How to Clean Asbestos Cement Siding
Asbestos cement siding was once a popular building material. More durable than wood siding, this material was placed on hundreds of thousands of buildings until it was deemed a dangerous substance and removal began. Even after a general policy of asbestos removal was implemented whenever possible, there remains a great deal of asbestos siding out there, much still in generally good condition, and all of it needing maintenance.
Cleaning asbestos cement siding is no more involved than cleaning any other siding type. It just takes the right technique and materials to gain the sparkling results you're looking for.
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Things You'll Need
- Trisodium phosphate
- Water
- Spray bottle
- Sponge
- Scrub brush
- Water hose
- Sodium citrate
- Glycerin
- Inert dry clay
Instructions
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1
Mix a solution of 1 part bleach to 4 parts warm water for the removal of moss and other organic growths on your asbestos siding.
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2
Place the bleach mixture in a spray bottle and spray the growth, completely saturating it. The moss should turn brown in about a week and appear dry and brittle. Use a brush to remove the moss from your siding.
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3
Mix a detergent solution consisting of ½ cup trisodium phosphate (TSP) to 1 gallon of hot water to clean light stains. Dip a sponge into the solution and apply it to the asbestos cement siding.
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4
Scrub the siding panels vigorously with a scrub brush until dirt and debris loosens and begins to come off the siding. Begin the cleaning process with the lowest siding panel, cleaning a portion of the siding before moving upward.
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5
Rinse each panel with clean water from a hose as you finish a section to remove the dirt and the cleaning solution before moving to the next panel. Continue to clean the panels, keeping those below the current one being cleaned wet to prevent streaking or contamination from dirty water.
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6
Mix a solution containing 1 part sodium citrate and 6 parts glycerin to deal with rust stains on the siding. Add inert dry clay to the mixture until you've created a thick mud-like substance. Place a layer of the clay mixture on the stained area of the asbestos siding and allow it to dry. Once dried, remove the mixture and replace with a fresh batch. Continue the process for at least a week in order to remove the stains.
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7
Clean any rusty fixtures near the siding that may be causing rust stains at the same time the clay mixture is removing the stain from the siding.
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When all stains are removed, rinse the siding once more to rid it of remaining residue.
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Tips & Warnings
If flaking is present on your siding, call a professional to remove and replace the siding, as continued flaking can be hazardous to your health if flakes are inhaled.
Wear Latex gloves to protect your skin from harsh cleaning materials.
