How To Clean Your Timber Decking
Posted on by Editor
A decked area is a perfect space to entertain family and friends during the summer months. However, no matter how presentable the rest of your garden is, dirty, algae-stained decking isn’t the most inviting.
There are many solutions for keeping your decking clean and regular cleaning will help the job be less hassle the next time around.
Prepare The Area
Before cleaning your decking you should first prepare the area. Remove anything that could get in your way such as potted plants and furniture then sweep over the timber to remove any debris, leaves or twigs. This will give you a clear space to ensure a thorough clean without any obstacles.
If any of your deckings is broken this is the ideal time to make the repairs. Whether it’s split boards, splintering or uneven edges, a clean deck will look unfinished if any necessary repairs aren’t made.
Washing Your Decking
Use either a garden hose or pressure washer to clean any particularly muddy or dirty areas. Begin at one end of the deck and continue until the entire area has been thoroughly rinsed.
If you are using a pressure washer on your decking it’s important that you know how to do so properly. Incorrect use can result in damage to your timber area. You should always hold the nozzle around 2ft above the deck.
You can then make a soapy mixture to clean and cleanse your decking. This solution can be made with a special cleaner, or just with washing up liquid. Use a long-handled brush with stiff bristles and scrub your way across the entire area. Upon completion, rinse the decking with a garden hose to remove the cleaning solution.
Algae Removal and Prevention
Washing your decking can make mould and algae worse. Treating your decking with a specialist cleaner or a diluted bleach solution (1 part bleach to 4 parts water) can help to prevent the mould or algae growth after you have cleaned the area.
Pour the mixture onto the affected area and leave it to sit. If the mould or algae is fresh, you will only need to leave it for around 5 minutes. However, if it has been there for a while then allow the solution to sit for around 15-20 minutes.
Following this, use a long-handled brush to scrub the area and then rinse, leave to dry completely and repeat as necessary, as it keeps the solution away from your face and skin.
Seal The Decking
Once all of this has been completed, you can apply a wood sealer to help protect your decking. There are a lot of sealers on the market and they often contain different properties – these can include waterproofing agents or mildewcide.
Clear any debris from your decking that may have accrued whilst it was drying and apply the sealer according to the instructions on the label.