How to Soft Wash a Vinyl Fence: Removing Algae and Mildew in Bartow, FL

In this video we’re in Bartow, Florida, cleaning a long run of white vinyl fence at a home the owners are getting ready to rent. They wanted the fence looking clean before they started showing the property — first impressions matter to tenants, and a green, streaky fence makes the whole yard look neglected.

Project at a glance

• Location: Bartow, Florida (Polk County)

• Property: Single-family rental home being prepared for showings

• Surface: Vinyl privacy fence

• Problem: Heavy algae and mildew, worst on the shaded back section; an older fence with existing damage and missing post caps

• Method: Low-pressure soft washing — sodium hypochlorite downstreamed through the pressure washer, three applications, then a low-pressure rinse

What we were up against

Up close, the fence had a thick, baked-on layer of mold, mildew, and algae. The front, which faces the street, looked like it had been cleaned not long ago, but the back run was the worst we’ve seen in a while. Grass and weeds had also grown up into the bottom rails.

The owners warned us ahead of time that the fence was a little rickety, and we could see existing damage: cracked panels, rough spots where the vinyl had weathered, and several post caps already missing. That shaped how we cleaned it.

Why we soft wash vinyl fences instead of pressure washing

On an older or damaged fence, high pressure can crack brittle vinyl, blow out loose panels, and scar the surface. It also only knocks the growth off the top — it doesn’t kill it. So we use soft washing instead of pressure washing: a cleaning solution kills the algae and mildew, and a low-pressure rinse carries it away.

The solution is a diluted sodium hypochlorite mix with a surfactant to help it cling. It’s the same approach we use for house washing and roof cleaning, adjusted for the surface.

Our process, step by step

1. Inspect and point out damage. We walk the fence first and note cracks, loose panels, and missing caps before any cleaning starts.

2. Apply the cleaning solution. Our 12-volt soft wash pump had an air leak on this job, so we downstreamed the solution through the pressure washer at low pressure instead. It works just as well — it just takes a few more passes.

3. Keep it wet and let it dwell. This fence sat in full sun with no trees, so we kept re-treating it so the solution didn’t dry before it had time to soak in.

4. Reapply on the worst sections. The heavily stained back run needed three applications.

5. Hand-detail the bottom rails. Grass growing into the fence won’t rinse out, so we pulled it by hand.

6. Final low-pressure rinse. We rinsed off the last bits of loosened growth — and beat a Florida afternoon storm by a few minutes.

The biggest lesson: let the chemistry do the work

If you watch the video, you’ll see the algae start to break down while the solution sits on the fence. Dwell time is where the cleaning happens. When we rush it, we end up spraying harder and making more passes. Giving the solution time to soak in and kill the algae means less pressure on the fence, less risk of damage, and a cleaner result that lasts longer.

How we price fence cleaning

We price vinyl fence cleaning by the linear foot. A long fence like this one takes more time and more solution, and heavy growth can mean extra applications.

Our standard quote covers the inside of the fence — the side on your property — so we never have to walk on a neighbor’s yard. We also include any street-facing sections, since those are on your property and are what people see first. We always use water from your property, so there’s nothing for you to set up.

Getting a rental ready to show?

A clean fence is one of the easiest ways to make a rental look cared for. Pair it with a driveway and sidewalk cleaning and a soft wash of the house, like we did on this dirty rental home soft wash. If you manage several properties, see our commercial and property management services.

Ready to get your fence clean? Learn more about our fence cleaning service, read what customers say in our reviews, or request a free estimate for your home in Polk County or the greater Tampa Bay area.