How to Remove Mildew and Lichen from a Wooden Fence

How to Remove Mildew and Lichen from a Wooden Fence

Lichen and mildew on a wooden fence are not only unsightly, but it can also deteriorate the wood over time. It’s not uncommon for these two to grow on wooden surfaces, especially in areas that are shaded from sunlight. The good news is you that you don’t have to replace fence boards – you can clean green algae off a wood fence fairly easily.

In this article, we will be sharing two methods on how you can remove lichen and mildew from a wooden fence. Have a look;

Method 1: Use a pressure washer to remove mold and lichen

Here are the steps;

· Clear the plants or prune and tie them.

• Cover fragile plants with tarps or buckets turned upside down. Remove any other obstacles.

• Set your cleaner to low pressure, such as 100 to 135 bar.

• Stand 50 cm from the fence and start cleaning. You can get closer when washing the very dirty parts, but don’t keep high pressure on the same point for too long. Sweep the fence slowly and regularly with the water jet.

• If the lichen and mildew are gone, let the fence dry. If there are still spots, go to the next step.

• Mix one part of bleach and two parts of water in a bucket.

• Dip a scrubbing brush into the solution and use it to scrub the stains. Be careful not to splash onto your plants.

• Clean the parts you have scoured again with the pressure washer.

• Examine the fence and sand the rough parts.

• Treat the wood – Once the fence is dry, apply waterproofing, wood stain, or paint to prevent mold and lichen from coming back.

Method 2: Scrubbing the fence by hand

• Protect the plants –Cover them with tarps or buckets turned upside down.
• Prepare a cleaning solution –Mix one part of bleach and two parts of water in a bucket.
• Add detergent –Add mild soap that you can mix with bleach safely. Use a teaspoon of detergent per liter of solution.
• Scrub the fence –Scrub the dirty areas with a scrubbing brush soaked in the solution. Be careful not to splash the solution onto your plants.
• Rinse –Rinse thoroughly with clean water. You can use a garden hose.
• Let the wood dry.
• Repair any damaged parts, drive in nails, or screws that protrude and rough sand surfaces.
• Paint –Consider painting it with mildew and anti-lichen paint.

Other Tips
• If you prune the plants close to the fence to expose it to more sunlight and air, mold and lichen recurrence may stop naturally.
• Test the pressure washer on a small, inconspicuous part of the fence to see if it marks or damages the wood before you start cleaning.
• A garden hose with a high-pressure nozzle can sometimes be powerful enough to remove lichen and mildew from a wooden fence.
• You can use a floor brush with a handle to reach high or low parts more easily.
• Choose the right day for fence cleaning. Moss and mold love wet weather, so pick a sunny day when your fence will quickly dry out after treatment, discouraging mossy regrowth.
• Some moldy fences demand the hard stuff. Check out your hardware store for moss and mold killers. Whenever you’re using one of these stronger cleaners, spot test on an inconspicuous part of your fence before dousing the whole thing.

The Bottom Line

Cleaning and restoring your fence from mildew and lichen damage, as you can see, it’s not a major hassle. However, you’re looking for long-lasting, flawless fence cleaning, and painting/staining results, consider hiring a professional like Aspen Painting.

We have years of experience in fence and home exterior painting/staining and can help you restore the lost glory and good looks of your wooden fence.
Our residential painting services are currently available in Ambler, Dresher, Ft. Washington, and Blue Bell.