How to clean algae

Green Algae grows on cement surfaces where there is wetness always. This may discolour the cement. The surface will be made slippery by the growing algae on walkways. So there is a chance for the people to slip while walking on that way. So always it is advisable to clean that area. Physically cleaning is a very difficult task and it may grow again and again. When you scratch the surface of the concrete can also get damaged. You can follow the following method and get it cleaned.
1. Use a water hose and sprinkle water on the surface where the algae have grown.
2. Purchase white Vinegar from the market. Pour it on the area where algae grew. Use a scrubber and scrub it vigorously. Scrub it with random moments in all directions. Remember to use hand gloves to protect your hand from Vinegar. It is better to use face shield also so that that vinegar may not spill on your face and in the eyes. After that again sprinkle water with the hose.
3. Use a very dilute solution of bleaching powder. You can purchase bleach from the market. Around 5 grams of the same can be mixed in 5 litres of water. use a brush and scrub the area. Keep in mind that higher concentrations of bleaching powder can spoil the plants and trees around. So never use concentrated solutions. Never forget to use hand gloves and face shield for your safety. Then leave the area as it is for 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Then wash the area with water using a water hose. Minimum 90% of the age will get removed.
5. There are some antifungal cleaners available in the market. If you feel that the above process is not satisfactory use one of the antifungal cleaners.
6. Each cleaner will have its dosages and they will be mentioned on the packets by the manufacturers. You have to follow those instructions.
7. You can scrub the area with the above cleaner duly following all the precautions given by the producer and then clean the surface with water stirring using a water hose.
8. Use strong and thick hand gloves when using these cleaners.
9. Potassium permanganate is a preventive for fungal formation. A dilute solution of the same can be sprinkled on these areas so that algae will not form.

Generally, algae grow on that surface where water accumulates. It belongs to plant kingdom but it is a little bit different. Where algae grow surface becomes very slippery. There are many medicines available in the market for cleaning algae as following:- Bleaching powder is very useful in removing algae. You apply on algae area and scrub with a scrubber. Potassium permanganate is also used as antifungal medicine for removing it. White vinegar also can be used in algae area for cleaning it. Try to keep algae area dry as the main reason behind to grow is wetness.

Green algae or moss is most common problems specially in rainy season on the roof and in lawn , to get rid of these you should keep your lawn in tip top condition, feed your lawn once a month with natural fertilizer

There are some tips to get rid of them -

- Scrubbing the moss: It is not easy to get rid of a frozen moss or a thick layer of moss on the roof, so you may need
to scrub the moss. Rubbing it removes old old moss, algae or fungus on the roof easily and also shines the roof
floor. You can also use other chemical after scrubbing if you want.
- The place where green algae is coated with lime can also be used to eliminate green algae.
- Ethanol can also be used to clean it. Mixing a spoonful of ethanol in a bucket of water and pulsing it in a green
algae area is also an effective way
- Green algae can also be avoided by using appropriate amount of bleaching powder and mixing it with water and
spraying it at that place.
- Aftercut Ultra Green Plus prevents moss in your lawn without scorching it, giving your lawn a better chance to
achieve beautiful results.

As per my experience Lime is best solution for this which is too ancient, my grandmother used to apply lime on the part of the roof which is affected by the moss and it works fast. You can try any of above.

Green algae would begin to grow on cement surface because of the constant dampening condition. Though it does not affect the structural activity of the cement or the concrete, it can cause troublesome problem and making the surface slippery thus creating safety hazards on the walkways.
There are some tips to handle this stubborn issue-
1) Use Boiled Water -
Get a bucketful boiled water and this needs to be poured on the surface carefully. Now with the help of a stiff brush, scrub the portion which is affected. Finally, using a hose, wash away the debris.
2) Explore the surface in the dry state -
Create a condition so that the area turns to dry even if it requires a fan operating on a high speed or a heater helping it to make it dry. Once the area is free from moist, use the stiff brush on the entire affected area. For more stubborn surface, a plastic scrapper for the removal of debris would be more effective.
3) Apply a pressure washer -
A pressure washer directs the stream of water through its nozzle into the surface. This requires the selection of a correct nozzle ensuring that you achieve a fast and effective removal process with absolutely no damage to the surface. This has to be connected to a source of water and the ejection of of water is adjusted with a high speed by means of power.
Regulate the pressure in such a way that this does not create the condition of damaged structure.
4) Steam Cleaning -
Steam Cleaning is the process of killing algae and its removal from the surface with the mechanical means. Water is to be loaded in the steam cleaner and let it be allowed to warm up for sometime and once it heats up properly, blast the algae with the spurts of the steam. Once the operation is complete, leave it for an hour so that the debris is soaked with the hot water and finally this has to removed by means of a hard scrubber.
5) Use the commercial products-
If the algae issue is of mild nature, opt for a mold stain remover. This product needs to be sprayed as per direction appearing on the label of the product. Spray the product and wait for 10 to 15 minutes to allow it for the reaction with the algae. Scrubbing is to be continued with a hard brush and finally rinse the surface with a water hose.
Remarks -
In order to avoid the contact with the algae spores, it is always desirable to use a rubber gloves on hands and a face mask to avert the spore inhalation.

