How to Clean Your Deck
Cleaning your deck is essential to keeping it looking good and lasting a long time.
Up next in Housekeeping Tips (57 videos)
Make house cleaning faster and easier with the tips and tricks in these videos.
You Will Need
- Protective clothing
- Safety glasses
- Rubber gloves
- Drop cloths
- Sandpaper
- Broom
- Wood stripper
- Paintbrush or pump sprayer
- Garden hose with a nozzle
- Wood brightener
- Pressure washer
- Cleaning brush
- Pole sander (optional)
Steps
-
Step 1
Prepare yourself
Be safe by dressing accordingly, covering your arms, legs, and feet. Wear rubber gloves and safety glasses.
-
Step 2
Prepare your deck
Remove your deck furniture and cover shrubs and flowers in the area with drop cloths. Repair damaged boards, sand rough edges, and sweep away debris.
-
Use a pole sander for large areas that need to be smoothed down.
-
Step 3
Apply the wood stripper
Apply the wood stripper liberally over your deck with either a paintbrush or a pump sprayer. Let it stand for at least 15 minutes.
-
Do not let the wood stripper sit too long and dry up. If it does dry, lightly spray it with a garden hose.
-
Step 4
Rinse and apply wood brightener
Rinse the deck lightly with a garden hose after the wood stripper has set. Apply the wood brightener the same way you applied the stripper.
-
You may need to mix the brightener with water. Be sure to read the directions on the package.
-
Step 5
Scrub and rinse
Scrub areas that have mold or buildup from spills with the cleaning brush. Rinse the deck with the garden hose or a pressure washer on a medium setting.
-
Step 6
Let the deck dry before use
Let the deck dry thoroughly for 48 hours. Admire your clean deck and throw a party to show it off. Just don't let anyone walk on it.
-
Every person in the United States uses about 74 cubic feet of wood each year in one form or another.
