Many people do not know the importance of cleaning log home exteriors. There are many reasons why cleaning the outside logs of your home is important. Cleaning is part of routine maintenance. Let’s take a look at why cleaning those logs is so important.
Log homes have so many features that make them desirable places to spend time. Aesthetically, they evoke emotions such as quiet, peace, and relaxation. If you own a log home, you know they also require regular maintenance. Without it, small problems can turn into big headaches.
Like chinking or caulking, routine maintenance included cleaning log home exteriors. This is an important task that should be done periodically.
The frequency depends on various factors, such as where the log home is situated. Are there overhanging trees, dirt paths, grass clippings from mowing the lawn, cobwebs, and other things nearby? These can quickly dirty the exterior logs.
Homes located along dirt roads also require more frequent cleaning. Splashback from rain and dust can settle onto the exterior of a log home.
Lastly, are there birds nesting in the eaves? Are birds leaving droppings on your logs? You get the picture.
Not only do clean logs look better and make your house look nicer, but they also breathe better. When logs breathe better, they dry out more readily. This prevents rot formation.
It is a wise idea to clean the logs to remove as much of the residue mentioned above. Clean logs breathe better; they dry out more readily. Cleaning them can help remove spores that can cause mold or mildew to develop. Most importantly, it is necessary to clean them in preparation for applying another coat of finish to them in order to maximize the stain’s ability to penetrate and adhere to the wood itself.
We recommend cleaning logs with a combination of water and a wood-friendly detergent, i.e., TSP (Trisodium Phosphate Cleaner).
We want to stress that we DO NOT recommend power-washing logs to clean them. 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 vs. Power Washing”. Though this page discusses the downsides of power washing as a method for removing failing stains, the reasons not to do it apply even if you just want to clean your logs.
If we are dealing with caked-on or embedded dirt on a log wall, we use OxiClean®. Diluted in water, this product does not leave a film behind if rinsed off thoroughly. OxiClean® can be purchased in many stores, including your grocery store.
Another cleaning solution we recommend is TSP mixed with water. Again, this in non-film forming soap and can be purchased at your local hardware or paint store.
Do not use dish soap or chlorine bleach. These can leave a film behind and can cause problems with the stain adhering.
Be sure to rinse the cleaning solution thoroughly with a garden hose equipped with a sprayer.
We recently experimented with cleaning dirty logs by blasting them with corncobs — the goal was to clean them, not remove the finish. Sometimes this works, sometimes not. We wanted to see whether this “dry” method was more efficient than the wet method described above for cleaning logs. What we learned is that this did work in one house but did not work in another.
Don’t underestimate the importance of cleaning log home exteriors. Keeping your log home or cabin free of dirt, cobwebs, bird droppings, and other messes is an important aspect of routine maintenance. A little time invested in cleaning the exterior of your log home with the right products and methods can prevent expensive problems later.
. For more information on maintaining log buildings, click here.
Here are several links to our website that may be of interest:
