A few drops of washing up liquid dissolved in water is sufficient. Simply spread generously over the wooden slats and then scrub them thoroughly with a brush or bristled broom. Finally, rinse the deck with clean water. Liquid soap also works.
Clean your deck with dish soap
The easiest, and preferable, way to clean a deck without a pressure washer is to use a dish soap solution, which will freshen a deck and is strong enough to remove mild stains. Simply squeeze dish soap into a bucket and run some hot water over it. Then mop the solution on to the deck.
A quick spot-clean DIY solution is one gallon of hot water to one tablespoon of liquid dish soap (ammonia-free). Put a mat under your grill to protect your deck surface and to catch any grease or food. Avoid sliding or pushing furniture across the deck to guard against creating gouges.
The Osmo Decking Cleaner is perfect for untreated or oiled decking. Dilute with clean water and apply liberally using a brush. Leave it for 48 hours to work and fully dry before washing it down and using a brush to clean it off completely.
Composite Decking: Trex suggests using a pressure washer at 3100 PSI or less on its composite decking. Other manufacturers may recommend lower pressure or discourage pressure washing altogether. Always consult the care instructions from your decking manufacturer.
Liquid dish soap (ammonia-free) is safe for use on cleaning your deck when mixed with a little warm water. Simply mix 1 gallon of water, 2 tablespoons of ammonia-free dish soap (such as Murphy's), 1 pint of rubbing alcohol, and 1 quart of oxygen bleach.
Vinegar is acidic so, normally, it's actually used to remove stains. Issues can arise when vinegar is left to sit on decking for too long, as doing so can seep the color out of the wood. Using undiluted vinegar is especially harmful, as the stronger concentration results in even more acidity that can damage your deck.
Simple Green Oxy Solve Deck and Fence Cleaner is ideal for both manual and pressure washing to lift and remove dirt and debris from the deck surface. The fast-acting foaming formula eliminates stains from mold and mildew, tree sap, pollen, oxidation, weathering and other grime.
Mix 1/4 cup (or 1/2 cup if your deck is very dirty) of Murphy's Oil Soap Wood Cleaner with a gallon of warm water. Use a mop or soft-bristled scrub brush to Clean the decking with a mop or a soft-bristled scrub brush, and rinse well.
Step 2 Dilute ¼ cup Pine-Sol® in two gallons of water. Step 3 Mop the deck with this mixture. Avoid using Pine-Sol® on wood that is unsealed, waxed, oiled or visibly worn. Step 4 Use full-strength Pine-Sol® cleaner on tougher stains, rinsing with water immediately after cleaning.
Remove Stubborn Stains
For stubborn deck stains you find during deck cleaning, create a paste of baking soda and water. Let the paste sink into the stain for 15-20 minutes before scrubbing it thoroughly and rinsing it with water.
A wood deck cleaner can help remove dirt, nail stains, algae and mildew. If your deck isn't brand-new, always use a cleaner before applying finish. Lack of preparation is the most common reason why deck stains and sealers fail, so don't skip this very important step.
30 Seconds Ready To Use Outdoor Cleaner is made from a combination of ingredients, with the active ingredient being Sodium Hypochlorite. What happens when you apply the product is that it works immediately on any organics by emulsifying the growth.
For tough jobs, hydrogen peroxide kills the mildew on contact within several minutes. Oxygen bleach is sodium percarbonate, an environmentally friendly and excellent detergent and bleaching agent with a hydrogen peroxide base.
To clean the deck, make up a gentle cleaning solution with warm water and liquid dish soap. Alternatively, you can use a speciality wood deck cleaner. Saturate the surface and scrub the deck with a stiff-bristled brush or sponge until the cleaning solution starts to lather.
Yes, Dawn dish soap can be safely used to clean your deck. In fact, a mixture of Dawn dish soap and hot water is a popular and effective cleaning solution for decks. However, if you have hard water, be cautious as it may leave some residue.
Can you clean wood furniture with vinegar? Since distilled vinegar is a mild cleaning agent, it is safe to use it on most wood furniture. However, it's always best to test a small spot to be sure the vinegar won't damage the wood or its finish. You should also dilute the vinegar with water before using it on wood.
Unfinished wood decks can be cleaned with OxiClean™. Can I clean painted surfaces with OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover? OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover is not designed to remove stains on this type of surface.
Pre-treatment of your wood deck, or patio, is important, as this will help to soften up thick dirt or grime before high-pressure washing. For heavily soiled decking, apply a wood-specific, Composite cleaner or detergent and allow to soak in for 5-10 minutes.
Moss, Mold, Mildew & Algae Stain Remover
Simply spray and walk away! That's it. Wet & Forget goes to work with the wind and rain to gently clean the surface over time. NO RINSE: Easy Spray & Leave Application. EFFORTLESS CLEAN: No Scrubbing, Rinsing or Pressure Washing.
MULTIPURPOSE CLEANER
Better Homes And Gardens recommends using Murphy® Oil Soap on outdoor furniture to freshen up plastic, metal, glass or wood items.