How to Clean Chimney Soot Stains From Shingles
- 1). Make a roof cleaning solution by pouring 1 cup of oxygen bleach into a bucket containing 1 gallon of water. Oxygen bleach is an eco-friendly cleaner as it is simply a dried form of hydrogen peroxide, and will not harm trees and plants. Pour the solution into a garden sprayer.
- 2). Lean a sturdy ladder up against your home where you can reach the soot stains easily. Apply the solution to the stains with the sprayer. Begin with the lower sections of stained shingles and move up as you clean each section to help prevent falls from the slippery roof. Let the mixture sit on the stained area for about 15 minutes.
- 3). Make a solution of liquid dish soap and water while waiting for the oxygen bleach to attack the stains. Try a mixture of 1/8 to 1/4 cup of soap for every gallon of water used. Dip a scrub brush in your solution for scrubbing the stains and rinsing the oxygen bleach from the shingles. The Ask the Builder website recommends using a 2-inch bristle brush that's designed to clean the sides of RV vehicles, as these brushes work well in removing soot and other debris that has been loosened by the bleach. Scrub the stains until they are completely removed.
- 4). Spray the affected areas with water from your garden hose to complete the cleaning process.