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How to Keep Mould From Growing on a Vinyl Fence

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A vinyl fence requires almost little upkeep. It will never need to be refinished, painted, or sealed. Even our rainy Pacific Northwest weather will not harm one of these tough fences.

What may dull the gleam of a white vinyl fence?  White vinyl fences, like cedar wood fences, are vulnerable to mould development and can discolour over time. In truth, while many people believe that white vinyl fades and changes colour with time, the colour is usually caused by something growing on the surface of the material.

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Fortunately, a dirty fence is a transitory issue that is simple to resolve.

You can remove nearly any degree of stain and keep your vinyl fence looking like new with little effort and no harmful chemicals.

Mold can be an issue with any fence, but with vinyl, there are a few simple fixes and ways to avoid it.

Wash or spray down a vinyl fence at least once a week to keep mould at bay. Mold may be a persistent problem if the weather is wet or the air is humid. If this is the case, spray the fence with a mold-resistant spray every season.

There are some simple fixes for mould on your fence, and we have two for you.

What Causes Mold to Grow on a Fence?

Basically, Mould is a bacteria that grows on any wet or moist surface. It thrives in humid and shady environments.

Mold grows on vinyl fences due to water retention, nearby trees, or dust accumulation. Water retention, on the other hand, is the most common cause. This is caused primarily by sprinklers, rain, snow, or morning dew.

Water droplets form in the cracks and crevices of the vinyl, providing an ideal environment for mould bacteria. The most common places for this to occur on a vinyl fence are in the posts and the base fence board, where water accumulates and cannot escape or dry out.

How to Remove Mold from a Vinyl Fence Properly

Mold is an ever-present problem, especially when it comes to fences, so there are numerous ways to remove the mould and kill the bacteria. Here are 3 Options/Preferences to choose from, which ever suits you.

Pref 1: Rinse once a week

Spraying a vinyl fence down with a hose once a week is the quickest and easiest way to remove mould. This is a little easier to do if you have a spray handle rather than just the end of a hose, but either method will work.

Remember that while this technique is effective for removing mould that has already begun to grow, it does nothing to prevent or kill mould bacteria.

Pref2 :Scrub with soap and water

Another quick and easy way to remove mould from a vinyl fence is to use soap, water, and a scrub brush.

This requires a little more grunt work and may take a lot longer, but it sure works! Some recommend doing this once a week, while others recommend once a month.

You can never scrub too hard with soap and water, so wash at your leisure; how frequently you want to wash your fence is entirely up to you.

A standard kitchen sponge is not recommended for this task. There is a large area to cover, and the sponge will quickly wear out. Use a bristle brush with a handle if possible. It’s much more sturdy, much easier to manoeuvre, and your hands won’t be as tired by the end.

After scrubbing the fence with soap and water, rinse it thoroughly with a hose. Mold thrives in grime and debris, so any soap residue will actually aid in its growth.

Pref 3: Scrub with a bleach solution

Scrubbing the mold-covered vinyl fence with a water and bleach solution is another excellent method for removing the bacteria.

Unlike using a hose to spray down the fence, this method is time consuming and can be a bit messy. If you must use bleach, make a solution of 2 parts water to 1 part bleach.

Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) while scrubbing the fence with bleach. Wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and gloves to protect your skin from irritation or breakdown.

You also want to protect your plants from the bleach solution, so take the necessary precautions for them: grass, bushes, trees, shrubbery, and so on.

Use a plastic sheet or garbage bags to cover everything around your fence. This shields your lawn and plants from any bleach splashes and keeps them nice, green, and healthy.

That’s a lot of work, so at the very least, cover the grass you’re working on with plastic.

Furthermore, this will only work on white vinyl fencing. Any other colours will be distorted by the bleach.

How to Keep Mold Away from a Vinyl Fence

Above all, every fence requires basic and ongoing upkeep. This is particularly true for the eradication and prevention of moulds. At least once a month, if not more, wait to clean your fence.

In other words, you may take preventive steps to prevent mould development. If not, here are some things to do on the matter:

A basic  maintenance is a must

Fences don’t appear to be something that needs continuous care in your yard, but they surely need. This is particularly important when it comes to avoiding the growth of mould.

As above, there are some advice on how mould can be removed from a vinyl clasp, but some of the same things also apply to mould prevention.

The provision of a once weekly vinyl valve with a tubing and water will assist wash out any of these germs even before there is a sign of mould growth.

Mold does not necessarily develop on vinyl itself, but is usually attached to other vinyl substances: water, tree sap, mildew, dust, and other waste. The sprinkling of the fence and the removal of all the other things will thus assist to avoid the growth of the mould.

Now make sure it’s a bright sunny day when you spray down your fence. You may provide an even better place for the mould to develop on your fence if you give the vinyl fence a good wash and there is no sun to dry it. Do this only if you know the sun is going to shine.

Most microorganisms, including mould, are killed by Bleach Bleach. It removes mould while it is already developing, as described above. But it prevents it from forming in the first place if you wash your fence with a bleach solution before you see a mould!

Rather than wash your fence with a scrub brush, put the solution in a spray flask and spray the fence using bleach as a preventive precaution.

This is considerably easier than cleaning, takes a lot less time and a preventive step which is highly successful.

Again, ensure that the surrounding plants are covered from bleach and that your PPE is worn (personal protective equipment).

The methods below will show you how to clean any white vinyl fence. These procedures will not harm your landscape or leave any pollutants or residue that might affect your family, pets, or animals.

Using a garden hose, remove light dirt and debris.
Spray the fence with water to remove light dirt and debris. A garden hose fitted with a spray nozzle should suffice. You can use a pressure washer, but in most situations, it will be too powerful.

Mild soap can be used to remove tougher stains.

Fill a pail with warm water and a spritz or two of soap if the fence still seems dirty or stained after a spray-down. A gentle soap, such as dish soap or castile soap, would suffice. Wash the fence with a gentle towel or sponge. Rinse the fence and allow it to air dry.

Vinegar can be used to treat mould or mildew.

Mold and mildew appear unappealing on a once-pristine white vinyl fence. If the fence still has black or green stains after using the soap, add 1/2 cup of simple white vinegar to the bucket and hand-wash it again. Mold and mildew are killed by vinegar and their growth is slowed.

Additional preventive measures

Maintenance now may undoubtedly be challenging and time consuming, weekly and even monthly. And let’s face it: not many people prefer to work outside in the yard.

So after the installation and once a season, you may perform a few things to prevent the mould from growing. These techniques need only 1 or 2 treatments per year, instead of using bleach once a month.

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About the Author: Hi! Thanks for reading My article, I hope you enjoyed it and helps make your Fence stronger and your garden grow greener.If you found this article helpful, please share it with a friend and spread the joy. Plant small. Grow big!

Simon Lamacraft
Gardening & Fencing Enthusiast & Specialist Know more about Author

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