Yes, cleaning by hand requires more effort. However, it's easy work, a do-it-yourself home renovation job that anyone, regardless of ability, can complete. Without accounting for drying time, the project should take two or three hours to complete. It will take longer to clean large or heavily dirty decks.
As part of routine maintenance, clean your deck once or twice a year to keep it safe. The first stage in staining the deck is cleaning the wood, which also entails removing any old finishes and applying a fresh sealer. You may prolong the deck's attractive surface by learning how to clean it gently in the interim.
This is a detailed tutorial on how to complete the task without power cleaning it.
Get ready to clean your deck.
Clear the deck of any furniture, plants, barbecues, carpets, and other objects. Avoid attempting to manoeuvre around your possessions. Everything can be cleared more easily. After you're done with the deck, you might want to arrange the objects in a way that makes cleaning them simple.
Get your own cleaning supplies ready.
Many common home items are adequate for cleaning decks, so you don't need to purchase specialised chemicals. These three gentle cleaning solutions can be created at home.
Before applying each wood deck cleaner to the entire deck, test it on a tiny section to prevent discolouration and determine which one works best. Try not to apply more force than is necessary. till stubborn stains like mould and mildew, save the strongest solutions till last.
- Ingredients for a mild soap solution: 1 gallon of warm water
An eco-friendly all-purpose cleanser like Simple Green or one cup of gentle dish soap (without bleach or harsh chemicals)
Directions:
In a bucket, combine liquid dish soap and warm water.
Wipe the deck with a soft-bristle brush dipped in soapy water.
Use a garden hose to give the deck a thorough rinse, then allow it to air dry entirely.
- Ingredients for the Vinegar Solution: 1 gallon of warm water
One cup of white vinegar
Instructions are the same as before. Do not use vinegar that has been undiluted. For the wood, it might be too harsh.
- Making Soda
Components: baking soda
Instructions for Water:
To make a thick paste, combine baking soda and water.
Put the paste on the deck's mildew stains and other areas.
After a few minutes of sitting, give it a light scrub with a soft brush.
After giving the deck a full water rinse, let it dry.
Because baking soda is abrasive, use it sparingly and refrain from cleaning too much as this could scratch the wood.
Choose cleaners with the US EPA's Safer items label if you would rather use premade items but are concerned about the environment.
Clean the Wooden Deck Properly
To keep a wood deck looking scratch-free, thorough cleaning is essential. Here are some guidelines for the proper method.
- Make Use of a Gentle Bristle Brush
The wood must not be scratched or tarnished by the brush. Steer clear of metal and other brushes with stiff bristles. They make scratches.
- Moisten the Deck
The deck surface will absorb the cleaning solution more readily if it is gently moist than if it is dry.
- Use the Cleaning Solution
Scrub a tiny portion of the deck at a time after loading the brush. To reduce scratches, scrub in the direction of the wood grain.
- Clean Completely
Scrub the wood surface, focussing especially on areas that are extremely filthy or stained. Softer woods, like cedar, should not be scrubbed too forcefully or with excessive water pressure. Don't let soiled water collect or stand still. Instead, keep the solids and water moving so they don't settle back into the wood.
- Rinse right away
Use a garden hose to quickly rinse each area with clean water after cleaning it. By rinsing right away, you can avoid the cleaning solution drying on the wood and leaving water stains, streaks, or a film.
- Allow the deck to dry.
Before putting the furniture or other objects back on the deck, let it air dry fully.
How to Get Rid of Mildew and Mould
Although mould and mildew can be difficult stains to remove, bleach can be used to treat both.
Wood decking can be bleached, but only with oxygen-based bleach. Use of chlorine bleach meant for washing is not advised. The fibres of the wood will be harmed. Hydrogen peroxide and sodium percarbonate are the primary chemicals in oxygen bleach, such as OxiClean laundry detergent. It decomposes into harmless components, works well against mould and mildew, and doesn't harm wood fibres. Restore-A-Deck kits, Defy Wood Deck Cleaner, copyright Restore Kit, and EFC-38 are a few examples of ready-to-use deck cleaners.
Deck boards can be cleaned with a garden sprayer by combining the powder and liquid concentrates with water. Scrub the deck five to ten minutes after the remedy has been applied. While you scrub, rinse the filth and bubbles away.
