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For the best chemicals to clean a metal roof, stick to gentle detergents such as dish soap, laundry detergent, or car-wash soap mixed in a diluted solution of ¼ cup of soap to 1 gallon of water. These mild cleansers are safe for most roof finishes but are still strong enough to remove remaining dirt particles. Chemicals like bleach or acids can damage your roof, poison landscaping and grass, and pose a hazard to you and your family. If your roof is very dirty or you think it requires chemical cleaning, call a roof cleaning professional.

To prep for metal roof painting, have a roof inspection conducted to determine the condition. Complete any repairs required before you paint. Remove the old paint on your metal roof, if any, remove rust and mold with a wire brush, and power wash the surface. Once the roof is clean and dry, start with a primer get painting.

You could void your roof warranty using a power washer if you have a newer roof. With an older roof, you could knock loose older shingles. On the other hand, some people safely use a pressure washer to remove moss from a metal roof. Although you may want to use a pressure washer, the truth is that you probably don’t need it to knock moss loose. A garden hose and brush will do the job just fine and in a safer manner than a pressure washer.

Walking on the roof to clean gutters is unsafe. If you do your own gutter cleaning, use a ladder to reach the gutters rather than climbing on your roof. Walking on the roof is dangerous, especially if it has rained recently or if there are fallen leaves. You can also damage your shingles when walking on them, which can lead to water leaks.

Keep in mind that using a ladder has its risks, too. It can be difficult to keep your balance while doing the labor-intensive work of cleaning gutters. For safety reasons, hiring a pro to clean your gutters is the best choice.