I tried it too and it works! Family Lifestyle Blog Featuring Disney, Food, Parenting and Family Travel - Atlanta. Homemade Deck Cleaner: The Best Inexpensive Non Toxic DIY Deck Cleaner. Just remember to be safe when using these chemicals and mix them outside with protective gear. Once all of the stains are gone, go ahead and rinse your deck with fresh water. With this deck cleaner, youll be using powdered oxygen bleach laundry cleaner to help with getting rid of any mildew. And how do you tell it apart from moss, mold, and mildew? Algae is more difficult to remove than your average stain itll regrow in just a few weeks if it isnt properly cleaned. Generously apply the cleaning solution, then scrub to a light lather. Before applying your DIY deck cleaner, soak the deck with the hose. Besides the fact that green algae isnt a very pretty sight, it can also be hazardous. If you wish to share our content, please click here to see our conditions.
To help save energy and prolong the pumps overall life, the pressure washer will also automatically shut off when the trigger is not engaged. While you're at it, don't forget to clean your gutters and siding, and scrub down your outdoor furniture too! While you can scrub the deck on your own, you can also consider investing in a pressure washer for a quick and efficient job. You can already see the brighter wood color underneath! Then add a few long squirts of Dawn dish soap (no need to measure it). This will open up the wood pores and make it easier to get rid of the dirt. So I tried this method, sadly, it hasnt improved anything. For these reasons and more, bleach is not recommended by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for algae and mold removal. 4 Homemade Deck Cleaners That Actually Work, 9 Easy Grill Cleaning Tips to Keep Mealtime Fresh, Do What You Love Quotes forPursuingYour Passion, Adult Trick-or-Treating Ideas (Because You're Never Too Old), Antique Glassware Identification Tips & What to Look For, 10 Beautiful Pictures of Lucky Bamboo Arrangements, Powdered oxygen bleach (found in your grocery store's laundry aisle). This particular scrub is great for decks that are in relatively good condition and dont have major stains. I share my tips and tricks for staining a deck fast in this article! Muddy shoes, spilled food, and wet dogs can leave it dirty, stained, and smelly. By Glenda Taylor | Updated Oct 25, 2021 10:36 AM. Don't forget the top of the deck railing too! 
Use the smaller handheld scrub brush and repeat the process. 2022 LoveToKnow Media. I finally stumbled across a homemade deck cleaner that is safe for plants, animals, and kids, doesnt cost very much, and actually works really well! 
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After its been there for about 15-minutes or so, scrub it before hosing it off. RELATED: So, You Want to Build a Floating Deck. Whether youre a homeowner, contractor, marina, or golf course, you can trust that we have the most knowledge, the best products, and the highest level of service in the southeast. Hi Eileenits generally safe for animals, but if they get a lot of the mixture landing directly on them, Im not sure what would happen. Basically the same recipe as I do for the deck. If that doesnt work Ill still have my bunnies and chipmunks. Then sit down with a cold iced tea (or whatever your beverage of choice is) and relax on your clean deck! )not to mention toxic for my pets and the stream flowing behind my house. How to Add a Pull Out Trash Can to a Cabinet. Its the beginning of summertime to start inviting some friends over to hang out on the deck! Copyright 2022, Life Family Fun. To Jamie, you can try to use white distilled vinegar and water to create an all natural cleaning solution for the deck. If not regularly cleaned, your outdoor deck could gather dust, grow mold, and even start to rot which could be detrimental to you and your familys health. Instead of purchasing deck cleaners, why not consider making some of your own? How To Keep Spiders Out Of Deck Boxes (Without Pesticides). Do not mix products with ammonia with bleach. You can really see the difference between the dirty and cleaned sections of the deck here. If youre looking for alternative algae cleaning solutions, here are a few suggestions: Unfortunately, there is no magic spell to cast on your deck to prevent algae growth, but there are some measures that can be taken to slow or prevent it. If you have a stubborn stain that refuses to go away even after cleaning, try this trick. When cleaning your deck, a pressure washer will help make things much easier. For example, if youve got mould and mildew, youd definitely want to try out a mould and mildew homemade cleaner recipe. Green algae is an unsightly yet common eyesore that can build up on your deck over time. Mix one and a half cups of TSP with a gallon of water. Then wash it off with the hose. Into the bucket, add 2 cups of powdered oxygen bleach (e.g., OxiClean, found in the laundry detergent aisle at the grocery store), which is milder than liquid chlorine bleach. This is why it is important to have a regular cleaning schedule. However, I think it needs to be re-applied every year, and it might be difficult to get it to cover all of the wood since the Trex is on top of it. Other great features of this pressure washer include five quick-connect nozzles that you can choose from to tackle a wide variety of cleaning projects that you may have in your home. Give the solution 15 minutes of dwell time to allow the oxygen bleach to work. Wash down your deck with the hose, which opens up the wood and makes it much simpler to clean. After a long winter, your deck probably isn't looking so