Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - removing green algae color

Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.




View Full Version : removing green algae color


jfm
09-17-06, 06:33 AM
We have a deck that hasn't been treated in some time. Until we scrubbed & rinsed repeatedly with a bleach/water/detergent solution, it was slippery with green algae/mold.
Now that the fuzz & slippery areas are gone, the green color remains inside the boards.
The boards have lost their weathered, grey look & look brighter, but we can't get rid of the green & would like to stain with a semi-transparent stain which probably won't cover the green.
Home Depot suggested Behr's cleaner, which is only basically bleach anyway.
Does sodium percarbonate work any better on the green removal than bleach(sodium hyperchlorate) ? & which specific branded products do you suggest? (very few of them seem to say what the active chemicals are).
Thanks


chandler
09-17-06, 11:36 AM
I think it is sodium hypochlorite, but who's counting? Sometimes the ingredients aren't specifically listed because they don't want you to know you just paid $6.95 for a $1.00 bottle of bleach. Like Fuel Injector cleaner. It is listed as a petroleum distillate. Well, it is AVJet1 fuel, so, you just paid $4.50 for 10 cents worth of fuel.
Anyway, I would stick to the higher end cleaners, since they do put some other cleaners in with their main ingredients. Raw bleach does not do you deck much good, but the Behr and other cleaners would stand a better chance of cleaning. I hope you are using a pressure washer as well to help get in the grooves.