Making the most of your outside space has become more important than ever before in recent times, and decked areas have become uber-popular. They provide a versatile space that becomes a focal point of your life during the warmer weather. You can do everything there from entertaining family and friends, organizing romantic evening meals with your partner to disconnecting from your busy schedule with a good book and your favorite drink.
But like everything you add to your home, decking needs to be carefully maintained if it’s to remain a beautiful feature. Deck cleaning isn’t something you can just ignore, but it also has to be done right. We do a lot of deck cleaning in Long Island, and there are some definite do’s and don’ts that you need to be aware of before you start.
Be Aware of the Following When Deck Cleaning
Being proactive and making the time to clean your deck is commendable, but if you do the wrong things you could do more harm than good. Make sure to follow the do’s and don’ts listed below.
Do Make Time for Deep Deck Cleaning Once Per Year
Decks are usually made from some sort of wood, and while a beautiful material, all wood needs to be carefully maintained to preserve it. In the case of decking, to protect it from the elements a sealer needs to be applied each year. But before that can be applied, you need to deep clean the decking, otherwise the sealer just won’t soak deep down into the wood, so it won’t do such a good job of protecting it.
Applying a deck cleaning solution (we like to do this with a sprayer) will kill any mold or mildew that might have started to colonize your deck and then you’ll need to scrub the deck to get rid of any dirt and grime that has built up. A regular utility brush usually works well for this.
Don’t Go Crazy with a Pressure Washer
We’re not saying you can’t use a pressure washer when deck cleaning, but you do have to be very careful. Professional pressure washing companies, including ours, will often use a pressure washer for deck cleaning, but the person operating it will be vastly experienced and know exactly the right pressure to use. When done right, a pressure washer can clean a deck much more quickly than alternative methods.
However, when in the hands of someone inexperienced, your deck could be left looking like a plague of woodworms or beetles have had a banquet. When pressure washing a deck, it’s important to maintain the nozzle 6-8 inches from the surface of the deck, and constantly move it while it’s engaged. Holding the trigger and spraying one area for too long can damage the wood.
Do Protect Any Plants that Are Nearby
If there is any vegetation on or next to the deck that can’t be removed, it’ll need covering. Some sort of plastic sheet or tarp will work just fine. If you don’t do this, chemicals in the cleaning agents that you use could either spray up onto the plant directly while you’re cleaning, or seep into the soil surrounding it. Both scenarios could cause damage to these plants.
Don’t Use Chlorine Bleach Under Any Circumstances
If you want your wooden deck to maintain its appearance and aesthetic appeal, under no circumstances whatsoever should you use chlorine bleach as a cleaning agent. We’ve seen folks in and around Massapequa and Oyster Bay do this, and the results are disastrous. It’ll completely strip your deck of its natural color.
Do Sweep the Deck Before You Do Anything Else
Before you lay your hands on any cleaning agent, you need to thoroughly sweep the entire surface of the deck first. If grit and small stones are on the deck when you start scrubbing or spraying, these can cause nasty scratches and even chip the surface of the deck. So use a soft tip broom and be sure to remove all of this as a first step.
Other Things You’ll Want to Do For Your Deck
Deck cleaning is only part of the maintenance program. Once you have your deck clean and free of dirt, grime, mold and mildew, it’s time to protect it for the upcoming months. There are a few things to remember when you do this:
- Let the Deck Completely Dry Out – As you’re going to need to sand before you seal it, you need to let the deck completely dry out after you’ve finished your deck cleaning routine. This can take up to two days, depending on the time of year. In the summer it may dry out much quicker.
- Sand the Surface Down – We’re not talking about an intense, full-on power sanding session here. You just want to give the surface a light sanding down, particularly in any areas that have rough patches. This will help the sealer to better soak into the wood.
- Apply the Sealer – Wipe the surface of the deck down to remove any dust and then proceed to seal the deck. We’d recommend using clear sealers for your deck, as they tend to last longer, while tinted sealers tend to fade the more over time.
A decked area is an asset to any home, but it needs to be properly maintained. If you don’t have time for deck cleaning, let Majestic Window Cleaning & Pressure Washing take care of it for you. Call our Long Island team at (631) 421-2295 to arrange an appointment.