WOOD FENCES
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU CAN DO TO GIVE YOUR WOOD FENCE A LONGER LIFESPAN IS TO APPLY A WATER REPELLENT PRESERVATIVE OR SEALANT. AN EXTERIOR STAIN IS ALSO A SEALANT AND ANOTHER OPTION IF YOU CHOOSE TO COORDINATE WITH THE EXTERIOR OF YOUR HOME. HOMEOWNERS SHOULD KEEP SPRINKLERS FROM WETTING THE FENCE, WHICH CAUSES THE WOOD TO AGE MORE QUICKLY. BUSHES AND VINES SHOULD BE KEPT OFF THE FENCE.
VINYL FENCES
FOR TYPICAL MAINTENANCE USE AN ORDINARY CAR WASH BRUSH AND A GARDEN HOSE TO WASH DOWN YOUR VINYL FENCE. IF YOU NEED TO REMOVE MORE THAN EVERYDAY DIRT, DUST OR POLLEN, THEN WIPE DOWN WITH A MIXTURE OF 1/3 CUP POWDERED DETERGENT, 2/3 CUP HOUSEHOLD CLEANER AND 1 GALLON WATER.
SCUFF MARKS FROM MOWER TIRES ARE A COMMON PROBLEM ON VINYL FENCES. MOST MARKS OF THIS NATURE CAN BE REMOVED BY USING A ROUGHER TEXTURED RAG AND SOME EXTRA ELBOW GREASE.
TO REMOVE RUST AND HARD WATER STAINS, PRODUCTS SUCH AS CLR AND LIME-AWAY HAVE BEEN FOUND TO WORK SUCCESSFULLY, ALTHOUGH WHITE VINEGAR WILL ALSO WORK WITH SOME RUST STAINS. THEY ARE PRODUCTS TYPICALLY FOUND IN LARGE DISCOUNT STORES. SPRAY THE CLEANING SOLUTION ON, THEN WIPE OR SCRUB WITH A CLEAN RAG AS NECESSARY. RINSE THE RESIDUE OFF WITH A HOSE.
ORNAMENTAL FENCES
ORNAMENTAL FENCING SHOULD BE CLEANED AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR WITH A MILD, NON-ABRASIVE SOAP AND WATER, USING A SOFT SPONGE. IN AREAS WHERE SALTS AND POLLUTANTS ARE MORE PREVALENT (BEACH FRONT OR INDUSTRIAL AREAS) THE FENCE SHOULD BE CLEANED MORE REGULARLY. ALWAYS RINSE WITH FRESH WATER TO REMOVE ANY RESIDUAL SOAP.