A wood deck is a great area to unwind, stay with family, and entertain guests. Cleaning a deck does not have to be stressful and time-consuming, but it must survive. While the procedures are straightforward — eliminate anything on the deck, brush, and clean — you’ll want to ensure you’re doing them correctly.

Steps to Cleaning a Wood Deck

Clean up the deck by hosing it off with a garden hose.

Clean the deck of any furniture, barbecue, gardening pots, or other outside equipment that can be conveniently stored elsewhere. Using your garden hose, liberally spray the deck to loosen and soften dirt and debris, making removing it more straightforward.

Make the cleaning solution for the deck.

Put 2 gallons of warm water into a plastic container big enough to hold the tip of a deck brush for the most delicate DIY wood deck cleaning.

Two cups of powdered oxygen bleach should be added to the bucket, gentler than liquid chlorine bleach.

Gradually stir till the powdered bleach is entirely dissolved.

Stir in 1/4 cup liquid dish soap to spread it throughout the solution.

Whereas the chemicals listed here are safe and will not harm garden vegetation, it’s a good idea to use sunglasses and rubber gloves to shield eyes and skin if the homemade deck cleaner spills.

Lather up with the cleaning solution.

Saturate the deck surface liberally by putting the brush into the homemade cleaning agent, slashing it over the timbers, and cleaning your deck using the brush to create a light lather, beginning at one end and working your way back to the other, rewetting the bristles as needed. Allow the liquid 15 minutes of dwell time.

Wash down the deck with a garden hose.

Using the garden hose, remove the DIY deck cleaning. Allow your deck to dry completely in the sun before repainting it.