Why You Should Not Clean Your Wood Fence With Bleach

Chlorine bleach is useless when it comes to cleaning a wood fence.

Use chlorine bleach as a mold disinfectant for bathroom and kitchen countertops, tubs and shower glass, but not on wood decks and wood fence. We tell you why?

The main purpose of eliminating mold is to kill its roots. The properties of chlorine bleach prevent it from soaking into wood-based building materials to get at these deeply embedded roots. Mold and mildew is a vegetative growth, and not a type of dirt to be cleaned.

Additionally, mildew can grow on the dirt and soil, especially in dampness. Mold spores exist everywhere and grow when the conditions are favorable. Hence, mold and mildew must be killed by an effective, acknowledged, environmentally friendly fence cleaner making a mold and mildew claims.

The Impact of Bleach on Wood Fence

Bleach is the old standard used for years in cleaning. On hard, nonporous surfaces, a chlorine bleach solution is an effective sanitizing product that kills mold and neutralizes indoor mold allergens that trigger allergies.

Chlorine kills algae, moss, and mildew on the wood fence. But it breaks down the complex organic polymers that hold the wood together, causing excessive damage to healthy wood. Chlorine is dangerous, environmentally unsound and likely to cause damage to your surrounding greenery.

As a cleaner, bleach provides minimal results. The natural bleaching action creates the impression of a cleaner surface which, in reality, is only bleached but still needs cleaning. Cleaning with bleach does kill mold and mildew that may be on the deck, but it does not eliminate the spores from which mold and mildew growth.

Not only does chlorine bleach break down wood fibers and alter the color, but it also corrodes metal fasteners, including the screws and nails holding your deck together.

Bleach Alternative

A professional wood fence cleaner such Resist Mist is an excellent cleaning solution. The Resist Mist™ Fence Cleaner kit will remove most stains including mildew, mold, and algae. Its powerful surfactants dig deep below the surface allowing its biodegradable chemistry to lift and remove most stains including algae, most grass stains, bird droppings and most other stains Mother Nature can throw at a fence. Wow. What a difference.

It is very easy and simple to use. You can apply it with a simple fence pump sprayer and wipe off with a microfiber cloth. Resist Mist™ should last up to three full seasons on a wooden fence. On a PVC or Composite fence, it may even last up to five years with an annual cleaning.

For long-lasting results, stop using bleach on your fence and start applying a good fence cleaner!