Mildew, mold, and moss stains on your patio, driveway, and any outdoor surface exposed to harsh weather can be a tough task to deal with. But there is an effective and easy solution to get rid of the stains without back-breaking scrubbing.
There are several brands of stain removers available now in the market that work wonders on such mold and mildew stains.
Wet and Forget is one such product that, as the name suggests, needs simple application without any cleaning or washing down of the surfaces afterward.
Is this product as effective as its maker’s guarantee?
I have done a detailed Wet And Forget Review here. The features, pros, and cons will give you a clear idea of whether the product is worth the money you shell out. Read on to know about this product.
Wet and Forget Concentrate Gallon Moss, Mold and Mildew Stain Remover
Wet and Forget Concentrate Stain Remover
Features of Wet And Forget at a Glance
The Mold and Mildew Stain Remover is from Wet and Forget company, which has a slew of cleaning products that include a wide range of cleaning applications that require just spraying the cleaning agent or mild rinsing or wiping to give sparkling clean results.
Based in Illinois in the USA, the company designs smart sprayers and bottles that help dispense the cleaning solution faster and thoroughly.
- Does not have harmful acidic or caustic substances and bleach
- Can be applied safely on any type of outdoor surface
- Does not need rinsing or scrubbing
- It is a single-step process effective on aluminum, brick, concrete, siding, deck, painted surfaces, roofs, pavements, etc.
What Are The Main Ingredients In Wet And Forget Mold And Mildew Stain Remover?
Wet and Forget is made of a highly effective combination of meticulously selected surfactants, including ethanol and benzyl ammonium chloride. All active ingredients used in the stain remover are biodegradable.
And they are not caustic or acidic and do not have bleach in them. This makes them safe for use in homes with plants and pets. They are chosen exclusively for their strong action on mold, stains, mildew, and moss removal from different types of surfaces outdoors.
Performance of Wet and Forget Mold and Mildew Stain Remover
Since the product is not acidic and does not contain bleach, it is safe for use on any type of outdoor surface.
For this Wet And Forget Review I have tried it on my roof, deck, driveway, and walkways. One of my friends used it on his boat. I had just to apply the product to the affected area and wait for a few weeks for the product to work its magic.
Other areas that can be used include high elevations and larger surfaces like rooftops. Eaves, pavers, siding, sidewalks, shingles, and downspouts are also not immune to the power-packed performance of Wet and Forget.
Other possible areas of application of the cleaning product include outdoor garden and lawn areas such as fountains, fences, gazebos, patio umbrellas, pool liners, storage units, play equipment, outdoor pots, and more.
It is also used in commercial spaces like amusement parks, hotels, parks, schools, cemeteries, airports, and various other places.
As for the materials that the product is effective on, there is a long list of materials including plastic, ceramic, concrete, asphalt, PVC steel, teak, Vinyl, fiberglass, and lots more.
And the stain remover application extends to outdoor furniture, RVs, and cabins too. In short, the product can be applied virtually on any type of surface that needs to be free of mildew and mold stains.
How Wet And Forget Works On Stains
The wet and forget stain remover product targets outdoor stain removal. Here is how I used the product. First, I applied the product to my patio floor. The surface over which you apply the product should be dry for the product to work.
I applied it on the surface until it saturated the area fully. And to avoid evaporation of the cleaning solution, make sure you apply it in dry and cold conditions.
For instance, if you have a forecast of rain in about 5 hours’ time, avoid applying it as it can get washed away before the ingredients get to work on removing the mold, mildew, and other such stains.
Similarly, the manufacturer also recommends avoiding using it during very hot days or during the warmest part of the day as the high heat would make the solution evaporate.
The ideal temperature range to look for is above 32 degrees during and for 5 hours after the application.
In about 4 to five days, I could see the difference clearly.
Most of the moss stains disappeared. And in about three weeks, the entire patio looked clean and neat. However, if you have black stains due to mildew and mold buildup, the cleaning process can take up to several months.
I tried it on the side of my garden shed and, on the fence, which had greenish algae covering. The entire area turned white from green color, and with the rains, I’m sure the surface will rinse off well.
I had some trouble with the dilution part. Instead of following one part of concentrate on five parts of water, I used another way.
I added two and a half cups of the concentrate, which is around 20 ounces to a sprayer of 1-gallon capacity, and filled the sprayer with water up to the one-gallon mark.
For two gallons, you can add double the amount, which is 5 cups, and add the water until it reaches the mark indicating 2 gallons.
I similarly tried the product on the driveway concrete, and it showed pretty much the same results as on the fence and shed. So, I used it on my sidewalk too.
I can easily see that the product works, and most importantly, it saved me lots of time scrubbing and pressure rinsing the algae, which I usually do.
This is a significant advantage for older people who will find it hard to scrub and wash the mildew and moss stains. And it is a must-have addition to your cleaning tools as it reduces your workload drastically.
Some of the stubborn black stains can even take a complete year to be cleaned fully of the unsightly and slimy region.
For maintaining the area free of further mildew and moss stains, you have to repeat the application for a minimum span of one year or when you come across the first signs of mildew, algae, mold, and moss growth.
How it gets rid of moss stains
If you want to clean off the offending moss on your driveway or pavers, soak the area completely until the solution comes into contact with the surface present underneath the moss covering.
After a few weeks of applying the stain remover, I found the moss changed into a brownish hue. It then curled up and fell off from the surface.
If you still have some mess left behind, rain and wind will help wash off the stains completely.
