bleach cleaner inquiry

I have a stained fence that has accumulated mildew and algae over time. I was wanting to clean it up to prep for eventual restaining. I got some of this stuff which lists the "inert" ingredients as sodium hypochlorite (bleach) and trisodium phosphate. About 30 SECONDS® Outdoor Cleaner

I figure I could try to make my own cheaper by just mixing some bleach with some TSP but am wondering how I'd add the TSP to the bleach. How much TSP to how much bleach? Just add the TSP power to the bleach I guess but how much. Any comments appreciated. I realize just using a pressure washer would probably be an easier method but the circumstances won't permit it so I'm just doing the scrub brush method with the cleaner solution then hosing off.

 

I'd just use the directions on the TSP to a gallon of water...then add maybe a cup or 2 of bleach. You could go a little stronger on the bleach....but TSP is pretty good stuff by itself. Too much bleach and you can damage the wood fibers.

You have to use water...not just TSP and bleach...if thats what you were saying.

Mix it up...put in a sprayer....wet a section down...keep it wet, then scrub after a few minutes and then rinse.

 

Never mix the bleach water stronger than 50% If it's just mildew and greyed wood I skip the TSP but TSP is great for removing grime and making old paint/stain ready for a fresh coat. I don't remember the ratio for the TSP - just follow the instructions on the box and then mix it in the bleach water.

Wetting the substrate with a garden hose first seems to help the cleaner work better, be sure to rinse it before it dries! I always apply it with a pump up garden sprayer, and old broom works well for scrubbing [if needed] While a PWer makes the job easier you can do a good job with a garden hose.

 

Ok thanks for the helpful replies. The directions on the cleaner stuff say to apply the cleaner on a dry surface, which when I tried it that way just didn't seem to be enough liquid. I mixed the cleaner per directions at a 1:1 ratio with water and poured into a pump sprayer which I used to apply. Then scrubbed with the scrub brush after it sat a little bit (30 seconds to a minute). Kind of difficult depending upon the temperature/humidity to keep the the surface wet, so I just did as you both suggested and wet the surface beforehand with water.
Anyway I'll do as Gunguy said to make my own, following the advice to mix the TSP per the directions to a gallon of water then add a cup or two of bleach and spray that mixture on let it soak a little scrub and rinse. That'll certainly be a lot cheaper than that other stuff I've been using which is almost 14 bucks a jug. It's actually kind of a black mildew and also regular green algae which I'm scrubbing off, probably "grime" too so seems reasonable to me the TSP/bleach mixture is the way to go here. Thanks.