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How Do You Remove Sprinkler Stains From a Fence?
Sprinklers are an extremely convenient and hassle-free option for maintaining your lawn. However, there are certain drawbacks to using sprinklers, one of them being sprinkler stains.
Sprinkler stains on fences can dull the whole look of the area. Moreover, they can cause the fence to rot and cost you repair charges in the long run. So, to help you out of this problem, this blog post will deal with removing sprinkler stains from a fence.
Let’s get into it without any further ado!
Why Should You Consider Removing Sprinkler Stains From a Fence?
If you notice any sprinkler stains on your fence, make sure that you don’t ignore them. Instead, you need to look for solutions as quickly as possible owing to the below-mentioned reasons:
- Appearance
First of all, sprinkler stains can ruin the overall appearance of fences. They can cause damage to the natural feel of the fence. Additionally, if you have many fences that have sprinkler stains, they may even make your fence area look old and shabby.
So, it is essential to remove sprinkler stains to bring back your fences’ actual shine and finish. Thus, making your fence area look great again!
- Durability and Costs
Apart from dulling the appearance, sprinkler stains, if not removed, can affect the durability of the fence too. In fact, it can make the fence structure weaker and cost you money for maintenance.
So, rather than paying for maintenance, it is best to check out the solution for removing sprinkler stains.
- Hygiene
Lastly, as sprinkler stains can cause the fences to rot, they can also cause hygiene issues. It is because your fences may become the breeding ground for fungi, molds, and cause deadly diseases.
So, due to the above reasons, it is essential that you remove the sprinkler stains from a fence.
Step-By-Step Guide of Removing Sprinkler Stains From a Fence
When it comes to sprinkler stains, there are many ways you can remove them depending on the type of stains. We have extensively covered every type of sprinkler stain and how you can remove it.
- Using Bleach Solution
Do you notice dark stains on your fence area caused due to the sprinklers? Well, then the homemade bleach solution method would work quite well for you.
What You Need:
- Cold water
- Bleach
- Sponge
- Waterproof gloves
Steps to Follow:
Before you start the process, make sure that you are wearing waterproof gloves as bleach is caustic and may cause harm to your skin. Then, follow the below steps:
- Start by mixing 50-percent of cold water with 50-percent of bleach.
- Take a dense sponge and dip it in the bleach solution.
- Then, lightly apply the bleach solution to the affected areas of the fence. Make sure you don’t apply too much or drench the fences with the solution.
- After you have applied it, let the solution dry for about one to two days.
- Check for results. If you notice that the stains haven’t gone yet, you can increase the bleach content to 75% and reduce water to 25%.
We suggest bleaching the entire fence area because applying bleach may make the fence look lighter. This would result in color inconsistency. So, you can avoid this by applying the bleach solution to the whole fence area.
- Using Hydrogen Peroxide
You may have heard of using hydrogen peroxide for wooden floors. However, you may also use the same for removing stains on fences too. Here’s what you need to do with hydrogen peroxide.
What You Need:
- Spray bottle
- 3% concentrated hydrogen peroxide solution
- Protective gloves
- Cloth
Steps to Follow:
As the hydrogen peroxide is also quite strong, it may cause skin irritation. So, wear rubber gloves before you begin the process.
- First of all, pour hydrogen peroxide solution into the spray bottle.
- Spray the solution on the affected fences.
- Let it sit for a few minutes. Make sure you don’t leave it for long either.
- Then, take a cloth, and wipe the solution.
- If you still see the stains, make sure you rub with more force but not too much as it can damage the fence’s surface.
In this way, even hydrogen peroxide mixture can help in cleaning stubborn stains from wood.
- Using Oxalic Acid
If you notice that the sprinkler stains are extremely stubborn and also black/very dark in nature, then you can make use of oxalic acid. Oxalic acid is a very strong bleaching agent that can remove the most stubborn black water stains as well.
What You Need:
- Oxalic Acid Concentrate
- Hot Water
- Bucket
- Scrub brush
- Waterproof Gloves
- Eye Protection
Steps to Follow:
Before you begin the process, make sure that you are wearing waterproof gloves as well as eye protection. It is because oxalic acid is very powerful and may get harmful to handle.
- In a bucket, combine oxalic acid concentrate with hot water.
- Then, make use of a scrub brush and apply the solution to the affected areas on the fence. This may take time but it works!
- Keep reapplying the solution till the stain is gone completely.
- Then, you can wash the fence with clean water and let it dry.
You’ll notice that the stubborn sprinkler stains are gone.
- Using Pressure Washer
Sprinklers can certainly cause some stains but pressure washers can help in removing them. Here’s what you need to do to remove sprinkler stains using pressure washers.
What You Need:
- Pressure washer
- Rotating scrub brush
- Detergent
Steps to Follow:
If you want to clean or remove sprinkler stains using a pressure washer, you have to make use of a rotating scrub brush. Let’s see how you can do it.
- First of all, you need to apply detergent to the fence. You can easily do so by turning on the detergent tank in your pressure washer.
- Then, start from the bottom and go towards the top of the fence to avoid any detergent stains.
