6 Reasons to Clean Your Roof with Wet & Forget Outdoor This Spring
As the weather warms up and we all start getting outside a little more often, you may have noticed that the ugly stains on your roof that bugged you last year are still there. Lichen, green or black algae, moss, or mold and mildew on the roof can mar your home’s appearance and make you want to avoid gazing skyward this summer.
Some stains won’t just bug you, though–moss can grow underneath of shingles and cause them to pull away from the roof, and its root-like structures can cause pitting on your roof’s surface. Getting rid of these nasty growths now will keep you from paying big bucks to repair the water damage that a leaky roof will cause.
You don’t need to use harsh chemicals that will damage your downspouts, or a power washer that is a hassle and may damage shingles, to get rid of these pesky growths, though. Wet & Forget Outdoor is the premium option when it comes to zapping these stains and keeping your roof’s surface healthy and attractive.
Read on to find out the top 6 reasons why!
1. Removes Damaging Moss
Moss can grow nearly anywhere that has a source of water, including on your roof. It is especially prevalent in damp regions such as the Pacific Northwest, but will grow throughout the US. Moss has a fuzzy, green, carpet-like appearance.
If left unchecked, it’s been known to spread until it covers an entire roof. Worst of all, moss can cause severe damage to your roof by growing underneath shingles and causing them to lift free of the roof’s membrane. Moss also has root-like structures that can bore into your roof’s shingles can cause pitting.
Both of these roof conditions can lead to water damage, which can cost thousands of dollars and trigger unhealthy mold growth inside your home.
Wet & Forget Outdoor removes moss without the need for scrubbing, power washing or harsh chemicals. Simply follow the instructions below to apply Wet & Forget Outdoor, and let our product do the work for you.
The moss will turn brown and lift free of your roof’s surface. In severe cases, a light brushing with a broom will help remove the dead moss from your roof. It’s that simple!
2. Won’t Damage Gutters or Downspouts
Your home’s gutters and downspouts are its foundation’s first line of defense against water damage. Problems with the gutters or downspouts can lead to a wet basement, a wet foundation, and even serious cracks in the foundation due to freezing and thawing.
Some harsh chemicals such as bleach can cause corrosion in certain types of metal found on your home, especially in downspouts. And power washers release such a violent stream of water that one wrong move can damage gutters or downspouts, or disrupt the alignment of your gutters in a way that is not obvious, but will impede good water flow.
When your gutters and downspouts are not functioning properly, your home’s foundation is at risk.
Protect your home’s foundation by following the Foundation Repair Association’s recommendations to clean and inspect the gutters and downspouts in the spring and fall. And once you’ve checked your home’s roof, gutters and downspouts, remove any moss, lichen, algae, mold and mildew from the roof with Wet & Forget Outdoor.
When you use Wet & Forget Outdoor to clean your roof, you don’t have to worry about the work you’ve done to maintain your gutters going down the drain. Just spray and forget about it!
3. Removes Ugly Black Algae
Those ugly black streaks that mar the surface of so many roofs are usually made of black algae. Black algae is a type of cyanobacteria that has a dark-colored capsule that protects it from the sun.
This is why black algae can thrive in places where shade-loving green algae won’t grow, like the sunny side of your roof. The protective capsule gives black algae its dark color; it also makes this growth particularly hardy and difficult to remove with bleach or scrubbing.
Have no fear–Wet & Forget Outdoor will tackle the black algae on your roof. Wet & Forget Outdoor removes black algae stains with no scrubbing, power washing or harsh chemicals.
Just follow the instructions below to apply Wet & Forget Outdoor, and let it do the work for you. Black algae’s protective capsule means that it takes longer than other growths to fade away, but a little patience means a big reward.
Wet & Forget Outdoor works with the wind and rain to zap black algae stains, and keeps them from coming back for a year or more in most cases. You can’t beat that!
Wet & Forget Outdoor will also rid your roof of green algae, which likes to grow on parts of your roof that are shaded from the sun’s rays.
4. Won’t Damage Shingles
You may have heard of using bleach or a power washer to clean the roof. But if you use these methods, you could accidentally harm the very thing you’re trying to protect. Power washers shoot out a very powerful stream of water that can lift or tear shingles with one wrong move.
Harsh chemicals such as bleach can damage the seals around the chimney and other vulnerable spots, and damage some types of shingle material. This can leave your home vulnerable to water leaks.
Wet & Forget Outdoor uses gentle chemistry to remove algae, moss, lichen, mold and mildew from your roof without the need for scrubbing, and without causing damage to your roof. And Wet & Forget Outdoor keeps stains from coming back for a year or more in most cases.
Bleaching or power washing won’t do that! That means that you will be outside barbecuing, while your neighbor is up on his roof with the sprayer or power washer yet again. When that happens, offer him a cold glass of iced tea and tell him why your roof is the cleanest on the block.
5. Won’t Kill the Lawn
Harsh chemicals such as bleach or caustic cleaning products on your roof can run off and soak into the lawn. These chemicals can cause your grass or other plants to turn brown or even die out.
When you apply Wet & Forget Outdoor to your roof, you can rest easy knowing that your lawn will be as green as ever.
6. Easy to Use
Ridding your roof of lichen, algae, moss, mold and mildew with Wet & Forget Outdoor is a piece of cake. All you need is a bottle of Wet & Forget Outdoor, some tap water, and a pump-up garden sprayer.
Here’s How:
- Mix 1 part Wet & Forget Outdoor with 5 parts water in a pump-up garden sprayer.
- Completely saturate the affected area with the solution. Make sure you do so when you have 4 to 5 hours’ drying time before the chance of rain. Make sure the roof is free of snow, leaves or other debris before you spray, and that the temperature is above 32 degrees Fahrenheit when you apply Wet & Forget Outdoor (it’s ok if the temperature drops again later).
- Let Wet & Forget Outdoor do the work for you.
- Reapply Wet & Forget Outdoor at the first sign of regrowth, to keep stains from coming back. Cases of severe staining may require a second application.
*Click here for special instructions on removing lichen with Wet & Forget Outdoor.
*Be very careful while applying Wet & Forget to your roof. Wet or stained roof surfaces can become quite slippery. If you don’t feel comfortable getting up on the roof, call a professional.
Nancy Oden
So in relation to this article is there any difference between your brand simply named
Wet n Forget” versus “Wet n Forget Outdoor”?
Teresa Fugatt
Hi Nancy,
Wet & Forget is the name of our company. Currently we have two products, Wet & Forget and Wet & Forget Shower. Wet & Forget is our outdoor product that will clean moss, mold, mildew and algae off any exterior surface — Outdoor is used for clarification. Thanks for commenting.
sandy c
we have a trex deck that was cleaned today by a company the HOA hired. I don’t know what product they used but they did power wash the deck. When we arrived home we couldn’t decide if it was really cleaned today. In places it looks OK but the grey deck looks stained and not very clean. Before moving back our planters and grill I was thinking of trying your product for round 2 of the cleaning saga. Can I hope for better results if I do?
Teresa Fugatt
Hi Sandy,
Powerwashing is only going to clean the surface rather than remove the growth entirely. This is why you’ll see your surface get moldy again after a few months. Apply Wet & Forget to completely sanitize the area and remove all the mold, mildew, algae and other growth. Your surface will clean up and stay clean much longer as Wet & Forget absorbs to the surface and is constantly cleaning.
Kate
How do you suggest reaching a second story roof easily? A hose end sprayer would provide enough pressure to reach the roof, but can’t be used because of the dilution rate.
Teresa Fugatt
Hi Kate,
Most customers will go about applying to their roofs with a ladder and a backpack sprayer. If this is not an option to you, another route to go is using a trombone sprayer. This type of sprayer pulls from a premixed container and will get you 20 to 25 feet from the ground. Let me know if you have any other questions.
robert
I have a concrete tile roof in Florida that needs cleaning. Would your Wet&Forget Outdoor product work on this type of roof?
Teresa Fugatt
Hi Robert,
Wet & Forget works on all types of roofs including concrete tiles. Simply spray on and let the wind and the rain do all the work for you. Let us know if you have any other questions.
Leray
Does Wet & Forget need sun to work? I have mold from roof leaks on the ceiling of my porch. Will it eliminate the stains? And how long will it take to work? Thanks
Teresa Fugatt
Hi Leray,
Wet & Forget works with the wind and the rain to gently clean the surface over time. For Wet & Forget to clean your ceiling you would want to apply a heavy coat and give the application about a week to start working. Then every so often you would want to spray the surface down with water from the hose on a jet setting because this is an area that will not ever receive rain to remove the dead growth. Each time you spray the surface with water, the stains will lighten up until they’re completely gone. For green stains you’ll start seeing changes within a few days. Black stains will take a bit more time in the weeks range, depending on how soiled the surface is. Thanks for asking.
Sandy Miller
can the outdoor wet and forget be used on a metal roof?
Teresa Fugatt
Hi Sandy,
Wet & Forget is perfectly fine to use on metal roof surfaces.
Robin
Greetings team. I want to apply Wet and Forget to my roof from the ground. I have a second story house, a hose pipe and a karcher. Do you have any ideas of how I can spray your product onto my roof without using a ladder or long extension pipe? Thank you! Robin
Wet and Forget
Hi Robin,
If using a garden pump sprayer and a ladder isn’t an option, we recommend using a trombone sprayer to apply from the ground to reach further distances.
melissa foret
Does this product (wet and forget) work on a mobile home with a metal roof?
Wet and Forget
Hi Melissa,
Wet & Forget is safe to use on a mobile home with a metal roof. It will remove moss, mold, mildew or algae growths and stains from the surface.
Ed
Can it be used on Aluminum siding?
Wet and Forget
Hi Ed,
Wet & Forget is safe to use on aluminum siding. The product doesn’t contain any bleach or ammonia, so it will not harm or discolor your aluminum siding. Wet & Forget will gently remove green and black stains over time with the rain and wind. If you have any further questions, please let us know.
James
Is wet & Forget safe to use on a zinc roof and is safe to use om mEtal railings?
As this Product is CORROSIVE, what should be avoided when SPRAYING and whAt safty MEASURES should Be taken.
Thanks,
James
Wet and Forget
Yes- Wet & Forget is safe to use on a zinc roof and on metal railings. We advise wearing long sleeves, eye protection, closed-toed shoes, and gloves when applying. We also advise applying on a day without wind so the product isn’t wafted into the air.