Selected pieces of my cedar siding have grown some especially tenacious tiny black spots, presumably fungus — any advice on how to remove it? I’ve tried the old TSP/bleach/water cocktail in a mix I cribbed from the Sikkens web site, which didn’t work. I next tried pure bleach (5% sodium hypochlorite, no dilution, which worked much better but didn’t kill it all. Trolling the web, I find vague references to “phenolics” as mold killers but no other information as to their efficiency or brand names of phenolic cleaners. Any suggestions?
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The TSP and the bleach killed it. Now you have to remove it. Scrub, pressure wash, sand - your choice.
Thanks, Maverick -- guess it's time for elbow grease to take over from science!
I am like Maverick, power wash. The site I checked for phenolic cleaners wasn't cheap at $73.00 for a 13 lb. unit. Didn't explain how to mix. phenol is also the active ingredient in Chloroseptic spray, the stuff you spray in your mouth when it is sore. Hospitals use phenol for disinfectant. Kills everything from common germs, staph to HIV. Pure phenol will make you take a dirt nap. Here is the site for the cleaner http://parish-supply.com/cleanworks_17.htm
Semper Fi
Edited 9/28/2005 8:34 pm ET by Jarhead
Oxalic acid should do it. It's worked for me many times. It's sold under various brand names. HD sells a Behr product, it's called somthing like Deck Brite. Check the ingredients and look for oxalic acid.
Scott.
Following up on the tip, Scott, I found that our local Home Depot sells oxalic crystals. 4 oz. of these to 1 gallon of water is said to remove fungi stains. Thanks.
I use Deck Prep by Behr (home cheapo) when I have mildew on my decks.http://www.behr.com/behrx/act/view/products_detail?prodGroupId=41&catName=Cleaners+and+Conditioners&catId=3works well, just scrub it a bit, and also scrubbit as you rinse otherwise it can leave behind a residue.
Cool. I'll have to look for it.
It also does an amazing job of removing those pesky black stains from wet steel fasteners. One of our nice VG fir windows got wet during construction last year and the staples put black stains all through the wood. I was not happy.
A year later it was time to apply urethane so I started to clean up the surface with oxalic acid. The black literally disappeared before my eyes and the wood looked like the day it left the factory.
Scott.