Routine yard work and seasonal chores keep the house looking its best. You can fix just about anything around your home, but how do you tackle unsightly green mold?
It grows on all types of exterior surfaces, and it doesn’t care about age. Whether you’ve lived there for years or you just bought the house, green mold can quickly become a serious cleanup challenge.
How to Get Rid of Green Mold on Decks, Patios and Siding
That green mold on the outside of your house is the same unhealthy stuff you find inside your home. Airborne mold spores attach to exteriors and thrive on moisture in surface materials. Our guide gives you everything you need to get rid of mold on wood, concrete and vinyl.
How to Remove Green Mold From Wood Decks
Shade keeps the deck inviting on a sunny day. Add moisture, and you’re dealing with green mold on wood flooring, stairs and railings. Pressure washing can remove the mold, but it’s a job best handled by cleaning professionals.
1. Mix one-third cup of laundry detergent with 1 gallon of water.
2. Use a broom or stiff bristle brush to scrub mold off wood surfaces.
3. Rinse well, and repeat if necessary.
You can also use a mix of one-half gallon white vinegar and one-half gallon water. Keep mold at bay by regularly sweeping leaves and debris off decks and steps.
How to Remove Green Mold From Concrete Patios
Most homeowners are surprised to see mold growing on concrete patios and sidewalks. However, the porous material can easily retain enough moisture to turn outdoor areas into mold-friendly environments. Use these steps to clean up green mold on concrete around your home.
1. Prep affected areas by rinsing clean with a garden hose.
2. Mix 2 gallons of water, 1 cup of bleach and a few drops of dish soap.
3. Using a broom, saturate moldy concrete with your mixture.
4. Wait 15 minutes before rinsing with the hose.
You can reduce green mold outbreaks by improving drainage around patios and sidewalks. Repair concrete cracks as soon as they appear, and make sure joints stay clean and well-sealed.
How to Remove Green Mold From Vinyl Siding
It takes a little pre-planning to clean green mold off exterior siding. Make sure the weather forecast is on your side. Stay safe by letting someone nearby know you’ll be working up on the ladder.
1. Mix a solution of 30% white vinegar and 70% water.
2. Clean mold from siding using a long-handled scrubber and working sections from top to bottom.
3. For tough mold removal jobs, use a product specially formulated to clean vinyl siding.
Slow down green mold growth on siding by keeping gutters and downspouts in good condition. Think about having your home’s vinyl siding pressure washed once or twice a year by a professional cleaning contractor.
Green Mold vs. Black Mold
Most exterior molds appear as large patches of green, but you may notice areas of black mold. The most common black mold, Cladosporium, is usually an indoor problem. However, it does grow on exterior wood, concrete and vinyl.
Cladosporium and green molds aren’t considered as dangerous as Stachybotrys chartarum, commonly called toxic black mold. It’s impossible to know which type of mold is growing on surfaces without testing.
There are DIY test kits available that can help determine the type of mold growing on your home’s exteriors. The best professional cleaning companies also provide access to industry-certified mold testing services.
Is Green Mold Dangerous?
All types of mold can impact your health indoors and out. Green mold is no exception. The airborne spores are a natural part of our environment, but exposure to fungal growth does come with risks. These are some of the symptoms you might experience from living around green mold.
• Nose, throat and eye irritation
• Chronic coughing and respiratory problems
• Headaches that seem to worsen when you’re home
• Hives, rashes and itchy skin conditions
• General feeling of fatigue even when well-rested
The effects of mold exposure are usually mild in most people. However, those with existing medical issues should always speak with a doctor about their concerns.
We Help With the Big Jobs
Cleaning exterior mold growth can quickly turn into a very big job. It can be dangerous too. If you have any doubts about the size of the project or your safety up on the ladder, give us a call at 773-647-1985. We provide certified green mold removal services for Chicago, IL and suburbs and we handle power and pressure washing too.
When you need a little help with the big jobs, you can always count on ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba.