Spring Cleaning the Cabin Exteriour

Changing from blue to yellow in 2011.

Okay, it isn't spring yet, but the weather on the west coast has been milder than usual. In a year's time, mildew has accumulated on our cabin walls, especially on the shady side.

The last time we painted was in 2011 after our bathroom and porch addition. We used CIL solid wood stain from Canadian Tire and it's still in excellent condition (except for the ugly mildew of course). We estimate the paint will last five years. Maybe this time will be longer since it took three coats of yellow to cover the blue.

Mildew stains on wood siding.

Mildew can be easily removed.

STEP 1: Mix cleaning solution with four parts water and one part bleach.

STEP 2: Moisten a small area and let it sit for several minutes. Wear old clothes! Bleach stains!!

STEP 3: Using a brush (I find a broom works well except in tight corners) and more solution, scrub the area until the mildew is killed and the dark stains disappear. Do a small area at a time.

STEP 4: Rinse with fresh water. A garden hose works well, but I didn't have one. A bucket of fresh water and my trusty broom gave everything a good rinse.

STEP 5: Let dry and enjoy your refreshed paint job.

Not wanting to be wasteful, I used the remaining bleach solution to clean several areas on the deck that were slimy and slippery with algae.

Don't use a strong bleach solution because it can be harmful to plants and animals. Keep runoff to a minimum in all cases. Some websites recommend using products like OxiClean because it breaks down and is less harmful to the environment. I have not tried it though.

How do you handle mildew and algae problems indoors and out? -- Margy