Cleaning Your Way to a Lovely Deck

Enjoying drinks and entertaining guests is fun to do when you're at your deck. A cool glass of champagne or some red wine, perhaps bits of Gouda and mozzarella on biscuits, and some nice bite-sized sandwiches would be great as you watch the setting of the sun while sitting back, relaxing, and having light conversation with your loved ones.

However, when you leave a deck unwashed and unmaintained for long periods of time, things could get a bit grimy, slippery, and downright disgusting. When that starts to happen, you better grab a brush, some soap, and a pressure washer to get that deck looking as pristine as if it were brand new.

Pressure washing is a great way to get rid of dirt, molds, and other clingy substances on various surfaces. These things could really stick hard to a deck, especially when they're made entirely out of wood. Incorrectly using a pressure washer on wood, however, could lead to permanent and costly damage. A pressure setting of 500-600 psi is the safest.

You could also put a bit of detergent to get the dirt off, but make sure to use mild ones and dilute it in water. Just give the deck a good wash, brush hard to reach places, give it a rinse, and let it dry. If you're thinking of putting new paint on it, make sure to give it a week to dry properly.