How to Clean Algae With Sugar

Algae feeds on sugars to grow on multiple surfaces.

Algae requires moisture and nutrition to grow on bowls, sidings and many other household objects. Sugar is the ideal food for algae, and items such as hummingbird feeders often encourage algae to grow regularly, according to Tim Carter of "Ask the Builder." Because algae and sugar can coexist without a problem, using a strong household detergent is the best option for reducing the common problem of sugar and algae building up on and around houses.

Things You'll Need

• Warm water
• Dish detergent
• Soft brush

Instructions

1. Wet down the object or material that has algae and sugar growth. Use a hose for a larger outdoor project or run the faucet over the object, such as a hummingbird feeder. Soak an item that has a lot of sugar buildup for about five to 10 minutes in warm water.

2. Mix together a small bowl of warm water and two or three drops of dish detergent.

3. Dip a soft brush into the detergent mixture and scrub along the entire surface affected by the algae growth. Use a small brush to get into any small crevices or corners.

4. Rinse off the detergent mixture using clean water. Allow the item to dry completely. Repeat this cleaning process on a regular basis to ensure that natural sugars from trees and other plants do not encourage repeated algae growths.

References

• Ask The Builder; Cleaning Vinyl Siding; Tim Carter
• Birdwatchers Digest; Easy Techniques for Cleaning a Hummingbird Feeder; Rita Randazzo