If you recently purchased a home with a cedar wood privacy fence, then you need to take steps to regularly clean and maintain it. Since cedar fence boards are a natural wood product, they require seasonal cleaning and the application of a sealant. Wood sealants are necessary to keep the wood from oxidizing and prematurely aging.

Follow these do's and don'ts to properly clean and maintain your cedar fence:

Do wash off any dirt and grime from your fence at least twice each year. If you are careful and use a low setting, then you can wash your fence using a power washer. If you do not have access to a power washer, then you should clean your fence using a garden hose with a sprayer attachment. Completely spray off the fence starting on the top and working your way downward. This method of cleaning will prevent drips from staining the fence.

Don't neglect to remove any mold, mildew, or fungus when you are cleaning the fence. The best way to remove these things is to use a solution of household bleach mixed with some warm water. Scrub the fence with a stiff brush that has been dipped into the bleach solution. Let the bleach soak into the fence for trouble areas, and then wash it off with your hose or power washer.

Do check the stability of each of your cedar fence's posts to make sure that none of them have become loose from the wind. While the fence will move a bit, excessive movement of the posts needs to be fixed as soon as possible. If you don't fix the fence posts in a timely manner, then they will move during storms and break the fence support beams.

Don't forget to check each of the fence's vertical picket boards for cracks or damage. Damaged pickets can be removed, and a new board can easily be installed by nailing them into the gap left by the broken one. 

Do reapply stain when you fence starts to look like it has been in the sun too long. By applying a darker stain than the one currently on the fence, you can update its look and successfully hide any bleached areas where you had to remove fungus or mold from the fence.

Don't forget to apply a layer of wood sealant over the stain on your fence. The sealant will keep water from soaking into the fence boards and causing them to rot prematurely. When you apply the sealant, make sure that you apply it to the fence pickets, cross support boards, and the fence posts as well.

For more information, contact LIGHTHOUSE CONTRACTING SERVICES or a similar company.