How to Keep the Space Between Deck Boards Clean
It might be challenging to remove dirt and debris from between wood deck boards, but it is possible if you have the proper equipment. The most effective method is to spray water while dragging a rigid tool or a thin brush down the length of the gaps.
Homemade Gap-Cleaning Tool: By attaching a hook onto the end of a broom handle, you may create your own cleaning tool. Alternately, insert a few 3-inch plasterboard screws into a brief piece of wood. To get the screw heads to remove dirt and debris, slide the wood piece over the deck boards after spacing them so they all fit into a space. After that, rinse the suds and loose dirt off with a plastic bristles brush dipped in cleanser.
Unique Instrument
Specialised tools for cleaning the spaces between deck planks are available from a few businesses. They have a hook-shaped, thin, flat edge made of plastic or metal. It loosens detritus, such as twigs and pine needles, as you drag it through the crevices.
Air compressor, hoover or leaf blower
You can blow or suction away loose particles with a leaf blower or shop vacuum with a small nozzle, but don't rely on either to do a complete job. An air compressor performs better.
Dry and Rinse the Deck
Rinse the deck with a garden hose fitted with a spray nozzle. To make sure that all of the dirt and soap residue is gone, it could be useful to use the scrub brush again as you rinse.
After cleaning with a garden sprayer or as directed by the manufacturer, apply a deck brightener and give the deck a thorough rinse. Before replacing any outside furniture or other things, let the deck surface to dry. Allow the deck to cure for a minimum of two or three days if you intend to refinish it.
FAQs
Different deck kinds may need different routines and cleaning techniques. The following are some typical worries:
Which Wood Types Need Particular Attention When Cleaning?
Both pressure-treated fir and pine, the most common wood for decks, can be cleaned as previously mentioned. Because redwood and cedar are softer, take particular care to avoid dents and gouges. Because they are tougher and more densely grained, exotic woods like teak, mahogany, and ipe are easier to clean.
Do Weathered or Older Wood Decks Need to Be Considered Differently?
Decks made of worn or older wood need special care to avoid further damage. Initially, check for deterioration and replace any deck boards that exhibit rot, warping, or splintering. Examining the fastener connections at the deck's ledger board, posts, stairs and railings is another great way to check for deck safety at this time.
Use a specialised deck cleanser or a pre-treatment of water and oxygen bleach for deep-seated deck stains or buildup from algae, mildew, or moss. After applying the solution to the stains and allowing them to sit for a bit, gently scrub them with a soft brush and rinse.
Use a wood brightener after cleaning to bring aged or grey wood back to its original hue. The majority combine oxalic acid with additional substances.
Consider contacting a specialist if you suspect structural issues or if your deck is severely weathered. Alternatively, use composite decking in place of the wood deck boards for increased longevity.
How Frequently Should Your Wood Deck Be Cleaned to Avoid Permanent Damage?
Wood decks must be cleaned to avoid long-term damage. Numerous factors determine how frequently this outside area should be cleaned.
Climate Cleaning your deck once a year is usually adequate in temperate climates, which are neither very humid nor too dry. The best seasons are spring or early summer.
Decks are particularly vulnerable to the formation of mould, mildew, and algae in damp or wet environments. Clean the deck twice a year in these areas, once in the spring and once in the autumn.
The sun is a danger, although mould and mildew are not typically an issue in arid areas. Wood is harmed by it because it dries up and cracks. The deck's sealer or other finish may also deteriorate due to the sun's UV rays. Therefore, every year, clean and reseal the deck.
Foot Traffic: Every four to six months, decks that have a lot of foot traffic, including commercial decks or decks used for entertaining, should be cleaned more frequently.
Foliage
Because of dropping leaves, pollen, and sap, your deck may need to be cleaned more frequently if it is surrounded by plants or under trees.
When cleaning, are there any safety precautions you should take?
It is safe to clean your deck, especially if you stay away from power tools and potentially harmful cleaning agents. Still, it's a good idea to take certain safety measures. When using detergents, put on gloves and eye protection. A long-sleeved shirt and long trousers are also smart choices. Put on rubber shoes or boots for the most traction. Old trainers can also be used, but stay away from footwear that are too loose, like flip-flops. When working near the edges of raised decks, exercise caution.