Did you notice green algae and moss on your car windows, and you want to know how to get rid of them? You’ve come to the right place, for we have researched this question, and we have the answer for you.
Follow the simple steps below to get rid of algae and moss from the windows of your car:
- Inspect the window of your car. Look for cracks in the rubber or any signs of peeling or flaking.
- Use water to remove as much dirt, algae, and moss as possible from the windows of your car.
- Apply snow foam to the area. Let the snow foam soak for a few minutes.
- Rinse with clean water.
- Apply car shampoo on a microfiber wash mitt and make it lather.
- Gently wipe off any remaining moss or algae on the windows using the microfiber wash mitt.
- Rinse and check for any remaining moss or algae. Repeat steps five and six as needed.
The detailed steps for removing moss and algae from the windows of your car can be found in the succeeding sections.
Read on!
How to remove green algae and moss from car windows?
Here are the detailed steps for removing moss and algae from the windows of your car:
Inspecting The Windows Of Your Car
Look for cracks in the rubber or any signs of peeling or flaking. If moss has been on the windows for a long time, it can create cracks on the rubber parts of the windows and even in the surrounding paint of your car.
Using Water To Remove Green Algae And Moss
You have two ways of removing loose algae or moss using water.
Pressure Washer
If you did not find any visible damage on the rubber and paint of your car, then you can use a pressure washer that uses a pressure between 1,000 to 1,800 PSI. Check the manufacturer’s website to find out the pressure output of your pressure washer.
Pressure washing is effective in removing loose dirt, mold, and algae from your car. There are pressure washers that can spray water up to 30,000 PSI, so be sure to use only the recommended pressure when you use a pressure washer on your car, or you run the risk of damaging the paint.
When using your pressure washer, always spray at a 45-degree angle from your car. You should maintain a distance of at least three feet and a half from your car.
Use a fan nozzle to remove as much dirt, algae, and moss from the windows of your car as possible.
Garden Hose
Do not use a pressure washer if you found signs of damage to the rubber and paint of your car.
In this situation, your best option is to use a garden hose to wash off any loose dirt, algae, or moss.
Using Snow Foam
Snow foam is an effective prewash. It lifts dirt, pollen, grime, dust, etc., and allows water to simply wash the loose dirt away. The property of snow foam to loosen dirt from the surface of your car will be effective in removing the algae and moss from the windows of your car, including the places where the glass and rubber meet.
Snow foam will be able to loosen algae and moss that plain water was not able to remove during your initial rinse.
Let snow foam soak on the surface of your car’s windows for a few minutes before rinsing it off.
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Rinsing Snow Foam Off
Rinse the snow foam with water. Use the method that is appropriate for your car based on the condition of the rubber and paint around the windows.
Car Shampoo On Microfiber Wash Mitt
Apply some car shampoo on a clean and moist microfiber wash mitt and make it lather.
Scrub the area where the algae and moss are still present using the microfiber wash mitt. Use gentle circular motions to scrub the moss and algae off.
Rinse the car shampoo off and check for any remaining moss and algae. Repeat this process as needed until you get rid of all the moss and algae.
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How do you get green moss off car window seals?
Moss, algae, and fungus love to grow on the rubber seals of your car, especially during autumn or when there is more moisture in the air and rain.
The rubber seals trap dirt. Dirt plus moisture is the perfect combination for moss, algae, and fungus to grow. Letting moss, algae, and fungus grow on the rubber seals of your car reduces the effectiveness of those seals.
Moreover, they can also shorten the lifespan of the rubber in those seals.
Here are some cleaning steps that you can follow to get rid of the little green things that grow in your car’s seals.
- Use a power washer or water from a garden hose to rinse off any loose moss.
- Mix a solution of dishwashing liquid and water in a clean pail.
- Dip a toothbrush with soft bristles in the dishwashing liquid solution and gently brush the window seals of your car. Use a circular motion to brush off the moss and algae growth on the seals.
- Rinse the area with clean water once it has become too dirty and repeat brushing to get rid of any remaining moss and algae.
- Rinse the area thoroughly once you’re done removing all the moss and algae.
- Recondition the seals using a spray-on rubber reconditioner. These reconditioners help keep the rubber in the seals moisturized to prevent them from cracking and chipping. Apply the rubber reconditioner sparingly and let it soak. Do not worry about spraying the paint of your car.
- Wash your car as normal to get rid of any moss and algae that found their way to other areas of your car. Washing your car also removes the rubber reconditioner from areas that are not made of rubber.
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How to remove algae from car paint?
- Wear protective gloves before you proceed with the next step.
- Remove as much loose dirt and dry leaves from your car by hand. If you have algae growth on your car paint, that could mean that your car has not been used or cleaned for a long time and dirt and debris have accumulated on it.
- Follow the steps above for removing moss and algae from the windows of your car. You can use the same steps to remove moss and algae from the car paint. Keep in mind that it is important to identify whether you can use a pressure washer on your car or not.
How do you remove mold, algae, and mildew from the interior of your car?
- Park your car under the sun, but not on a busy street. Park it where no other cars will pass by as you clean it.
- Open all the windows and doors of your car. This will let the natural heat of the sun dry the interior and air it out for about half an hour. Mold, algae, and mildew all need moisture to thrive. Letting your car’s interior dry and air out will get rid of the moisture supply and reduce the ability of molds, algae, and mildew from thriving inside your car.
- Mix two parts water to eight parts white vinegar in a spray bottle. Seal the spray bottle and shake it for a few seconds. Alternatively, you can dissolve a cup of sea salt (or any non-iodized salt) in a bucket of water.
- Spray the solution liberally on all areas with mold, algae, and mildew growth. If you have mold growth in your carpets, soak it with the solution so that it will reach the spores that are hidden deep in the threads of the carpet. Let the solution soak for at least 20 minutes. If you’re using the salt solution, make sure that the surfaces are slightly wet and not just moist.
- Get a soft brush and brush the areas where you applied the solution. This will help the solution get absorbed in these areas, especially in fabrics.
- Use a wet/dry vacuum cleaner to suck out all the remaining solutions from inside your car. If you used the salt solution, gently scrub the areas that you will vacuum to loosen the dry salts.
Conclusion
A pressure washer is very effective in getting rid of moss and algae from the windows of your car, including the exterior paint. However, it is important to know if you can use a pressure washer on your car, or you might end up damaging your car's finish.
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