Smart home improvement projects: Deck cleaning

A dirty, dingy deck is one of those home improvement projects that you might want to DIY. You can save money, get rid of dirt and stains, and make your deck a welcoming, vibrant space. But you can also royally screw it up, so here are a few tips—and a video—to help you decide if this is a project for you.

Many home improvement projects require all kinds of tools and know-how—like building the deck. Or remodeling a bathroom. Or even crown molding. But cleaning a deck requires very few tools. And if you use the right detergent to clean the grime that’s there, the only other major ingredient is elbow grease. Here are the basics:

-Bleach solution: Using a solution (that means mixed with water; 1 cup bleach/ gal. of water) of oxygen or chlorine bleach is effective for removing dirt and grime. This will leave the wood a little gray, but in a perfect state to apply a stain or sealer. Hyde’s Greenwater + is a bleach-free cleaner we’ve used that has been extremely effective on mold, mildew, stains and even a failing old finish over pressure treated lumber.

-Brightener: To give the wood a right-out-of-the-lumber yard revival, follow up cleaning with a deck brightener. Some cleaners and brighteners are combined in a single product.

-Strippers: If you want to get a deck that’s already got a finish on it (old or new) back to bare wood, use a stripper.

No matter what product you use, always follow manufacturer instructions.

Once you’ve applied the product, let it do the work to break down the dirt and stains. Put another way, don’t run for the pressure washer just yet. Once the detergent has had a chance to work (this is kind of like soaking dishes in the kitchen sink), agitate it with a stiff bristle brush. You won’t believe how much dirt and grime comes up. I like to use a handheld scrub brush for vertical surfaces.

-Rinsing: Think of a pressure washer as ‘enhanced rinsing’ and use it to ‘plow’ the dirt and water off the deck. It’s not a blow-gun panacea for every deck woe known to humanity. People get pressure washer happy. When it comes to home improvement projects, power is good. But too much power is bad. Use the pressure washer at the lowest setting. Used improperly it can damage the wood (causing it to ‘fuzz’) and even drive certain stains further into the wood grain. All bad. And all easy to avoid.

Cleaning your wood deck is one of those home improvement projects can actually save money if you follow the right steps. It can both beautify your space and even make your house easier to sell.

For more information visit Wood Naturally.