Do you cringe every time you walk outside your house or pull up to your driveway? Is the source of your embarrassment the discolored appearance of your siding?
If you’ve lived in your house for any length of time, you might remember that its siding once appeared much brighter or free of green, black or brown stains. It could be that your siding is covered in just a think layer of dust or dirt that’s dulled the look of its exterior. However, the problem could be much more serious.
The dirt and dust that accumulates on siding creates a nutrient-rich environment for bacteria, mold, mildew, algae, fungus and other micro-organisms. The presence of any of those micro-organisms is actually a sign that your siding is suffering from a living infection of sorts.
Siding is a Breeding Ground for Micro-Organisms
So, the question is how can a homeowner determine if their siding is infected with a living micro-organism? You might wonder how that’s even possible on a material like vinyl siding.
Mildew and algae that grows on your siding feed on sugars, dust, dirt or other breeding agents. You may not realize it, but nearby trees release sugars into the air which attach themselves to your home. If you’ve parked your car directly under a tree and later noticed the windshield covered in fine dots of something sticky, that’s ultra-fine sugars that are released by many common trees. Attached to your siding, those sugars combined with dirt and moisture are a perfect place for the growth of mildew and algae.
On wood siding, it’s also possible that mildew and algae could be breeding on stains and sealers used to treat the wood. Some of those naturally made products are an an ideal place for the growth of micro-organisms. Luckily, chemicals that fight mildew and algae are contained within most stains and sealers, but they will become ineffective after years of exposure to the sun and rain.
How to Remove Algae and Mildew from Siding
Luckily, the presence of algae or mildew on your home’s siding isn’t something that can’t be addressed. Many homeowners may head to the local big box hardware retailer and pick up a pressure washer and start the work of a DIY siding cleaning. They also might call in a power washing company to tackle the job.
There are two main problems with that. Power washing can be a very destructive force on your siding. Done improperly, pieces of siding can tear off, and in the case of wood siding, power washing can actually lead to an even quicker breakdown in its structure.
The second biggest problem is where water from a power washer ends up. Often times water can become trapped behind the siding, which is now breading ground for fast-growing mold that can make its way inside your home.
Softwash is quickly becoming the preferred method for removing micro-organisms from your home’s siding. Instead of highly pressurized water, we apply 100 percent safe and biodegradable cleaning solution to your siding with a normal, home-type hose with no extra pressure. Our solution works to break down the micro-organisms living on your siding. The results of softwashing speak for themselves; view them in our gallery.
About National Softwash
National Softwash is a locally owned and operated company headquartered in Plainfield, IL and serving Chicago’s western suburbs. We have been cleaning home exteriors since 2017 and have dozens of five-star reviews. Homeowners love our work, and you will too. To schedule a free Softwash estimate, call us at (630) 730-6707 or fill out the contact form.