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Cleaning your deck the easy way - using a pressure washer Gettin' ready for barbeque weather? It’s time to get out there and sweep, scrub, and repair your deck for the fun season ahead.

Depending on where you live, winter may have taken its toll. And now it is time to clean and maintain your deck.

Algae, mildew, dirt and grit, water stains, rot, peeling paint, and fading stain are the culprits that give your deck a tired and weather-worn look.

Cleaning Tools you'll need:

Hand scrub brush or stiff bristle broom
Garden sprayer
Pressure washer (optional)
gloves and goggles

Cleaning agents to use:

Water mixed with oxygen bleach
Water mixed with laundry detergent
Deck cleaner or degreaser

To properly clean your deck without damaging the wood:

Sweep debris off the surface and scrape gunk from between the floorboards
Scrub the surface with a stiff bristle brush and solution of oxygen bleach and water, laundry detergent, or deck cleaner. Use goggles and gloves to protect eyes and hands.
If using a bleach/water mixture, make sure the bleach is oxygen based not chlorine-based.
Use a regular garden spray nozzle to rinse the deck and blast debris from cracks and crevices.
Use a pressure washer with caution. Pressure washers will remove the dirt but also a layer of the wood as well, leaving the fibers exposed and "fuzzy" looking. If you do want to use one, here's an article about the proper technique.

If it is time to re-stain your deck, please read this article on tips to refinish your wood deck.