How to clean decking – is a pressure washer safe?

Your once beautiful decking is now looking sad, tired and just a little bit grubby. You want to breathe new life into your garden haven, but where do you start and what should you use?

As decking is exposed to the elements all year round, it can often end up looking more than a little distressed. 

The best way to keep it looking at its best is to carefully maintain it all year around and if you can’t manage that then to at least give it a very thorough cleaning and treatment once a year before the summer months. 

Integrate it into your spring cleaning routine when the weather turns warmer and the sun shines for a little bit longer to make sure your deck is summer ready when the endless days of summer finally roll around. 

Cleaning your deck 

1. You should start by removing all pots, chairs, furniture, and plants from the area before giving your deck a very thorough sweep with a broom to remove all of the leaves, twigs, and branches that might have fallen onto the decking over the winter months. Don’t forget to also remove any moss or mulch that might have formed in the grooves and gaps of the decking too. 

2. You can then move on to a more thorough deep cleaning of your deck area. A pressure washer is perfectly safe to use on decking, but if you do not have one (or cannot borrow one easily) then a normal garden hose set on to its most powerful setting will work very well too. This will help to remove all of the loose grime that you have dislodged with your sweeping and the first stage of your cleaning. However, if you are using a pressure washer, do make sure that you are not using the machine too closely to the wood as this will damage the surface of the wood making it hard to treat and damaging the integrity of the wood. Spray in between the boards to remove any remaining dirt or grime from the deck. 

3. The last step of the cleaning process is to deep clean the wood with a deck cleaning solution or even just a mixture of washing up liquid and water. Scrub the deck with a stiff bristled brush to thoroughly remove all remaining moss and grime from the wood. Allow the deck to dry thoroughly before moving on to the next step. 

4. With a concentrated disinfectant treatment spray the deck thoroughly to protect against moulds and algaes forming in the future.

5. Finally, finish your deck with whatever product you want to use for your deck, whether it is a paint, an oil, a stain or a varnish. This will reseal your deck, making it at once a tranquil place to relax and enjoy the summer months as well as protecting it against the elements and from algae, lichen, moss, and fungi. 

EcoChoice are passionate about promoting sustainable timber for use in all construction areas from decking to marine industries. 

Using FSC certified timbers for your decking will mean that you will have years and years of fun and enjoyment out of your deck with complete peace of mind about the wood’s ethical origins. 

Call us on 0345 638 1340 for a quote.

Photo: bubutu / Shutterstock.com