Revive Your Deck

Has your wood deck lost some lustre? Don't assume that all decks start to look old after a while. A simple cleaning can do wonders for your deck.

 It can bring out the grain and show the true color of the wood.  You won't believe the transformation!  Many people don't think to clean their decks because they assume that the wood has just weathered and that there is nothing to be done about it.  But as you can see from these pictures, cleaning makes a drastic difference in the look and feel of your deck.



Cleaning your deck is fairly simple if you own a power sprayer.  But even if you don't, a good old scrub down with a stiff bristled brush will achieve the same effect with just a bit more elbow grease.

What You'll Need

     Power washer (3,000 psi) with a 40-degree fan tip


     Pump sprayer (2-gallon) with fan tip, which covers better than an adjustable cone tip

     Hard bristle brush

     TSP (trisodium phosphate), or a TSP substitute

     Nonchlorine bleach, such as OxiClean (hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate)

     Wood brightener (oxalic acid, for cedar or redwood decks only)

     Boots and PVC-coated rain pants (you're going to get wet!)

Start Cleaning

Next, replace any cracked or damaged boards with the same species of wood, and secure them with stainless steel decking screws. Trim any foliage that may be in the way, and thoroughly wet down nearby plants.


Power washers certainly save time and water, but the high-pressure stream can gouge wood, break glass, and cut through skin in an instant of carelessness. Take time to get used to the machine and make sure to use only the 40-degree fan tip. If you don't feel comfortable directing that much power at the wood, try using a stiff-bristle scrub brush. It will produce the same result, although it will take longer and require more muscle.

     • Protect your legs and feet with boots, and never point the wand at yourself or anyone else.

     • Take a test run on your driveway to get a feel for how a power washer works. Practice keeping         the wand in continuous motion, using smooth, long strokes at a consistent distance from the surface and   feathering up at the end of each stroke.

     • If your power washer has adjustable pressure, set it to 3,000 psi, the level recommended for 40-degree fan tips. A lower setting will work, but the job will take longer. Higher settings are more likely to cause damage.

Prepare cleaning solutions as indicated.  Once you have brushed down a layer of the solution use a hard bristle brush and some elbow grease to really remove the grime.  If you have a problem with mold growth, be sure to use the non-chlorine bleach solution after the cleaning solution.

Rinse the area at the highest setting for several minutes to make sure you remove all the cleaning solution.

Repeat this procedure over the entire deck surface.

For the tougher spots you might need to add a little more cleaner, and scour it a second time.

Once dry (2-4 days), apply a deck sealer following the manufacturer's instructions. In a few hours, you will see a surface you might not have seen in years.


Source:  This Old House and DIYNetwork