Helpful Hint: How to Wash a Deck Has your wood deck lost its “new” look or become dull? Most wood decks loose that just built look over time due to dirt and mildew. Following is an easy and recommended way to clean your wood deck and rejuvenate its freshly built luster once again. First use a leaf blower or broom to blow all of the debris off of the deck’s surface and then wash the deck. To clean a deck, purchase a commercial deck cleaner or TSP* heavy-duty cleanser and follow directions—usually this means scrubbing and rinsing. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and safety glasses. You may need to repeat the process. Using a stiff fiber bristle brush on a broom-type handle, thoroughly scrub the surface with a sudsy solution of water and detergent. Rinse with clear water and allow to dry. If you decide to use a pressure washer, get one that delivers 1,200 psi (pounds per square inch) of pressure or less and has a spray nozzle that fans an arc of about 25 to 40 degrees. Be careful—the powerful spray can erode soft wood grain. Allow the deck to dry for several days before applying any type of finish. For stubborn mildew, mix 1 cup TSP and 1 cup household liquid bleach in a gallon of water and scrub with a stiff brush. Rinse after about 15 minutes. USE NO AMMONIA IN THIS CLEANING. MIXING AMMONIA WITH THESE CHEMICALS IS DANGEROUS!!! *Trisodium Phosphate- these are heavy duty cleaners available at places like Lowes and Home Depot. A 1 pound box of SAVOGRAN TSP cleaner usually cost around $4.00. BE SURE to follow ALL label directions for use!
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 10:26:44 +0000
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