Knowledgebase
Known hazards of "Wet and Forget" mold, moss, algee cleaner #886087
Asked September 22, 2024, 11:24 AM EDT
Someone suggested a product I had never heard of before for cleaning house siding and my concrete driveway and walkway. The product is called "Wet and Forget." It is supposed to clear mold, mildew, moss, and algee from the surface.
I was wondering if this product has been tested for being environmentally safe to use. Are there any known hazards of this product at this time?
Thanks in advance for an answer. :)
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
According to that brand's website, the active ingredient in the Wet & Forget Outdoor product is the chemical alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride. The National Pesticide Information Center has a fact sheet about this group of chemicals (called quaternary ammonium compounds) that might be useful; it includes both known human and environmental risks. Pesticides also usually include inert ingredients ("inert" does not actually imply they are harmless) that companies are not required to itemize/disclose on the label, but they are still selected by the manufacturer from a list of options that the EPA has evaluated.
Miri