Why does nobody talk about how bad straight bleach is for cedar siding?

I power washed my house back in April and a neighbor walked over and told me I was wrecking my cedar by using straight bleach. I had been doing it that way for like 3 years because nobody ever said a word. He showed me his mix of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water and a soft brush instead. My siding looks way better now and no more fuzzy grain lifting. Has anyone else been told their cleaning method is ruining their wood?

2 comments

2 Comments

maxl934d ago

Wait, aren't you basically just swapping one mild acid for another that's still gonna eat at the wood over time?

baker.christopher4d ago

My neighbor swore by oxalic acid for years and his cedar looks exactly the same as mine after five seasons. People get real worked up about what cleaner is best but most of the time the wood is just gonna weather gray anyway. I accidentally used straight bleach once last summer and nothing exploded, so maybe the risk is a little overblown.