Other than the fact that your homes roof or siding has become an eyesore, why would you want to clean your shingles? Have you inquired about replacement cost? $15-20,000 to replace the siding shingles, $25,000 for a roof! That should be enough reason to keep them clean. Mold, Black Algae, Moss, Lichen and Mildew love natural wood, they eat it and need to be kept off of your shingles. They hold moisture and this leads to rotting of the wood, their roots crack and dislodge shingles and sometimes lead to leaks. A simple cleaning will keep your cedar shingles looking new; it will also do wonders for keeping the value of your home where it should be.

The equipment to clean your cedar shingles, you probably already have in the garage. People automatically think that they need a pressure washer but you do not, high pressure actually pushes and spreads the mold and fungus spores deeply in to the wood and it will come back worse than before. High pressure also cuts away a layer of the shingles wood and loosens the shingles. Garden hose pressure will safely wash the fungus from your shingles and not cause any structural damage. Other than a hose, you will need a medium bristle scrub brush, a "garden style" pump sprayer and a ladder, I recommend attaching outrigger stabilizing bars for safety to avoid the ladder from slipping.

To clean correctly and effectively, start at your highest point and work your way down. Start by wetting down, not soaking an area only large enough to clean before it dry's. Mix your cedar shingle cleaning product up in a separate bucket then pour it into the pump sprayer. Spray your pre-moistened area with the product then gently work it into the wood with your scrub brush. When you have scrubbed the whole area, stand back and rinse with the hose until clear water is running off the shingles then move to the section below it or start the process again at the top of another section.

Purchasing the correct wood shingle cleaning product is the key to the whole procedure. Bleach, TSP or chlorine based products should be avoided. These products do not clean evenly, leaving a "blotchy" looking effect, they destroy your plants and lawn, excessively dry out the wood, stain everything they come into contact with and the fumes linger for weeks. I personally substitute environmentally safe cleaning products for toxic-hazardous cleaners every chance I get, I have found that they work the same without all the side effects. We can't rely on "Corporate America" to change the toxic ingredients in their cleaners; it is the individual who is buying the cleaners that will make the difference in our environment, make a "green" choice when given the opportunity.

Choose an environmentally safe cedar shingle cleaing product, clean your shingles periodically and they will last and look new for a long time to come.