Cleaning a pressure treated wood deck properly is pretty simple, but make sure
you follow the basic steps outlined below. Following these steps will ensure the surface is cleaned properly to help bring out the natural beauty of the wood.
Maintain a healthy looking deck by cleaning and sealing it periodically will defend the surface against the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays, water from snow, rain and dew. This is especially true with untreated wood.
Tools and chemicals used to clean a wood deck include:
• Broom
• Hose with spray nozzle
• Power washer (wide fan nozzle-40 to 60 degree tip)
• Stiff bristle brush (synthetic)
• Pump-up sprayer
• Cleaner/brightener solution (environmentally friendly oxygen bleach)
Step 1: Thoroughly sweep the deck of any surface debris
Step 2: Wet the deck with a hose or pressure washer
Step 3: Add cleaner/brightener to the entire surface with a pump-up sprayer or a power washer with chemical feed
Step 4: Thoroughly scrub in the cleaner/brightener to the deck surface
(be sure to include posts and handrails)
Step 5: Keep the deck moist by spraying a mist of water when needed (do not let the cleaning chemical dry).
Step 6: Allow the cleaner to sit/work for a short period of time or per the chemical manufacturer's instructions.
Step 7: Thoroughly rinse the deck with a hose or power washer by working your way away from the house. CAUTION: if rinsing with a power washer, keep the setting low and the fan-tipped nozzle at a safe distance from the deck surface. Using the wrong nozzle, setting or rinsing to close to the wood decking surface will cause the wood fiber to rise up, effectively destroying the surface.
The pressure washer is a great tool to remove embedded dirt and other contaminants, but excessive force on the wood will damage the surface. Let the chemical cleaner do most of the work in removing the soil.
Step 8 (Optional): If your deck attracts mold/mildew, apply an inhibitor with a pump-up sprayer as the final step. Brush in liberally with a stiff, synthetic bristle brush, making sure the entire surface is covered.
If sealing or staining your deck after cleaning, it’s important to let the wood dry for a few days so the chemical can be absorbed into the wood.
To keep your wood deck looking newer longer, periodically wash the dirt off the surface to keep leaves and debris from building up. In my next post, I will discuss care and cleaning for composite wood decking.
you follow the basic steps outlined below. Following these steps will ensure the surface is cleaned properly to help bring out the natural beauty of the wood.Maintain a healthy looking deck by cleaning and sealing it periodically will defend the surface against the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays, water from snow, rain and dew. This is especially true with untreated wood.
Tools and chemicals used to clean a wood deck include:
• Broom
• Hose with spray nozzle
• Power washer (wide fan nozzle-40 to 60 degree tip)
• Stiff bristle brush (synthetic)
• Pump-up sprayer
• Cleaner/brightener solution (environmentally friendly oxygen bleach)
Step 1: Thoroughly sweep the deck of any surface debris
Step 2: Wet the deck with a hose or pressure washer
Step 3: Add cleaner/brightener to the entire surface with a pump-up sprayer or a power washer with chemical feed
Step 4: Thoroughly scrub in the cleaner/brightener to the deck surface
(be sure to include posts and handrails)
Step 5: Keep the deck moist by spraying a mist of water when needed (do not let the cleaning chemical dry).
Step 6: Allow the cleaner to sit/work for a short period of time or per the chemical manufacturer's instructions.
Step 7: Thoroughly rinse the deck with a hose or power washer by working your way away from the house. CAUTION: if rinsing with a power washer, keep the setting low and the fan-tipped nozzle at a safe distance from the deck surface. Using the wrong nozzle, setting or rinsing to close to the wood decking surface will cause the wood fiber to rise up, effectively destroying the surface.
The pressure washer is a great tool to remove embedded dirt and other contaminants, but excessive force on the wood will damage the surface. Let the chemical cleaner do most of the work in removing the soil.
Step 8 (Optional): If your deck attracts mold/mildew, apply an inhibitor with a pump-up sprayer as the final step. Brush in liberally with a stiff, synthetic bristle brush, making sure the entire surface is covered.
If sealing or staining your deck after cleaning, it’s important to let the wood dry for a few days so the chemical can be absorbed into the wood.
To keep your wood deck looking newer longer, periodically wash the dirt off the surface to keep leaves and debris from building up. In my next post, I will discuss care and cleaning for composite wood decking.
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