Homemade Deck Cleaner

A deck, which is constantly exposed to natural elements like sunlight, frost, rain, etc., requires regular maintenance. Regular cleaning can prevent the buildup of mold, algae and dirt. Maintenance is more vital in case of wooden decks, which are more prone to rot and other problems. As compared to wood, other materials like steel, vinyl, etc require less maintenance. Whatever the material used to build the deck, cleaning is an important part of its maintenance. Even though many commercial products are available in the market, which are meant for the purpose of deck cleaning, a homemade one is always preferred. You can prepare a homemade deck cleaner with the help of this guide.

Homemade Deck Cleaners

Deck cleaners are considered to be an integral part of deck protection, and its use is aimed at removing dirt, grime, germs, stains, algae, mildew etc. Some deck cleaners include chlorine bleach, which is the most commonly used material to clean decks. But there are many controversies regarding its usage. Likewise, many other chemicals are used in various deck cleaners. Many contractors prefer homemade deck cleaner solutions to the commercial ones, as the former are found to be as efficient in cleaning decks as the latter. The advantageous factor is that you can save the extra cost. The following is one of the recipes for preparing a homemade deck cleaner.

It is very easy to prepare this homemade deck cleaner. The material you need are TSP or trisodium phosphate, (which can be bought from any hardware store) warm water, and a little amount of bleach. Bleach is necessary to remove microorganisms like algae and mildew, but make sure that you are using the household bleach and not commercial bleach, which is very strong. TSP, which is in the form of a white-colored powder, has to be mixed with warm water and bleach to make the deck cleaning solution. Take two gallons of warm water and mix one to 1½ cup of TSP in it. Once the TSP has dissolved, add ½ cup of household bleach to this solution. The amount of bleach can be altered as per the algae or mildew growth. You can reduce the amount if there is less algae growth. You can even start with a mild solution of one cup of TSP, two gallons of warm water and a little amount of bleach. You can make it stronger if this solution is not found to be effective.

Deck Cleaning

Start the cleaning process by watering the deck. This helps in opening up the pores of the wood, which in turn facilitates easier cleaning. Attach a scrub brush to a pole and apply the cleaning solution over the surface of the deck with the brush. Scrub the surface to remove the dirt, algae, etc. If the deck is looking clean, you can remove the cleaning solution with water. Hose down enough water to remove the cleaning solution entirely. If you are not satisfied with results, you can repeat the process. Never try to add more TSP or bleach to make the solution more effective.

If the deck is made of cedar wood, bleach can cause harm to it. So, in case of this type of deck, you can go for a pressure wash, with cold water. If the deck is made of any other material, make sure that the ingredients of this solution do not cause damage to it. Homemade deck cleaners are easy to make and are just as effective as commercial deck cleaners. Moreover, they are cost effective and will not cause harm to your deck, if properly made.