- Let the detergent sit for around 10 to 15 minutes so it can work. Make sure it doesn’t dry.
- After a few minutes, turn off the detergent tank settings and start pressure washing. Make sure you apply detergent on only one fence at a time and wash it from down to the top.
- For sprinkler stains, you need to make use of a rotating scrub brush.
- The rotating scrub brush will help in removing any stubborn and dirty sprinkler stains from your fence.
Then, you can apply sealant or paint after the fences have dried completely (usually 48 hours).
- Using Sanding Technique
If your fence wood is strong enough and has stubborn sprinkler stains, then you may make use of the sanding technique. But, keep in mind that this technique has the potential to damage the wood in certain cases. So, continue ahead with your own risk!
What You Need:
- Random orbital sander
- Sandpaper
Steps to Follow:
Given below are the steps to sanding a fence. Make sure you follow them properly to avoid damage.
- Take a random orbital sander and fit it with a sanding disk.
- Firstly, test your sanding technique on a small patch of the fence and see if it removes the sprinkler stain.
- If it can, take the orbital sander and move it across the fence. Make sure you don’t press it on the fence as it may damage the surface.
- Wipe away the wood dust to see if it is working or not.
In this way, you can make use of the sandling technique to safely remove sprinkler stains.
- Using Paint
Using paint is one of the simplest options of removing sprinkler stains or covering them. You can easily make use of this method if you notice that the fence is not in a bad state or structure but just looks dirty. It is also a good idea if you haven’t painted your fence in two to three years.
What You Need:
- Paint or stain
- Primer
- Brush or roller
- Tarp
- Sandpaper
- Paint scraper
- Fence cleaner
Steps to Follow:
Before you begin painting your fence, make sure that you do it on a sunny and dry day. It shouldn’t be windy or humid as that may cause issues. A temperature between 40F to 90F is ideal.
- First of all, place a tarp near the area where you’re painting the fence.
- Then, take a paint scraper and remove the extra paint. You may also sand down the entire fence to remove splinters. Finish it off by cleaning the fence using a fence cleaner.
- Take a paint brush or roller and apply primer first. Go horizontally for horizontal bars and vertically for vertical bars.
- After the primer has dried, start painting from top to bottom. Avoid painting one area repeatedly.
- You may add a second coat if the first one doesn’t look good enough.
Hence, by following the above ways you can remove or hide sprinkler stains from a fence easily.
How to Avoid Sprinkler Stains On a Fence?
Sprinklers are excellent for various reasons. They can save time, provide the proper capacity of water to the lawn, and can save water too. Yet, many lawn owners have a concern regarding sprinkler stains on a fence and house walls too.
The best way to avoid sprinkler stains on fences is by taking a few precautions such as:
- The Distance Of Fences From Sprinkler Stains
Right before installing sprinklers, it is important to consider the distance. Moreover, if your fences keep getting sprinkler stains, then you may try to reposition the sprinkler.
The best way to reposition the sprinklers is by keeping the sprinkler heads at least 2 feet away from the fences. Or, if you have spray-type or radius-rotor heads, then keep them at least 3 feet away from the fences.
This way your lawn will get adequate water and your fences won’t get ruined with sprinkler stains either.
- Cleaning Fence Regularly
Cleaning the fence regularly can also help in avoiding stubborn and permanent sprinkler stains. You get two options to clean your fence – by hand or by using a pressure washer.
- Cleaning Fences By Hand
If you’re planning to clean a fence by hand, then you need to get an appropriate cleaner for it. You can find many of those in shops and online as well. You also need to stay safe while handling the cleaners as they may contain hazardous chemicals.
Moreover, it is better to make sure that the fences aren’t too high or too many in number as cleaning them by hand will take a lot of time.
- Cleaning Fences By Using a Pressure Washer:
Another excellent option for cleaning fences regularly is by using a pressure washer. A pressure washer can help in cleaning fences in no time. Additionally, the pressure exerted also helps in removing stains, molds, and other harmful things from your fences.
With pressure washers, you just have to be sure that the pressure is not too harsh to splinter the fence.
- Sealing or Staining The Fence
Sealing or staining the fence offers long-term protection. Keep in mind that you need to seal a fence at least once in two to three years. Contrarily, you need to stain a fence once every five years.
The time varies depending on your geographical location. For instance, if you live in a humid area, you may have to seal or stain a fence more often.
Both sealing and staining the fence help in keeping the moisture away from your fence. It is because they form a protective waterproof barrier over the fence. Hence, preventing the water from sprinklers to seep into the fences and cause stains.
Now, you can go for transparent sealers that will retain the original and natural appearance of your fences. You can also opt for paints or stains that can color the fences. The choice is entirely dependent on you.
Hence, by following the above three suggestions you can avoid or minimize sprinkler stains on your fences.
Final Thoughts
To conclude, sprinkler stains may be stubborn. But, with the right technique, you can easily remove them. Moreover, you can also make use of some of the tips we have given above to avoid sprinkler stains on fences.
This way your fences will remain spotlessly clean as well as well-maintained!
