Clean Your Deck, Cheap and Easy
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.