Our Complete Guide to Cleaning Your Deck During the Summer

We recommend light power washing once every six months, particularly during the summer when water evaporates quickly so you can get back to enjoying your deck.

Use your power washer on the lightest setting you can to remove grease and stuck-on food from your grill and any spots that formed from spilled drinks or mildew buildup from heavy spring rains.

Use a six-step process to properly clean your deck during the summer. 

1. Remove everything on your deck. This includes furniture, decor, pool accessories, plants, and the grill.
2. Inspect everything to see how it looks. Do you notice any hidden damage from spring storms? Do you see any warping, discoloration, or spongy boards? Now is your chance to replace any broken boards ahead of cleaning the deck.
3. Sweep all dirt and debris off of the boards. Accumulated debris can lead to moisture build-up that may lead to stains from the moisture, green spots, mold, or mildew. Use a putty knife scraper to remove any stubborn bits of food that have stayed on your deck despite the best efforts of the rain to remove them.
4. Pre-rinse the deck with a light layer of water from the power washer. This will make the cleaning solution more effective. 
5. Power wash the deck with your chosen cleaning solution. There are plenty of specialized deck cleaning detergents available that are perfect for wood. Make sure you choose the right cleaning solution for your needs.
6. Rinse your deck thoroughly. This prevents any soapy film from building up. Rather than using the power wash setting, simply use a steady stream of water to gently wash away the soap. Make the water stream just strong enough to rinse everything away.

With professional deck sealing from Seal Smart, you don’t have to worry about water penetrating into the wood fibers, preventing rot over time.

If you have any tough stains, mold, or mildew that doesn’t come off with water, consider a soft-bristled brush before rinsing.

Yes, you can. 

We recommend a mixture of diluted vinegar combined with baking soda. Sprinkle ordinary baking soda onto the spots that have mildew, mold, or grease. Take 1 cup of vinegar and mix it into 1 gallon of water. Take your soft-bristled brush and scrub the diluted vinegar into the spots.

Consider borax as a cleaner instead of baking soda and vinegar. Mix 1 cup of borax with 1 gallon of water. Scrub this into your boards to remove any stubborn stains.

Absolutely!

You can use an ordinary hose with or without a nozzle. If you need extra pressure, put your thumb on the end of the hose to increase the water pressure if you don’t have a nozzle. You can spread out the cleaning solution from a bucket rather than the pressure washer.

Mop or swab your deck once a month with water or a light cleaning solution to minimize any mold or mildew buildup. Think about a long-handled scrub brush so you don’t have to get on your hands and knees to clean it.

While not as comprehensive as using a power washer, this will keep your deck looking great throughout the summer.

Cleaning and scrubbing your outdoor rugs maintains their integrity while preventing the breakdown of fibers due to mold or mildew.

Clean your outdoor rugs using a very simple process.

1. Put on a face mask to avoid inhaling any dust, dirt, or pollens.
2. Shake out the rug onto your lawn or street (away from the deck).
3. Drape the rug over a railing or lawn chair to prevent water from pooling.
4. Hose it down gently to pre-rinse.
5. Soap it down with gentle soap, like dishwashing liquid.
6. Scrub it with a soft-bristled brush to remove any stubborn stains.
7. Rinse it gently with your hose.
8. Let the rug dry thoroughly before placing it back on your deck.

The best time to clean your rugs is the same time you clean your deck!

With professional deck sealing performed by the experts at Seal Smart. We warranty our wood sealant for 25 years. 

Call our team today at 1-877-273-2511 to request a free estimate!