Regular Cleaning Part of Log Home Maintenance

Regular log home maintenance can go a long way toward preventing expensive log home repairs. One part of routine maintenance is cleaning the exterior logs. This is an important task that should be done periodically. The frequency depends on all sorts of factors such as where the log home is situated in terms of overhanging trees, dirt paths, grass clippings from mowing the lawn, cobwebs, etc.

• Is the home located along a dirt road, exposing it to dust from traffic?
• Does the rain splash back onto the logs during a rainstorm?
• Do birds nest in the eves and leave behind bird droppings on your logs?

Three Reasons to Clean Logs Regularly

There are many reasons to clean exterior logs regularly. Cleaning logs:

1. Allows logs to breathe: Natural wood breathes, which means that it expands and contracts with changes in temperature. Clean logs breathe more easily and dry out more readily.
   
2. Removes mold and mildew spores: Cleaning logs can help remove spores that cause mold and mildew to develop. For people with asthma and other breathing difficulties, keeping logs clean is a crucial health matter.
   
3. Prepares them for stains and finishes: The most important reason to clean logs regularly is that it is necessary to clean them in preparation for applying another coat of finish. Taking this step before applying stain maximizes the stain’s ability to penetrate and adhere to the wood itself.

What Product to Use for Log Home Maintenance

Two good options for cleaning as part of log home maintenance include:

1. Trisodium Phosphate Cleaner (TSP)
   TSP is a wood-friendly detergent. It is available in liquid or powder form from a hardware or paint store. Dissolve the product in water according to the directions on the label.
   
   Power-washing logs to lclean them is not recommended. Applying water under high pressure can be detrimental to the “health” of a log building. For more information on this, check out this link to our site Blasting v. Power Washing. Though this page refers to the negative side of using power-washing as a method to remove failing stain, the reasons for avoiding this method apply even if you just want to clean your logs.
   
2. OxiClean
   If we are dealing with caked on or embedded dirt on a log wall, we use a product called OxiClean®. Diluted in water, this product does not leave a film behind if rinsed off thoroughly. OxiClean® can be purchased in many stores including grocery stores.
   
   You do not want to use dish soap or chlorine bleach on your log home. These cleaning products can leave a film behind even after rinsing. They can cause problems with the stain adhesion.
   
   Be sure to rinse the cleaning solution off thoroughly using a garden hose with a sprayer attached. Allow the logs to dry completely before applying any product to the logs.
   
   For more information on maintaining log buildings, click here.
   
   Call us at 715 – 373 – 5744 if you need some maintenance work done on your log home.