Homemade Moss Cleaner

Moss

• Soft and green, moss is a fungal growth that flourishes in rainy climates that experience many cloudy days. It grows on wood, tile, brick and vinyl siding. While moss rarely causes damage on its own, it can open the door to damage around your home. Seeds that land in moss can sprout, and their roots can shift roof tiles and wall bricks out of place. Moss growing on a patio or on stairs is a slip hazard and must be cleaned away.

Roof

• To clean moss off your roof, mix 1 cup bleach, 1/2 cup liquid laundry detergent and 2 gallons of water. The bleach kills the moss, and the laundry detergent removes any discoloration it leaves behind. Soak the moss with the solution and let it remain for 20 minutes. Rinse the cleaning solution and the moss away with a pressure washer or your garden hose. To be safe when working on your roof, always clean areas downslope from you. Wear a harness and work with a partner.

Other Areas

• For smaller patches of moss growing on walls, decks or patios, use a solution of 1 part white vinegar to 1 part water. Pour enough of the mixture on the moss to soak it thoroughly and then let it sit for 40 minutes. Brush it away with a broom or wash it away with the hose. If you see any discoloration, create a solution of 1 cup vinegar, 1 cup water and 1/2 cup of baking soda. Smear the solution over the stain and leave it for 15 minutes, then rinse it away with water.

Considerations

• Try to avoid rinsing the vinegar solutions onto plants or grass. It is not strong enough to kill them, but it will not do them any good, either. These solutions will clean moss off of your home and wash away any lingering stain it might leave behind, but they will not prevent moss from returning again. If moss returns to a certain area again and again, you can either clean it away each time it comes back or prevent it. Trimming away overhanging branches or installing zinc strips will stop moss from growing.