Wood Deck Cleaning
A wood deck needs a good cleaning periodically. Sweeping regularly, if possible will keep dirt from grounding into the grain of the wood, allowing you to wash it away before it has time to harden.
For more serious stains, try a natural cleaner such as oxygen bleach. It’s safe for the environment and won’t harm nearby grass or plants. Learn more by clicking here.
Eco-Friendly Deck Cleaner
If you want to keep your deck clean and green, you’ll need to choose an eco-friendly cleaner. These products are free from harsh chemicals that can damage nearby plants and soil. They are also safe to use around pets, children, and grandchildren.
A great option is an oxygen bleach cleaner, such as the one made by OxyClean. These cleaners are effective at removing a wide range of stains, including mildew, mold, and dirt. They work by releasing oxygen bubbles that eat away at the grime and lift it off the surface of your wood deck.
Other eco-friendly deck cleaning options include vinegar mixtures and a wood cleaner called RMC Exterior Wood Cleaner. This product removes dirt, mildew, mold, and stains without chlorine or other acidic chemicals. It’s recommended for use before staining, as it will open the pores of your wood for optimum stain absorption. It’s also safe to use on grass and plants and is formulated not to harm wildlife or waterways.
Bleach-Based Deck Cleaner
While chlorine bleach is a great cleaner for clothing, tubs, and sinks, it is not the best choice for wood decks. Chlorine bleach can actually damage your deck by destroying the lignin that holds the wood fibers together. This will leave your deck with an unattractive gray color and may lead to splintering.
Oxygen-based bleach is a good choice for cleaning your wood deck. There are specialized deck cleaners that contain this chemical, but you can also find it in many color-safe laundry bleaches. This product is effective on most types of wood, including pressure-treated pine and fir.
Mix one and a half cups of oxygen bleach with a gallon of water to clean your deck. You can apply the solution with a sprayer or a brush and let it sit for the time period recommended by the manufacturer. After cleaning your deck, rinse it off with a garden hose. Make sure the area is completely dry before applying additional treatments, such as staining or painting.
Ready-To-Use Deck Cleaner
All-purpose wood deck cleaners dissolve surface dirt, spills, mildew, and grime. They can come premixed for easy application right out of the bottle or in a concentrated crystal or liquid form that you dilute with water before use. Some are designed to be used in a pressure washer while others are simply sprayed or brushed onto the surface. Some are no-rinse options that continue to clean or protect the deck even weeks after the initial treatment.
The best wood deck cleaner for composite is an oxygenated bleach product that deep cleans the surface and opens the pores for stain absorption. It also removes mildew, mold, and the weathered graying color caused by sun exposure.
This product is safe for most grass, plants, pets, and kids when used as directed. It also won’t harm painted surfaces when diluted according to manufacturer instructions. It can be applied with a sprayer or brush and is biodegradable. It’s also available in a concentrated formula that can be used with a pressure washer for an added boost of cleaning power.
Wood Deck Cleaner
A wood deck cleaner is a chemical formulation designed to remove surface dirt, grime, grease, mold, mildew, and other elements from different types of wood. Some are premixed for easy application right out of the container and others require dilution before use with a sprayer or brush. Some may even contain ingredients that continue to clean or protect the deck for weeks afterward.
Pre-wet the area to be cleaned with a garden hose or power washer at the lowest pressure possible, and keep the spray nozzle a minimum of 16-20 inches away from the deck surface to avoid damage. This also allows the cleaning solution to penetrate deep into the wood and loosen up dirt and other debris.
You can make your own wood cleaner using household items like vinegar and sodium percarbonate (Napisan). Simply mix the powder with water until dissolved and apply to decking. You’ll need to scrub and rinse thoroughly but this DIY solution is cheaper than commercial products. Check out this interesting post!