Clean Outdoor Covered Structures with Wet & Forget

By Wet & Forget

Outdoor covered structures such as gazebos, arbors, carports, awnings, and screened-in porches and patios are welcoming additions, which add beauty and practicality to any home.

They’re often in the form of a fabric cover or a hard, durable material- providing shade on sunny days and a dry haven for when it rains.

Since these structures are prone to moisture, green and black stains can easily appear on these surfaces. Here are a few tips and tricks on how you can clean your screened-in porch, patio, and outdoor covered surfaces with Wet & Forget.

How do I clean the fixed screens on my screened-in porch?

Wet & Forget Outdoor easily cleans algae-covered porch and patio screens. Remove the green slime to have a clearer view of your yard.

To remove the view-blocking stains: 

1. Remove any large, stuck-on debris such as leaves or pollen from the screen’s exterior with a soft broom.
2. Apply Wet & Forget Outdoor on a dry day with no rain in the forecast.
3. Allow the screens to dry.
4. Rinse the screens a week later to imitate rainfall.
5. Repeat rinsing 1-2 times a week.

How do I clean the floors and ceilings in my screened-in porch and patio?

Equally important areas to consider cleaning are the floors and ceilings of your screened-in porch.

Mold, mildew, and algae can develop because of water absorption. This often occurs when water stays puddled up and because of condensation.

If you notice green mildew stains on your porch or patio floor, apply Wet & Forget Outdoor. Since this area doesn’t see direct rainfall, we recommend rinsing the floor the following week to start to gently remove unsightly mildew. Repeat the rinsing at least weekly to finish cleaning up the remaining stains on the surface.

Additional screened-in porch and patio cleaning tips:

• In between screen cleanings, remove dust and dirt with a hand-held vacuum or a soft bristle brush to reduce buildup.
• Wooden porch floors last longer when they’re painted or sealed. By choosing an outdoor paint that is self-priming and latex or oil-based, it’ll be able to withstand the elements longer.

How do I clean my gazebo, arbor, or other outdoor covered garden structures?

Whether your outdoor garden structure is made of wood, metal, or vinyl, they can develop mold and mildew growth on its posts, railings, floors, and the underside of the roof.

Due to the exposure of moisture, these outdoor covered structures can quickly take on a greenish to blackish tint. Use Wet & Forget Outdoor to easily clean mold and mildew-stained areas, restoring your relaxing spot back to its former beauty.

How to clean a gazebo, arbor, or other garden structure with Wet & Forget:

1. First, sweep or brush away large debris from the gazebo posts, railings, floor, and underside of the roof with a soft broom.
2. Apply Wet & Forget Outdoor to the interior and exterior on a dry day- make sure no rain is expected that day.
3. Let the treated surfaces dry.
4. The following week, rinse the treated surface with your garden hose. Repeat rinsing weekly.

Additional gazebo, arbor, or other garden structure cleaning tips:

• Protect natural wood gazebos by applying a waterproof sealant every two years. The sealant will help prevent moisture absorption and preserve the integrity of the wood.
• Prevent nuisance insects in spring and summer. Periodically check the gazebo’s interior for spider webs and wasp nests and remove them accordingly.

How do I clean my carport ceiling and interior?

Get the most years possible out of your carport by taking top-notch care of it! Aside from checking the integrity of your structure, remember to remove any organic growth as well to keep it nice and clean.

Use Wet & Forget Outdoor to clean mold, mildew, and algae stained carports. It’ll help to restore your outdoor covered structure back to its former glory.

How to apply Wet & Forget to your carport: 

1. Remove your vehicle from the carport.
2. Sweep away debris from posts, railings, and the roof with a soft broom.
3. Apply Wet & Forget Outdoor to the ceiling and carport interior.
4. Then allow treated surfaces to dry.
5. Rinse the treated interior surface with a hose on a jet setting a week later.
6. Repeat rinsing on a weekly basis to imitate rainfall.

Additional carport cleaning tips:

• In the fall time, remove leave coverings from the roof because leaves absorb water. This will help to reduce unnecessary weight, which can create stress on your carport roof and structure.
• Equally, if you live in an area that gets snow, then remove the accumulated snow as well to prevent structural problems in the future.

How do I clean the exterior of my home’s eaves?

Finally, you can clean the exterior of your home’s eaves without climbing up a ladder! Wet & Forget Xtreme Reach™ Hose End allows you to clean your home’s eaves with ease since the Xtreme Reach™ Hose End nozzle can spray up to 30 feet high.

To apply the Wet & Forget Xtreme Reach™ Hose End: 

1. Simply attach the bottle of Wet & Forget Xtreme Reach™ Hose End to your garden hose.
2. Turn the black dial from ‘OFF’ to the ‘WATER’ setting and rinse nearby plants and trees.
3. From the ‘WATER’ setting, turn the black dial counterclockwise until you reach the ‘ON’ setting, and spray the eaves.
4. Once you’ve saturated the eaves, turn the dial back to the ‘WATER’ setting while repositioning the bottle to rinse the plants and trees again.
5. Turn clockwise to the ‘OFF’ setting when finished.
6. Let the product dry.
7. Return the next week to hose down the treated area. Repeat rinsing 1-2 times a week until the growth has fully removed from the surface.

Due to the location of eaves, they don’t see much rainfall; so, you may need to assist the cleaning process by rinsing periodically.

How do I clean my canvas awnings?

Since Wet & Forget is non-acidic, phosphate-free, and bleach-free, it won’t harm or discolor canvas and other outdoor fabrics.

This gives you more freedom to choose which Wet & Forget Outdoor product fits your needs the best to clean dirty canvas awnings and other outdoor covered structures and surfaces.

Here’s how to decide which one to use:

If you’re looking for a more precise application to treat the entire awning, use the Wet & Forget Concentrate.

If your awning is higher up on your home, use the Wet & Forget Xtreme Reach™ Hose End.

Cleaning the underside of your canvas awnings is quick and easy with Wet & Forget Outdoor:

1. Start by removing spider webs and other debris from the underside of the awning with a long-handled broom.
2. Spray your awning with one of the Wet & Forget Outdoor products on a day with no rain in the forecast.
3. If you have a retractable awning, leave it open for a minimum of 4 to 5 hours to dry.
4. A week later, rinse the awning to imitate rainfall.
5. Repeat rinsing weekly to lift up tougher stains.
6. Lastly, enjoy the outdoors under a clean, stain-free awning!

Additional canvas awning care tip:

After successfully removing any green or black stains with Wet & Forget, apply a fabric sealant. The sealant will help to repel dirt and stains, which will keep your awnings looking and functioning like new.

After cleaning your screened-in porch and various outdoor covered structures with Wet & Forget, you’ll be able to enjoy your outdoor spaces without the eyesores.

If you’re interested in finding Wet & Forget products at a store near you, head to our store locator. Or you can get Wet & Forget delivered directly to your door by shopping on our online store.

Have a specific question or concern in mind? Give us a call at 888-727-8524, Monday to Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM CT.