Have you stepped outside only to discover that your exterior surfaces have become infested with mold? This is a frustrating problem, and the worst part is that the problem will become more severe if ignored. Mold continues to spread across surfaces, leading to an intensely stressful situation. The good news is that you can learn how to remove mold from exterior surfaces on your own if you want.
Continue reading and review the process with Pristine Clean Exteriors, a locally owned and operated business! Remember, if you need professional mold removal, you can always reach out to us. We are Rogers, AR’s exterior cleaning experts, and we can even get rid of tough mold growth for you.
An Introduction to Mold Removal Tools and Techniques
In your fight against mold, a pressure washer is your best friend. This specialized piece of machinery pumps water and sprays it through a hose. These jets of water are powerful, allowing you to remove stubborn mold without having to physically exert yourself. What’s especially helpful is that most pressure washers allow you to adjust how much water pressure you are using. For example, you can clean wooden decks with 1,000 to 1,500 PSI, or you can restore concrete surfaces with 3,000 to 3,500 PSI.
A pressure washer isn’t the only tool you’ll use, though. Please make sure you also have the following items on hand:
- Goggles and Gloves. By wearing goggles and gloves, you’ll protect your bare skin and eyes from mold spores. This will prevent itchy skin and burning eyes.
- Respirator. You definitely don’t want to inhale spores, so make sure you wear a respirator for your safety. We recommend a N95 respirator.
- Cleaning Solution. A cleaning solution can help you weaken and kill mold growth. At Pristine Clean Exteriors, we use sodium hypochlorite.
- Stiff-Bristle Brush. Sometimes, mold doesn’t want to let go of surfaces so easily. A stiff-bristle brush helps you unroot it.
Preparing For Your Mold Removal Project
If you want to learn how to remove mold from exterior surfaces, be sure to make the correct preparations first! First and foremost, you need to give yourself enough time for the work. Removing mold from exterior surfaces can be a lengthy process, and because of this, you shouldn’t expect to get it done in thirty or so minutes. We recommend giving yourself many hours for your DIY project. Don’t try to work this project in before important appointments or errands, either.
Additionally, you will need to clear the area if you want to remove mold from its surfaces. Is there outdoor furniture and potted plants in the way? Make sure you move them to a safe, temporary location. What about vehicles? Consider parking them on the curb for the time being. That way, you can pressure wash your moldy driveway without any obstacles.
Begin With Your Cleaning Solution
When going through the steps of how to remove mold from exterior surfaces, begin by applying your cleaning solution of choice to the afflicted area. (At Pristine Clean Exteriors, we use sodium hypochlorite.) Next, wait fifteen minutes for the mold to be broken down. Your cleaning solution should quickly kill it, weakening its grip on surfaces and making it easier to remove.
Worried about sodium hypochlorite damaging your property’s exterior? Don’t worry about it because this helpful chemical will destroy mold without hurting your home or business. Additionally, sodium hypochlorite is 100% eco-friendly, so you don’t have to worry about it polluting the environment, either.
Use a Brush to Loosen Debris
Next, you’ll want to use your stiff-bristle brush to loosen debris. If you skip this step, it’s possible that you will come across mold growth that doesn’t wash away. This will leave you with imperfect results, and leaving any mold behind could cause it to reproduce and spread again. In other words, brushing is an absolutely necessary step of the process.
Fortunately, it’s a simple step of the process, too. Scrub the area with firm, even pressure, using short strokes to break mold free. And don’t forget to wear your respirator during this work. You might kick up a cloud of spores, and you definitely don’t want to inhale them.
Removing Mold Via Pressure Washing
Now that you’ve made it this far, it’s time to discover how to remove mold from exterior surfaces via pressure washing. First, you’ll want to choose an appropriate amount of water pressure for the project. The correct setting depends on the surfaces you are cleaning. We have included a few examples, as well as how much water pressure to use:
- Vinyl Siding: 1,000–1,500 PSI
- Wood: 1,500–2,000 PSI
- Stucco: 1,500–2,000 PSI
- Brick: 2,000–2,500 PSI
- Concrete: 3,000–3,500 PSI
When cleaning exterior surfaces, it’s important to use an easy-to-remember pattern. That way, you can keep track of what has already been washed and what still needs your attention. We recommend pressure washing moldy areas in a row-by-row pattern. Watch as surfaces that were once dark and dull become bright and beautiful. Goodbye mold—and hello cleanliness!
Need Professional Services?
At this point, it’s clear that learning how to remove mold from exterior surfaces isn’t exactly easy. If you have enough time and energy, you can absolutely do this work on your own. Here’s the question, though: is it worth it? That’s ultimately up to you, but if you decide that it isn’t, consider reaching out to Pristine Clean Exteriors for help. We are a professional pressure washing company, and it would be our pleasure to serve you!
Our experts understand how to remove mold from all exterior surfaces, including concrete, brick, stucco, vinyl, etc. Expect stunning results for a fair price—we never add hidden fees or surcharges to your final bill.
Want a free cost estimate? We have you covered. Contact us online, let us know about your project, and we’ll let you know how much you can expect to pay. Then, you can choose a time and date for your appointment.
