How to get rid of moss on roof rails - permanently?

[p.eco]

Guys, any idea how to get rid of moss that keeps popping up at the bottom of roof rails? I always get rid of it when cleaning the car but its back in no-time and its really doing my head in. Is there any product that will not damage the paint?

 

[camelspyyder]

Move to a country where is doesn't p155 down all the time

I use a soft tooth brush.

WD40 gets rid of glue deposits on paintwork. Does it work on moss too?

 

[Ken H]

Any solution to this? Like above , it’s very annoying!!!

 

[RUM4MO]

Yup, lack of environmental pollution is likely to be your problem, aided by too much rain!

While I was looking after my daughter's late 2009 Ibiza SC, that sort of thing annoyed me, it was mainly on the side door window seals - again for me not enough pollution and too much rainfall.

I'd be very wary about using a "soft toothbrush" as that sort of thing should not exist as it would fail to do its job properly - I bought an Audi S4 that was under 3 years old, and it looked like its previous owner had lovingly worked on the alloys with a toothbrush, never a good idea. Old toothbrushes are okay for scrubbing dirty unpainted car parts that normally don't get seen - as long as you don't leave them soaking in petrol!

 

[martin j.]

I get the mould in window seals too, I use a spray gun with g101 or a bathroom cleaner in the channel with window up then a blunt blade* around a bit of Blue roll in between the glass and seal with the window down to clean in there, did see a spray mildew and mould remover so going to try that, at 79p it worth a shot.

 

[Spuddy01]

Blasted mine off today with power washer but no doubt it will be back again in a few weeks.

 

[MatTheMerciless]

You need to use a biocide to kill the spores. They’re likely hidden away under the rails. Use a high pressure pump sprayer to blast it in there.

 

[Bullet]

Absolutely no idea if it affects paintwork so beware but... A product called Patio Magic kills mould/liverwort etc on patio slabs and keeps them clear for quite a while, no green slime. I havn't tried it on a car but with careful application and rinsing could be ok?

 

[Dizz]

I use farmers sodium hydrochlorate (milk line hypo) to clear this stuff on my walls, it seems to keep working for days after, even with a rinse, I don't think I would put it on my car. Steam cleaner blast maybe?

 

[Ken H]

I’m surprised there isn’t some sort of product on the market that you can use. I power washed both rails last year, got right in there. Did one side in particular , it blasted it all out it seemed, but noticed a part of the roof liner inside was wet ! Somehow the water got in. A year later that side is twice as bad as the other side . Once the water gets in under the rail then you’re screwed.

 

[RUM4MO]

Not enough low pollution areas around to justify it I'd reckon, so not recognised as a problem looking for a solution that could make money.

But, on the topic of moss etc clearers, I sprayed wasp's nest destroyer around a section of my garage roof which tends to get covered in moss a lot, really to stop wasps getting under the roof tiles and continuing to build a nest - 4 years later these few concrete roofing tiles are still clear of moss!!

 

[martin j.]

Would some Miltons sterilising fluid work? Makes babies bottles safe, used it in a screen wash bottle that was smelly.

 

[RUM4MO]

That is what my wife seems to dump in my favorite mug when she thinks that it has acquired just too much character!

 

[martin j.]

That is what my wife seems to dump in my favorite mug when she thinks that it has acquired just too much character!

Same happen here, character! I must remember that description.