Algae is generally formed on the damp and wet surfaces. It is common to have algae layered on the backyard cement floors. It is a safety hazard as moving on it is very risky due to the slippery nature of algae. It is not possible to just scratch and clean algae using brooms etc. Some methods are as follows -

1. Sprinkle some water on the area where algae is deposited and then sprinkle evenly lime powder on it and let it remain like that the whole night. In the morning again sprinkle water on it then it becomes much easier to scratch and remove it from the floor. If the algae colour and some residual traces remain on the floor then same treatment can be repeated. I have myself used it in my backyard when I was living in a ground floor house in a green village environment. Lime powder is available in the hardware shops.

2. White vinegar is also an effective remedy for it and it is used along with scrubbing and after some efforts the algae is dislodged from the cement surface. Some manual work is involved in this method.

3. Another remedy is bleach powder. Generally 1 cup of bleach powder is to be mixed with one bucket water and with this solution the algae area is to be harvested and after 15-20 minutes, one has to scrub out the algae.

4. Some industrial anti fungal solutions are available which can be used for cleaning the algae. Please confirm from the shopkeeper about its use before buying it as there are some different varieties of these anti fungal solutions available in the market.

If the area infected with algae is large then it would take good amount of time in scrubbing and removing it completely. So, proper care is to be taken using the gloves and specs as some algae emit toxic gasses also.

Q: Is there any easy and quick method to get rid of algae?
A: Some of the ways to get rid of algae grown on cemented walls or floors or roof are:
1. Boiling water - Take a bucket full of hot boiling water and pour it directly on the algae affected surface area. Now using a stiff brush, scrub on the area to clean it and then clean the area with clean water. You can follow the method once in a week to get rid of the algae.

2. Use bleach - Mix a cup of bleach into a gallon of water i.e. approximately 4 litres of water. Pour the mixture on the infected area, using a stiff brush, scrub on the area to clean it. Now wait for 15-20 minutes and again pour more mixture and scrub on the area. Now using clean water clean the area. You can follow the procedure once on a week to keep that area algae free.

3. Use Vinegar - Mix water and vinegar in equal quantity and spray on the area let it on the area for 15-20 minutes. Now pour white vinegar directly on the surface and using a stiff brush, scrub on the area to clean it. Using clean water clean the area. You can follow the procedure once on a week to keep that area algae free.

4. Use a pressure washer - This is an easy way of cleaning the affected area. Select the correct nozzle and proper pressure for fast and effective removal of the algae. You need to aim at the correct area and use it for effective cleaning. For the first time, use it on a small portion and then use it on the whole surface. You can use it as and when required. For more effective cleaning, you can pour vinegar or bleach from the above procedure.

Instead of experimenting with raw materials it would be advisable to use commercial algae cleaners which are available in the hardware shops. They are the tested chemicals used for the industrial purposes and are effective. I have seen such products to be used in the mini shopping centre where we used to go for shopping during the rainy times as the main market was far from our residential colony. The shopkeepers used it to remove algae from the front floor area of the mini shopping centre.

Another thing with the algae that I am telling from my experience is in the back of our house or side areas where we do not care much there are chances that algae would grow. In such cases it is better to clean it in the beginning itself when it starts forming. At that time it is very easy to scrub it and clean with simple household methods but when it grows thick then it becomes stubborn and requires tough measures to be removed.