Ronseal Decking Cleaner is a good product to start with and then once the decking is clean and dry you could look at applying a Coloured Decking Oil. How to Prevent Wood Decking From Becoming Slippery. With over 21 years of landscaping experience, TC has worked on projects such as the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise, Idaho. Rubber-soled shoes (especially boots) are ideal. He is the President and Founder of Aqua Conservation Landscape & Irrigation, an Idaho Registered Landscape Business Entity. How to Clean Mold and Mildew From Wood Decks | Hunker. If a railing moves too much, use a ratchet wrench to tighten the lag bolts or lag screws at the bottom of the posts that hold up the railing. For more advice from our reviewer, like how to clean decking with a pressure washer, keep reading! ", "Pressure washer tips were easy to understand.". Be careful when walking on your deck because the bleach solution will make it slippery. That’s why it’s important to keep your decking clean by regularly pressure washing and scrubbing the surface to reduce slipperiness. It can also corrode metal fasteners such as screws and nails. A high pressure cleaner will wash away any remaining dirt. Contrary to popular belief, chlorine bleach is not a great cleaner for a wood deck. Luckily, you can use powdered oxygen bleach to scrub down and clean your deck without damaging the deck's wood or any surrounding plantlife. … By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Anti Slip for Decking – Upkeep and Maintenance You want the areas of your deck that get particularly heavy foot traffic to stay anti-slip. He is a Idaho Registered Contractor and a previously Licensed Irrigator in the State of Texas. Rinse thoroughly with a hose and allow to dry. Check all over the decking for protruding nails, and nail them back in if you find any. This is perhaps the most important step in preventing a slippery deck surface. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Finally, rinse off the deck with a hose to remove all of the bleach residue. Part 1 Clean the decking boards systematically, starting on an inside corner of the deck and working your way out. To clean a deck with bleach, start by spraying the deck with a hose to loosen any caked-on dirt or debris. Because decking comes in many different forms you might think cleaning it will be difficult especially if it is an anti-slip deck. Clean off mold and mildew if present each fall and spring by mixing 1/3 cup of powdered laundry detergent -- a detergent not containing any ammonia, which combines dangerously with bleach -- and 1 quart of bleach with 3 gallons of water. White distilled vinegar: White vinegar is a famous natural cleaner that can be used both inside and outside. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. % of people told us that this article helped them. Click to see full answer. You can use a leaf blower or an air compressor to help blow off excess water and speed up drying. The Solution for Slippery Decking. Approved. To clean decking, start by removing any furniture and sweeping the deck to get rid of dirt and debris. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. The Dangers of Slippery Decking. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. After you've finished cleaning the deck, remove the plastic wrap immediately. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Enzyme cleaners must be applied directly to the stain because the cleaning agents activate immediately. The cleaning aisles in many grocery stores also sell oxygen bleach. A proper application of a sealer will help keep the deck clean and in better condition. To learn how to remove mildew and stains on a deck using bleach, scroll down! The main reason for timber deckingbecoming slippery is the growth of mosses, mildew, and algae. With over 21 years of landscaping experience, TC has worked on projects such as the Idaho Botanical Garden in Boise, Idaho. It will lighten the wood, making it look cleaner, but it won't actually remove much dirt. Be sure to clean out the debris between your deck boards, as well. "Told me exactly what I needed to know. Use the same systematic approach when scrubbing with a soap solution. Then, mix oxygen bleach and warm water in a bucket and use a long-handled scrub brush to apply the solution all over the decking. It’s important to understand which products are safe for different outdoor spaces and which ones could leave lasting damage. The 5 Things You NEED to be Doing to Get a Job, Faster. Synthetic deck brushes can be purchased at most hardware stores and are designed specifically to wash a deck. Anthony "TC" Williams is a Professional Landscaper in Idaho. This keeps any cracks and … On the other hand, when it comes to the best way to clean composite decking, the answer looks quite different from cleaning methods for natural decking. The product then needs to be rinsed off with a hose before applying a wood treatment. Outdoor decks can lose their luster as they get older, especially the decking and the handrails. This article has been viewed 87,733 times. X Unfortunately, decks are often susceptible to dirt and algae because they're outside. For more advice from our reviewer, like how to clean decking with a pressure washer, keep reading! We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Cleaning regularly your deck is the key to avoid making it slippery, as leaves and debris not only hold moisture but can also hinder drainage through the gaps between the boards. % of people told us that this article helped them. Rinse the deck using a garden hose. First, mix one cup of the powdered laundry detergent with one quart of the oxygen bleach in two to three gallons of water. Always wear comfortable, close-toed shoes with pressure washer. You can use a metal putty knife to scrape and clean the spaces in between boards. How can I make sure my deck will last a long time? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 44,153 times. https://www.familyhandyman.com/decks/deck-rescue-renew-your-deck/view-all/, http://www.improvementscatalog.com/RoomForImprovements/deck-cleaning-your-spring-cleaning-checklist/, https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/how-clean-deck, http://www.improvenet.com/a/remove-your-deck-mold-in-3-simple-steps, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/homemade-deck-cleaner/, http://www.waterandhealth.org/safely-mix-bleach/, https://www.leaffilter.com/blog/home-exteriors/clean-deck-patio/, https://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/how-to-clean-and-finish-a-wood-deck/, http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to/a9413/everything-you-need-to-know-about-pressure-washers-15826265/, https://www.consumerreports.org/pressure-washers/how-to-clean-a-deck-with-a-pressure-wash/, https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/out-of-home/how-to-use-a-pressure-washer, https://www.askmediy.com/how-to-use-a-pressure-washer-to-clean-your-deck/, http://www.decks.com/how-to/14/using-a-pressure-washer-to-clean-a-deck, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. One question we often get asked at Amateur Gardening is how to revive sorry-looking decking without the use of algae-killing chemicals – or taking up and replacing decking boards. References After the deck is dry, apply a deck sealer or waterproofing wood finish to waterproof the wood. This article was co-authored by Walter Brant. If any are badly rotted or cracked, repair it by bolting a similar board to the side of it. Mix the solution in a bucket, and apply it with a mop or a pump sprayer. Then, working outside or in a well-ventilated area, mix 2 gallons of water and 2 cups of powdered oxygen bleach in a bucket. Apply your chosen cleaner to the decking using a watering can, then scrub the deck straightaway with your broom or brush, rubbing it into the grooves. This substance has an acrylic-based formula that allows surface water evaporation while impeding the damaging effects of moisture penetration into the wooden surface. If any repairs need to be made, do that now, as well. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. The first port of call for stopping your decking from being (or becoming) slippery is to remove the most common substances that cause the surface to become slick. In addition, it destroys wood fibers, damaging the wood over time. Anti-slip Wood Coating For larger surfaces like the deck flooring, there is an anti-slip coating that you can apply to the wood. To prevent a slippery deck during winter storms, homeowners might be tempted to use snow or ice melt products. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f0\/Clean-a-Deck-with-Bleach-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Clean-a-Deck-with-Bleach-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f0\/Clean-a-Deck-with-Bleach-Step-1.jpg\/aid8714120-v4-728px-Clean-a-Deck-with-Bleach-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"