deck areas, do the same thing as the bucket and hose method. However, you are going to use more water to spray off the excess residue. You have to rinse it well. This is because the Clorox could bleach out your decking. Many decks have a natural oil in them for protecting the wood. You do not want the Clorox to take out that oil. If you rinse your deck well, you will not have this problem. You might even find that it helps to clean your deck, too.

Algae can grow anyplace and it will come back. It is a fact of nature. However, you can always get rid of it with a little Clorox and some work. Having a spray bottle handy, can prevent the problem, before it grows to fast. And Holiday homes are prone to algae since they are often visited only twice or thrice every month. Make sure that your holiday home is algae-free so you don’t turn away your prospective guests upon visiting your property.