Whether you’re preparing to stain your fence, or just want to remove the buildup of dirt, mold and mildew, cleaning your cedar fence doesn’t have to be difficult. Depending on the time you want to invest in cleaning the fence and how much buildup you have to remove, you can choose to use a pressure washer, or clean by hand. Let’s take a look at how to do both so you can determine which method is best for your fence.
Hose-End Cleaner
If you want a quick solution, a hose-end cleaner can provide a light cleaning. They are generally available at your local hardware store. Simply attach it to your hose and spray down the fence. Allow it to soak in and then rinse with water. Of course, follow the directions on the product packaging.
Power Washing
If you want a deeper clean, or you want to avoid the chemicals we listed in the section above, consider power washing your fence. Power washing is going to be the most effective cleaning method for heavily soiled fences. To effectively power wash your fence, you need to use a soft method that will prevent any further wood damage. We recommend keeping the water pressure around 1500 psi and keeping the wand a little further away from the fence.
Once you’re ready to power wash, stand about a foot and a half away from the fence and spray the entirety of the fence evenly. Keep in mind that if you spend an excessive amount of time in one area of the fence and not the others you will be left with an uneven pattern. One of the best parts of power washing is that the natural grey color that untreated cedar forms over the years will be washed away and its naturally bright and fresh color will be exposed again.
After you’ve cleaned your fence and allowed it to dry completely, we recommend protecting it from future damage with a fresh coating of stain.
That being said, you don’t want to spend your valuable time and money on a fence that may actually need replacing. Inspect your fence closely as sometimes the damage can be hidden. If you find it’s time to replace, Sierra Fence can help you find the perfect replacement. We pride ourselves as a fair and honest fencing company. Give our fencing experts a call today.
