How to Clean a Wooden Deck

Knowing how to clean a wooden deck properly is an investment against costly repairs in the long term. Once a year, a good solid cleaning will protect your deck from erosion, rotting and other damage.

It will also make your deck look attractive and you will want to spend more time on your deck with friends and family.

Here is a list of the steps you should follow to clean your deck. I like to do this in early Spring at the start of the BBQ season. You can also do this cleaning in late fall before the snow starts falling.

Clear twigs, leaves, seeds and other organic debris from the deck regularly to prevent staining.
Potted plants can promote mildew and rotting in the timber surface. Move the pots around regularly, and make sure the plants don’t overflow their planters.
If you use a gas barbecue on your deck, place a mat underneath to prevent grease dripping onto the deck surface, as this type of grease stain is virtually impossible to remove. Using a natural woodfire grill on a wood deck is not recommended, as embers and coals from the grill can burn holes through the timber.
Apply a cleaning agent. You could use any of a number of cleaners, such as household cleaners, bleach and water mix, trisodium phosphate, Hy-Tech House Wash, or other commercial products which are specifically designed for cleaning wooden decks.
Use a garden sprayer to apply the mixture to the deck.
Scrub the surface of the deck with a stiff fiber brush. Use a screwdriver of putty knife to remove any dirt from between the cracks.
Allow the cleaning agent to sit for 15-20 minutes.
Wash away the mixture using a garden hose or hire a power washer to really blast the dirt away.

Staining

Natural timber decks need to be restained regularly. Stripping off the old stain before restaining is very important, as the new finish will not last long if applied over the old finish. It’s also essential to give the deck a thorough clean, as the decking stain will not adhere very well to dirt, mold or algae.

For more information on deck maintenance, please read this article on winterizing your deck.