Clean Your Deck, Cheap and Easy

By / Food / July 26th, 2013 / 3

After almost burning down my house at the end of last summer – see my post on keeping your BBQ clean – I was faced with the daunting task of cleaning my wooden deck this past spring. Blackened by smoke damage and quite honestly, a few years of neglect, I knew I had my work cut out for me. I didn’t want to spend a bag of money or precious time doing it, so, I took to the internet (what did we ever do before) and researched my way to a clean deck. In the end, it cost me almost nothing and took very little time – less than 3 hours … and I have a big deck.

Step 1

Pressure wash – this is an essential first step. It removes most of the build up with nothing more than water from your garden hose. I understand that pressure washers can be expensive but they are a good investment and are really a lot of fun to use (fun makes any job that much easier)!! You can always rent one or ask a nice neighbour if you’re not ready to commit.

Step 2

Go to your local hardware store and buy a deck brush – preferably one with a handle if you’re not crazy about being on your hands and knees. It will set you back about $20-25. Also, pick up some TSP – it’s that stuff that takes off wall paper and looks like a carton of milk – and some oxygen bleach (OxiClean). Both products, combined, are less than $10

Step 3

Fill a bucket with about 4 litres of water. Add 1 cup of the oxygen bleach and 1 cup of TSP. Do this in a well-ventilated area. Mix the solution and apply to the surface of your deck. Scrub with your brush, wait 10 minutes and scrub again. Rinse well with your garden hose. Voilà – you should have a visibly cleaner deck.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shannon is an urban soul living (and loving) a small-town, country life. Short term goals include always keeping her wine glass, and outlook on life, half-full. Long term goal…taking her three boys on a 6 month south Pacific adventure. We’ll keep you updated.

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