Simple Cleaning and Maintenance Tips For Your Wooden Fence!

Do you remember the exact time that your wooden fence began to degrade? That beautiful cedar fence you installed a couple of years ago might be looking a bit worse for wear! Whether you are dealing with dirt, algae, or mold, that beautiful fence you once had can suffer from several potential issues.

Instead of ripping your fence out and re-installing a newer fence, consider exploring this simple fence cleaning and maintenance solution.

How to Clean and Maintain Your Wooden Fence

As a particularly porous surface, wood is often subject to dirt and grime that seeps deep into its crevices. Cleaning a wooden fence is unfortunately a little harder than merely wiping the grime away. As a result, you are going to need a few tools and some chemicals. Fortunately, most people should have these items at home!

Materials Needed

  • Bleach
  • Water
  • Plastic Bucket
  • Gloves
  • Rag
  • Hose
  • Plastic tarp (optional)
  • Hard-bristled Brush

Cleaning your fence and maintaining it through this technique will require strict adherence to safety protocols, particularly when working with bleach. Make sure that you wear gloves and refrain from getting bleach onto your lawn.

  1. With your gloves on, you will want to grab your plastic bucket and fill it with 1-part bleach and 2-parts water.
  2. Again with your gloves on, you will use a rag to apply your bleach/water mixture to your fence. Apply generously to ensure an even coating, paying attention to problematic areas.
  3. Wait 10 – 15 minutes to allow the bleach to soak into your fence.
  4. If you want to prevent the bleach mixture from getting onto your lawn, place your plastic tarp along the base of your fence now.
  5. Taking your hose, rinse the bleach off with the highest-pressure setting. Any remaining dirt and grime can be wiped away with your hard-bristled brush.

This simple maintenance tip can be repeated as often as needed. Simple and affordable, the entire process should take most homeowners under an hour. To prevent the need for future deep cleanings, consider performing touch-ups throughout the year or as often as needed.