Mosses are small green plants without flowers, which usually grow in clumps or creating dense carpets, often in damp or shady places. They can quickly invade the lawn, the wooden or concrete patio, and the house’s facades.
Foams make horizontal surfaces slippery, causing falls and injuries. Luckily, there are tips and tricks to eliminate them easily and prevent their return.
1. Anti green deposits for the roof, slabs, and the terrace
This product is specifically designed to remove mosses, lichens, and algae from a wide variety of materials. Easy to use, it will act in 24 hours. While it can be applied with a brush, it will make your life easier if you opt for a sprayer that will allow you to cover larger areas in less time.
In addition to being used as a treatment, the anti-green deposits can also prevent the appearance of these unwanted greens.
2. Citric acid as an anti-foaming agent
To remove mosses, lichens, and algae naturally from wood as well as concrete and stone, use this citric acid recipe in dry weather:
- 8 liters of lukewarm water, in a bucket
- 600 gr of citric acid
- 150 gr of baking soda
- 20 ml of castor or rapeseed oil
Shake well and spray this mixture on the surfaces to be treated. Leave on for 48 to 72 hours, then rinse with plenty of water or a pressure washer.
3. A natural anti-foaming agent with essential oil of basil
For those who like to try grandma’s recipes, here’s one to make with essential oil and liquid soap.
Indeed, basil having antifungal and weed-killing properties; add a few drops of basil essential oil to the water in which you will also have poured a few drops of liquid soap.
- Spray the mixture on the green foam and leave to act
- Brush the surface to L using a brush, and leave to act again
- Rinse the surface to complete the cleaning
4. An anti-moss for slabs and pavers
To quickly and effectively remove moss from slabs or pavers, add coarse salt to hot water and apply it to affected areas. Rinse a few minutes later.
This trick is very effective in dislodging green moss from flagstones and paving stones at home.
5. White vinegar as an anti-foaming agent
White vinegar is a natural cleaning product that you can use anywhere in the house, so why not remove moss and other green deposits?
Indeed, white vinegar makes an excellent natural defoamer and free to test. Use pure vinegar and especially without diluting it. Just apply it to unwanted green spots on a sunny day, leave it on for a few minutes, and then rinse off with plenty of water.
6. An anti-foam for the roof
If moss, lichen, or algae have taken over your roof, they will need to be removed as quickly as possible to prevent them from rotting the shingles and causing more serious and costly damage.
Start by brushing the mosses with a soft bristle broom. Then, to prevent this greenery from coming back, spray your roof with water added with bleach or a product specifically designed for this purpose…
Be careful with the use of bleach because this product can discolor surfaces; you have been warned!
Roof cleaning by a professional
It is important to be very careful when cleaning the roof of a house or building. Therefore, it can be interesting and safe to call on a roofing specialist to perform a complete and in-depth cleaning of the entire roof.
For safe cleaning and verification of the roof, Technitoit is the reference everywhere in France.
7. An anti-moss for the terrace
How about trying another natural product for cleaning moss and lichen? Baking soda is a great natural option against lichen and moss.
- In a bucket of hot water, combine 2 tablespoons of baking soda for every quart of water.
- Apply to affected areas and leave on for 30 minutes.
- Then scrub with a broom before rinsing with plenty of water.
8. Black soap to remove suds
Another cleanser that you absolutely must have around the house is liquid black soap. Do you know this soap?
- Add black soap and a few drops of dish soap to a bucket of lukewarm water.
- Then, using a brush, scrub the areas invaded by moss or lichen.
- Leave on for half a day and rinse with plenty of water to remove all green deposits.
9. The cooking water of the potatoes as a defoamer
If you have cooked a large number of potatoes, keep the water still hot to sprinkle the mosses on your patio or the facades of your house.
The cooking water for rice and pasta will affect foams and other unwanted green deposits.
10. Cardboard to smother the mosses on the terrace
If you are looking for an effective tip for removing green deposits from the patio and a tip that is safe for the environment, we have what you need!
This is probably the least damaging trick for the environment. Here’s how to do it:
- Lay heavy cardboard over the areas of the deck affected by moss.
- Secure it with rocks or other heavy objects to prevent it from blowing away.
- Leave in place for a few days, or until the mosses have dried out.
Once thoroughly dried, all you have to do is sweep completely remove the green moss from the terrace.
11. Soda crystals as a defoamer
To easily get rid of moss on the patio or the front of the house, make a mixture of hot water and soda crystals.
- Count about 2 tablespoons of soda crystals for 1 liter of water
- Moisten a brush well and scrub the areas affected by the foam before rinsing
If the foams are tough, try sprinkling soda crystals directly on them before sweeping.
12. Remove the foam with hydrogen peroxide
Using a spray bottle, spray the mosses and lichen with high-concentration hydrogen peroxide.
This option is a little less environmentally friendly but can be used away from plants in your garden.
13. Getting rid of moss with ashes
Cold ashes from your fireplace can help you remove moss from your patio or slabs and pavers.
Apply thickness of at least 2 or 3 centimeters and leave in place for a few days. Then remove them with a broom.
14. How to prevent the appearance of mosses, lichens, and algae
To avoid having to repeat this chore every year, you will have to think about preventing the appearance of mosses, lichens, and algae. Once the surfaces are clean and dry, apply a water repellent product designed for this purpose, being careful to choose a product suitable for the materials to be treated.
This product will waterproof the surface and prevent the appearance of moss and mold, ensuring the structure’s better longevity. The application should be made every two or three years, which is much better than cleaning up every year!
15. Prevent moss and green stains with waterproofing
If you want to prevent and protect your roof from moss, it is important to apply an anti-foam waterproofing product designed specifically for the roof.
This waterproofing and protective product can be applied to:
- terracotta tiles
- concrete tiles
- slate tiles
- fiber cement sheets
Leave a Reply