How it gets rid of lichen stains
Lichen is a combined product of algae and fungus. Both organisms exist in a symbiotic manner. This results in the lichen-forming a hard and tough to remove a stain. The lichen can result in pitting being formed on outdoor surfaces.
I used a sprayer, which I use to spray water or fertilizer on my plants. I soaked the lichen using a solution of the wet and forget concentrate diluted in a ratio of one part of wet and forget with five parts of water.
I let the solution sit for about 15 minutes and gave a second application. As the lichen soaks up the solution, the outer layer will soften, allowing the solution to penetrate deeper into the lichen and work its magic.
This product, which is available as one-gallon cans, can thus make about 6 gallons of product that is ready to work effectively on moss, mildew, and other stains.
The amount of the product used can cover around 750 square feet to 2250 square feet, which can differ based on the surface porosity.
Is it Safe to Use Stain Remover?
Wet and Forget range of outdoor and indoor cleaning products are EPA approved. Thus, they can be safely used without worrying about the product damaging the surface underneath the mold, moss, and mildew cover.
Since Wet and Forget does not contain bleach and is not caustic or acidic, it is a safe cleaning product to have in hand. And the ingredients used are also biodegradable, which makes them even safer and eco-friendly.
And the stain remover is also very convenient to use. You need just to apply the product on the surface you need, and there is no need for scrubbing or rinsing the surface with water.
While mild stains are removed immediately, the heavier stains take time to disappear under the gentle but persistent cleaning action of Wet and Forget.
According to the manufacturer, the product continues its cleaning action for nearly a year. You need not use any special cleaning tool for the product. The garden sprayer of the pump-up type that is found in most households will be sufficient.
For easier and less messy spraying, using the smart sprayers and bottles the company manufactures is a good idea. The sprayers are designed to focus at any specific angle without disrupting the flow of the cleaning product.
The proprietary nozzles and triggers of the company can help you reach impressive heights without any hassle.
Budget Benefits
During preparing our Wet And Forget Review we found this stain remover available at a price of around $25-30 per gallon, Wet and Forget Mold and mildew stain remover is not a budget buy. You have to shell out nearly $5 per gallon of the diluted solution.
However, considering the minimal effort, you need to make the product work, and the fact that it keeps on working for over a year it is definitely a good household cleaning product to buy even if it is an expensive product.
After preparing our Wet And Forget Review I definitely can say that Wet and Forget is the winner in Best Stain Remover nominee.
- It is easy to use especially with a pump-type sprayer or sprayer bottle
- Is very good at removing the stains from the exterior surface of chimneys
- One gallon of the solution is sufficient to cover a large area of near 2250 square feet
- It is not caustic or acidic and does not contain bleach
- Is safe on all types of outdoor surfaces
- Application is a single step process, you have just to apply the product and wait for it to work
- Does not require rinsing or scrubbing
- Can be safely used around plants
- Cleaning action continues up to a whole year
- The price is a bit expensive at $5 for every gallon
- Works very slowly and results cannot be expected for weeks or longer
- The smell is a bit like bleach
- Plants need to be covered to prevent splashes of the solution that can kill them
Best Stain Remover – FAQ
Is Wet and Forget safe?
Wet and Forget is a bleach-free biodegradable product that is not caustic or acidic. Thus, it can work effectively in getting rid of bacteria and curb growth without causing danger to outdoor surfaces or landscapes provided you follow the usage instructions clearly.
And you can walk on the surface you spray the solution after it has dried up. Pets, too, can use the surface without worries about any harm.
How long does it take for wet and forget to work?
Once you apply wet and forget on the moss, mildew, or mold-covered area, you will find the green-colored layer changing its color to orange or white. The stains formed by the bacterial growth will dissolve in a short time.
When you use the product during the next rainy season, the time taken will be shorter in about a few weeks’ time.
The longest time span that wet and forget may require is around 8 to 12 months, which is only in case of heavy and deep contamination or growth.
How often should you use wet and forget?
Based on the porosity of the surface you are applying it on, you may have to use the product more often. Check for regrowth signs regularly during the wet and cold months.
However, in general, a single application per year is sufficient for cleaning up most of the stains from mold, moss, or mildew.
What is the main ingredient in wet and forget?
Does Wet and Forget to kill black mold?
Can I use wet and forget in my power washer?
It is best to use wet and forget in a backpack or pump up or pressure agricultural types of sprayers. For covering larger surfaces or heights, using the hose-end sprayer from Wet and Forget is ideal.
If you want to use your power washer, use only washers that pull the liquid from a container that has the pre-mixed water and wet and forget cleaning solution.
Using pressure washers alone will not provide the right dilution, and the results you look for.
Will Wet and Forget damage plants?
Can Wet and Forget be used on screens?
How many square feet does wet and forget cover?
Conclusion
From my own experience of using Wet and Forget and from what I have gathered from the Wet And Forget Review available online, the mold and mildew stain remover is a good buy.
For starters, it is effective in removing stains. And it is easy to use and removes much of the hassle associated with cleaning like scrubbing the surface and rinsing it. Another advantage the product provides is that is made of biodegradable ingredients, it is very safe to use.
The product is specially designed for outdoor use and guarantees long-term effects. So, if you do not see any results overnight, do not be disappointed.
The product is designed to work continuously for over a year so that you will see results in time. This is especially true for hard and stubborn to remove stains.
But for moss, mold, and mildew, the results are seen within a few days or weeks. Other than the price, which is on the expensive side, the product is a handy one to have for dealing with mold, mildew, and most stains.
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