We’ve put the spotlight on several nurseries, garden centers and people in these weekly profiles, but few specific products. So, since many listeners are experiencing greenish or blackish growth on outdoor surfaces thanks to the past six months of rain, it’s time to bring your attention to Wet & Forget - your best bet to deal with algae, mold and mildew.
First, a little history about my relationship with this amazing product. In two decades of hosting GardenLine, I’ve been pitched about a dozen products that were supposed to remove mold, mildew and algae. Half of them were, frankly, just bleach-based. Sure … bleach can remove mold, mildew and algae, but the runoff into landscapes would be detrimental. Another couple of products incorporated caustic chemicals. And one was actually some sort of acid. So, I could never recommend any of those.
There are also some blends recommended for roofs, but they can damage landscapes below with runoff. I once called one of those companies to determine their product’s active ingredient, so I might devise a plan to help remediate the soil for listeners with that problem. They cursed me out and wanted to know “who the blank I was,” that I needed to know that. Coincidentally, that product later got pitched for advertising on GardenLine. I was already five years into my endorsement for Wet & Forget, so it was an easy denial.
Now, more than 10 years later, I’m still endorsing Wet & Forget, and I can confirm with authority that this product does not cause damage to lawns or landscapes, no matter what outdoor surface it’s applied to, including roofs, siding or stone. I can recommend Wet & Forget because I know it will not harm any plant life if used as directed.
Some other mold and mildew removers have tried to “price shame” Wet & Forget by showing the products side by side, with theirs with a lower cost. However, they conveniently don’t mention that Wet & Forget is normally blended five parts water to one part Wet & Forget. That means multiple uses and a longer shelf life. Almost all competitors’ ratios are 2-to-1 or even 1-to-1. And there are even some that are used straight up. Yikes!
Using Wet & Forget really is as simple as the name implies. You just wet the surface as directed, and forget it. The product and Mother Nature do the rest. That’s it! No rinsing, scrubbing or power washing. It works with rain and moisture in the air to gently break down the mold, mildew or algae and wash it away. I tested the product extensively before I gave it my endorsement, and every place I tried cleaned itself up. Mind you, this is not a permanent fix. But in many cases, it will keep areas treated clean and free of mold, mildew and algae for 6-12 months.
Take a look at this photo of a Seattle-area neighborhood. Can you pick out the house where Wet & Forget was used on the driveway and sidewalk?
You can now find the Wet & Forget family of products at nearly any hardware store, including those in the Greater Houston Ace Retailer Group. It’s also available at several garden and feed stores you’ve heard about on GardenLine. Heck, you can even get it at some national chain stores. Find your nearest retailer by typing in your ZIP code at www.wetandforget.com/.