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Mildew on unpainted surfaces


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Hi everyone - I have some areas of paintwork on my deck where the paint has worn away back to a pinkish primer layer. Where the paint is thin I've noticed black mildew spots growing. I keep washing them off but am worried that I am doing more harm than good! I was wondering what people use to kill mildew on wooden decks - would you use something like ExitMould or is that too harsh? Cheers!

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You are looking for any product that has the active ingredient called Benzalkonium Chloride. Spray and Walk away. It is not a bleach and is safe on Sails and Paint etc
Products like Gone in 30secs is a Chlorine Bleach and bad for such surfaces.

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51 minutes ago, wheels said:

Products like Gone in 30secs is a Chlorine Bleach and bad for such surfaces.

My mistake, I meant wet and forget, there are definitely two different approaches to these types of cleaners

 

13 hours ago, BOIGuy said:

Kiwi garden moss and mould remover

this not sodium hypochlorite based, some sort of ammonia compound is used :N-Dodecyl / Hexadecyl-N, N-dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride.

Sounds scary and the mist is not nice to breath but it works amazingly on the mould etc on the teak. Spray it on, come back a few days later, hopefully a shower of rain, teak spotless.

 

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On 2/09/2020 at 6:25 AM, BOIGuy said:

this not sodium hypochlorite based, some sort of ammonia compound is used :N-Dodecyl / Hexadecyl-N, N-dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride.

Sounds scary and the mist is not nice to breath but it works amazingly on the mould etc on the teak. Spray it on, come back a few days later, hopefully a shower of rain, teak spotless.

It's full name is Alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride (ADBAC). Benzalkonium chloride (BZK, BKC, BAK, BAC) is the more common name.Trade name is Zephiran, It is a organic salt.
It is one of the most commonly used products on the Planet. It is used as a Germicide and is the active ingredient of Dettol. Also used as a spermicide, mouthwash, antibacterial throat lozenge, eye washes, Antibacterial soaps. The list is huge.  It is also a Positively charged Cationic Surfactant and thus also used in a non germ related way as a fabric softener and Hair conditioner.

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On 2/09/2020 at 5:24 AM, wheels said:

You are looking for any product that has the active ingredient called Benzalkonium Chloride. Spray and Walk away. It is not a bleach and is safe on Sails and Paint etc
Products like Gone in 30secs is a Chlorine Bleach and bad for such surfaces.

I second this recommendation and you will find this in the cheapest of Pak'n'Save disinfectants as the active ingredient.  I spray my boat, path, deck, roof, etc with it and it works perfectly from a pressure spray mixed 50/50.  Takes a week or so to work.....much longer in summer.

https://www.paknsaveonline.co.nz/product/5231715_ea_000pns?name=lavender-disinfectant

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Necromancing the thread here in the interests of a PSA.

Up the Wairoa, we get enough green growth to support reforestation attempts.  Since I found this thread, we have sprayed a 1:6 dilution of Pak n save's best value lavender disinfectant a couple of times a year.

It's works brilliantly.  I just spray using a cheap garden sprayer, then leave it on.  Works on the spray dodger, paintwork, windows, cleans up the green track along the toe rail, and takes about twenty minutes.

A good rainfall washes it clean.

 

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On 3/11/2024 at 8:53 PM, aardvarkash10 said:

Problem is, you end up smelling like marinaded mussels...

No yer don't... I use plain white vinegar, works great

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