Your wooden deck is one of the most important parts of your home. It’s where you entertain friends and family, it’s where you relax when you need a break, and it’s where you bring home the bacon (or at least the mail).
Your decking boards also need to be cared for properly to ensure that it lasts for years to come. Here are five ways to clean your wooden deck:
- Clean with a power washer
This is the best way to clean your decking if it’s covered in mildew or other stains. A pressure washer with an adjustable nozzle will help loosen dirt from underneath the surface and remove stubborn stains so they don’t come back as quickly. Be sure not to use hot water because it can warp some types of wood.
- Clean with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and vinegar
This mixture works well on mildew stains and is safe for use around plants and pets. Simply apply it onto the stain, wait 10 minutes and then rinse off with water. Repeat this process until all traces of mildew have been eliminated.
- Apply Protectant
Wooden decks should be treated with an appropriate wood preservative every year in order to protect them from harmful weather conditions like rain and sun exposure that can cause cracking, warping, peeling paint and more serious damage over time. This will also make them easier to maintain because there won’t be as much dirt buildup that could attract insects or other pests like ants or termites.
- Use A Pressure Washer
Use a pressure washer to clean your deck, if it has not been cleaned for a long time. This is the best way to clean the dirt and grime from your deck. The pressure of the water will remove all the dirt from the surface of the wood and leave it looking shiny and new again.
- Clean With Water and Soap
If you are not willing to use a pressure washer to clean your deck because you are worried about damaging your wood or want to save money then use water and soap instead. Mix warm water with some dishwashing liquid in a bucket and then pour this mixture over your wood so that it cleans all of its surfaces properly. Make sure that you do not use too much soap as it can also damage your wood over time if used excessively.
- Steam cleans the deck
If your wood is sealed, steam cleaning is a great way to clean it, but you’ll want to make sure that you don’t damage the finish in the process. For example, if the deck is made of cedar or redwood, these woods are prone to splintering when they’re steamed. You can always try using a mop and bucket with water and detergent but be aware that this might not be enough to remove all of the dirt and stains from your deck.
- Sweep off loose debris
The first step in cleaning any type of deck is to sweep away any debris that’s fallen on top of it during the winter months. This includes leaves, branches and other items that have blown onto your deck after being carried there by the wind or rain. Remove them before you start scrubbing so that they don’t get mixed up in your cleaning solution.