Jun 25 2007
Mold & Mildew Surface Cleaner Recipe
Test area first to ensure paint, aluminum, vinyl or material isn’t damaged by cleaner.
Ingredients
3 cups water
1 cup bleach
2/3 cups TSP (Trisodium Phosphate)
1/3 cup Tide (or other laundry detergent–nothing with ammonia)
- Make sure to keep skin covered when using this (rubber gloves for sure). If you’re reaching up to clean, wear goggles. Also keep nose and mouth covered with a mask, this is strong stuff.
- Scrub problem area with a bristle brush. May have to let solution soak on problem area for a minute or two.
- Once the cleaning job is done, make sure to rinse area very well with water.
Can be used to scrub exterior siding (test first), but careful of shrubbery.
You can also apply this with a hose sprayer attachment.
Tip: For a cleaning job that requires something safer around plants and shrubbery, look for a commercial product to use like Jomax.
Edit: Added TSP wikipedia info to help clarify
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Posted in Homemade Cleaners | 
( 3 )
26 Jun 2007 at 11:12 am
1/4 chlorine bleach does not make this a very MILD cleanser.
In fact I would avoid both the chlorine (typically sodium hypchlorite) because of the chloro-organic compounds that can be created. These are usually very persistent in nature and might have negative environmental impacts.
Phosphates for washing purposes is an excellent way to contribute to (toxic) algal blooming. So best to avoid that as well. Not to mention that it is a non-renewable resource.
Anyway, from what kind of surface do you intend to remove molds and mildew?
Normal soap should be fairly harsh on both mildew and molds as it is, or?
26 Jun 2007 at 12:27 pm
Hello Johan, I agree this isn’t a mild solution.
TSP and bleach are a well documented duo for cleaning.
This can be used to clean things like the exterior of a house, a deck, patio furniture.
27 Jun 2007 at 3:05 pm
Had a look at Jomax, it seems to be a mixture of among other things bleach and acetic acid. You mention citric acid in your tip on cleaning mildew from tents. I guess many of the organic acids (acetic acid, citric acid and tartaric acid - all are found in vinegar) are quite tough on fungi.
What about using one of those high pressure jet sprays? Probably not good for wood panel facades because it will just make water penetrate into the wood but in many other cases it should be reasonably effective. No scrubbing and no chemicals (although they come with container for detergents), just water.