How to Clean Your Decking Boards

A deck can make your garden beautiful, but without proper maintenance, it can look rough. Decking needs cleaning to make it look its best. Nobody like’s using nor seeing there deck with dirt and stains on it come the summer months. Cleaning your decking board is an easy way to take care of your decking. Here are seven tips on how to clean your wooden deck boards.

Why Clean Your Decking Board

Leaving dirt and stains on your decking can reduce its visual appeal. Your deck will look rough and can even breed germs. You don’t want your kids playing on your deck, knowing it’s dirty. Hence, you need to keep your deck surface tidy.

Also, if you fail to maintain regular cleaning of your deck, it can serve as a breeding ground for moulds. Mould can damage a wood deck. It can also make your decking look rough. Clean your deck regularly if you notice any dirt, debris or stains on it.

How to Clean Your Decking Board

1 Sweep the Deck

Sweep the decking board to remove dirt and debris that is on the board surface. If a tree is close to your deck, ensure you sweep your deck regularly to prevent leaves from piling up on your deck.

2 Scrub With a Brush

Scrubbing the decking boards will remove any dirt or stains that have stuck to your deck. You first have to rinse your deck with water. The water will soften any fibres that are on the decking. After you have finished rinsing it, use a soft bristle brush to scrub your deck thoroughly. Next, rinse the entire deck surface with water to remove the dirt from your decking board. Allow the decking to dry before you start using it.

3 Apply Liquid Dishwasher

Dishwasher soap is effective in cleaning decking boards. Use a kind that does not contain ammonia. Pour the liquid soap over your deck and use a brush to scrub the boards gently.

4 Use Pressure Washer

You can also use a pressure washer to clean your decking board. This is the fastest way to clean your deck, however additional care should be taken when using a pressure washer. Set the pressure washer to its lowest pressure setting and use a tip to make a water fan. Then carefully remove dirt and debris from the deck surface.

Start by clearing your deck by moving with the grain of the wood in a wide sweeping motion. Always do it with caution so as not to damage your decking. When using a pressure washer, don’t get too close to your decking board. After you have finished washing your deck, rinse it completely with water.

6 Oxygen Bleach

Instead of using chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach is a good option. Oxygen bleach will not damage your wood decking like chlorine bleach. You can use oxygen bleach to remove stains on your deck board.

7 Vinegar

Vinegar is simple to use and a natural deck cleaner. It is very effective at removing mould from your decking. First mix a part of vinegar in a bucket of water. Then spread the solution over your entire deck surface. Once you have done that, get a bristle brush and gently scrub the surface of your decking. Scrub to remove any mould or grease stains on your deck surface.

8 Baking Soda

Like vinegar, baking soda is also an effective deck cleaner. It is good for removing mould and stains on your deck board. Dissolve baking powder in water and use the solution to clean your decking.

Conclusion

It’s easy to clean the decking board if you use vinegar and baking soda. You can also use a pressure washer or make use of a liquid dishwasher to clean your deck. If, of course the heavy maintenance of cleaning or treating your wooden decking do become a little labour intensive, you can opt for composite decking due to its many benefits over wood.