great. Im assuming I can use this formula but do you have a suggestion for treating that wood to seal so that wont happen again. The ingredients youll need include: Once youve got the mixture, go ahead and scrub it into your deck, let it sit and then rinse it away its that simple. Read on to see how to make your own inexpensive and non-toxic homemade deck cleaner (and how to apply it). The ingredients youll need are: Like the other deck cleaners, go ahead and apply it to the surface of your deck, brush it with a stiff broom. So my mother and I are on a mission to help you do just that by sharing the DIY outdoor projects, plant suggestions and gardening tips weve learned through our combined 75+ years of experience. Your email address will not be published. Here are some DIY deck cleaners that you can consider making for your home. Bummer! Yes, you should always clean your deck before staining. The ingredients youll need are: To use it, youll go ahead and apply deck stains with a brush and allow it to soak in until the discoloration has faded. With regular cleaning however, youll be able to take care of your deck properly and avoid any problems. Hi CynthiaI dont think it would, but I havent tried it so I cant say for sure. Privacy policy, Apply the Homemade Deck Cleaner to the Surface, Wait at least two days before applying stain, Stiff bristled scrub brush with a long handle, deck stains that can be applied to damp wood, 20 DIY Outdoor Table Ideas for Your Deck or Patio, How to Clean the Outside of Gutters (without a ladder! Will this mixture hurt the stain I have applied twice? Usually I put off this task until the deck desperately needs staining, but this process is easy enough to do every spring.
Dip the long-handled scrub brush into the homemade deck cleaner. Lets start with why its important to keep your deck sparkling clean. LifeFamilyFun.com makes no claims of expert status and the owner will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the use of the information found on this website. It's so gratifying to see our outdoor entertainment area sparkling clean and ready for backyard barbeques this summer!
Creating deck recipes can be very effective and cheap. As a bonus, this scrub will also help keep yellow jackets away and prevent any wasp nests from forming. You could use this DIY deck cleaner on both wood decks and composite decking like Trex. Once youve dipped and painted the area, let it sit for a while before rinsing it off.
Apply the cleaner one area at a time before scrubbing each area with either a brush or a broom. I would try it on a small piece first to make sure. It removed all the dirt and mildew from the wood without hours of power washing and spraying harsh chemicals! This rotating surface cleaner will not only help to clean your driveway, sideway, decks, patios and more but its also convenient and easy to use. Hi, and welcome! Algae needs moisture or standing water to grow, so keeping your deck dry is key. 1. 4. You can see puddles of grossness where the brush stopped at the end of this section. Simply combine one gallon of water with one cup of white vinegar and scrub the deck with the solution to remove algae, mold, and mildew.
Add two cups of oxygen bleach to two gallons of water. Some accessories that will come with this particular pressure washer include an extension wand, high-pressure hose, garden hose adapter and more. If your deck has a pretty thick layer of dirt and algae like mine did, youll need to scrub a little to get it into the grooves. Clear off the deck and spray it down with a garden hose. I would suggest using this mix thru the soap pickup in a pressure washer for large areas.
Scrub where there is stubborn dirt and grime and then rinse off.
I pressure washed first and had a few spots left that needed some extra scrubbing so I didnt tear up my deck. Terms & Conditions This mixture is also great if you only have a few spots on your deck that youd like to clean. I used this method on a large deck that had not been cleaned in twelve years. Give it about 10 to 15-minutes to soak through. Then apply the soapy mixture to the wet deck boards with the brush. Before cleaning your deck, its also a good idea to cover any plants that may be growing by the deck and use either a paint roller or stiff-bristled brush broom to help you with applying the cleaner. Get your deck sparkling clean this summer with this easy to make deck wash! Untreated, mold spores can pose a health risk to people and pets when inhaled. : If your deck is naturally shaded by trees or your home, sweeping alone may not be enough. Its so shiny and looks brand new! We are the experts in the niche of marine construction. However, you don't have to waste your money to get it clean. It amazes me how much better the deck looks afterward . However, it does call for liquid bleach which, as mentioned previously, can potentially damage the structure of the deck's wooden surface, so be forewarned. Copyright (2022), The Handyman's Daughter. If the surface of your deck is not clean, it can result in stains and your finishes could have trouble sticking. or call Decks & Docks Lumber Company at 866-528-9663. Once your deck is properly cleaned, follow this tutorial on how to stain a deck fast to make it look like new again! Make sure that the surface of your deck is clean and free from mildew. Thanks for the vinegar suggestion for cleaning mildew! Thanks for your reply. In my case, those usually need cleaning, toothat algae grows everywhere! When it comes to removing algae from your wooden deck, you have quite a few options. Oxi-Clean*) and water. The ingredients youll need are: The steps are relatively similar to the above.
Oxygen bleach uses oxygen ions to break apart the dirt which means no harmful chemicals are involved at alland its inexpensive. Mix up a paste of OxyClean with a little warm water. However, 2 gallons, with borax added, spread, wetted, scrubbed, rinsed, covered about 200 sq ft. and took about 45 minutes. Then rinse the paste and the stain away! I hope you might help. This spring it was turned black again. Since your outdoor deck is exposed to a variety of weather conditions, its important that you take care of it properly. LifeFamilyFun.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Decks & Docks Lumber Company supplies the marine construction industry across Florida and the southeast U.S. ), Hose with a nozzle with a strong jet setting. Will this harm the family of rabbits and chipmunks that live under my deck? In addition, you can also use it on vertical surfaces like brick walls and more. Not only is this homemade deck wash effective, it is alsoreally easy to makethe only two ingredients you need are Oxygen Bleach (eg. If you havent cleaned your deck in a while and would like to make sure that its properly cleaned, go ahead and make this particular deck cleaner. Then mix in two cups of OxiClean and stir until all the powder is dissolved. This is after just a few minutes of light scrubbing! Up here in the Pacific Northwest, even our decks are evergreen! Dont have that many problems with your deck? It uses plant- and pet-safe household cleaners that can be applied with a scrub brush, then rinsed away with the hose. And the plants are completely unharmed. For a refreshed deck in under half an hour, mix up a batch of eco-friendly homemade deck cleaner, apply it with a deck brush and a little elbow grease, and then rinse away all manner of dirt and grime. Be sure to wear protective gear like gloves and goggles when working with chemicals to avoid burns. For full instructions on making and applying homemade deck cleaner, continue reading below! Let the deck dry completely before putting back your furniture and other items. This is especially true if the deck is regularly in a shaded area, and this development of bacteria can be unhealthy and unsightly. While some of them are made of natural ingredients, others could be made of ingredients that arent great for your health. Sorry it didnt work for your deck, Jamie. Stir the recipe until everything dissolves. Glad others had success! The two main factors youll need to be mindful of are debris and moisture. When it comes to cleaning your deck cleaner, however, there are plenty of deck cleaners, according to Homedit, that you can purchase. Once you think its good to go, go ahead and rinse it properly. After leaving the deck wash on the surface for at least five minutes, give the area a light scrub with the brush. Now that your deck is clean as new, take a look around you. It contains ingredients that arent difficult to find and is also exceptionally effective. Otherwise, your deck will be slippery from soap residue! Ask around at your favorite neighbors or stay-at-home moms if you are looking for even more great ways to clean your deck thoroughly and efficiently. Make sure that youve covered your plants when youre using this deck cleaner, and ensure that youve properly rinsed off the deck cleaner.
If your deck is looking green after a long summer of humid weather or winter snowfall, read on to learn the best ways to clean it off and prevent regrowth. The deck is covered in dirtand algae(and this winter was particularly cool and damp around hereperfect algae growing conditions!).
Moisture from the algae can seep into the wood, causing splinters and even structural damage if the problem is left unchecked. As it has dual detergent tanks, youll be able to carry more than one detergent with no problems at all. If you have a large deck, you may want to clean sections of it at a time to make sure the oxygen bleach solution doesnt dry on the boards (its not the end of the world if it doesitll just mean more work for you to get it off). I was skeptical about using a homemade deck cleaner versus a chemical-based deck cleaning solution, but it did an amazing job with way less work! Once your deck is cleaned and stained, why not build some outdoor furniture for it? If you have questions about deck maintenance, our knowledgeable and friendly team would love to hear from you . Glenda Taylor, 11 Ways to Make the Most of Your Towns Curbside Cleanup Day, The Worst Money Mistakes Homeowners Ever Make, 10 Cleaning Chores You Should Be Doing Every Month, Sweet Dreams: 15 Inventive Beds You Can Make Yourself, These 11 Repairs Aren't Worth Your Time or Money, Your Biggest Appliance Questions, Answered. Vinegar is a good option as it will remove mildew, mold, and dirt on the wood.