How to Clean a Deck - An Easy, Step-By-Step Guide for Kiwis
Want to give your deck a much-needed revamp? We are here to show you how! This easy step-by-step guide on how to clean a deck covers everything you need to know to keep your deck looking like it's brand new.
We've also answered some burning questions about deck cleaning to help make this process as easy and stress-free as possible for you.
Here's what you'll find,
- What can I clean my deck with? 5 Things You Absolutely Need
- The 6-Step Process to Clean Your Deck Before Staining or Coating
- How To Clean A treated wood deck in 6 Steps - Cleaning Your Deck Between Coats
- Deck cleaning FAQs - 3 Important Deck Cleaning Questions Answered
What can I clean my deck with? - 5 Things You Absolutely Need
1. A Deck Cleaning Brush - Use Cabot’s Deck Prep paired with the Deck Pole
Bunnings NZ | Click here to shop Cabot’s Deck Cleaning Brush from Bunnings.
Why can't I just use a regular brush?
You won't get the same results. We designed the Cabot’s Deck Prep brush to be gentle on your deck but tough on dirt and grime.
The brush has a built-in squeegee to remove pools of water after cleaning, resulting in a faster drying time. It's also armed with a scraper that gets rid of tough dirt and debris.
Combined with Cabot’s universal interchangeable Deck Pole, it becomes a powerful deck cleaning tool!
|
|
+ |
|
2. Cabot’s Deck Cleaner
The key to a squeaky clean deck is Cabot’s Deck Cleaner. It's a powerful solution that cleans and revives,
- Timber decking
- Pergolas
- Weatherboards
- Garden furniture
You can use it on old and new timber to remove dirt, oil, grease and mould to get it ready for staining or coating.
Related: How to Restore an Old Deck
Can I use dishwashing liquid to clean my deck?
Not really. Using just regular dishwashing liquid is not enough to eliminate dirt, mould and grime that's been sitting for months on end. You need a cleaner specifically designed for decks, like Cabot's Deck Cleaner that can remove naturally occurring tannins on top of other contaminants.
3. Cabot’s Deck Hand Bucket
Our Deck Hand bucket is no ordinary bucket! It's a multi-use bucket that's designed to make your deck cleaning process easy as.
- Has 15L capacity
- Easy to move around your deck
- Lasts longer than a paint tray
- You can safely wipe off extra decking oil using the drainage pan
Shop Cabot's Deck Clean, brush and bucket at your nearest Cabot's stockist right here.
4. Safety equipment
- Closed shoes
- Gloves
- Safety glasses
- Earmuffs (if using a pressure washer)
5. A pressure washer or power washer
If you don’t have either, you can use a hose, but it will take more time and won’t give you a good-enough finish.
If you are using a pressure or power washer, make sure to use it on the lowest setting so you don’t damage the timber.
Now that we've gone over the basics let's jump into the steps you need to take to clean your deck.
The 6-Step Process To Clean Your Deck Before Staining or Coating
Step 1: Clear everything off the deck
Use the Cabot’s Deck Prep brush with the Deck Pole to get rid of debris and dirt.
Step 2: Give your deck a wash with a power washer or hose
Any leftover dirt and debris will be removed with a high-pressure washer.
Step 3: Prepare the Cleaning Solution
Grab the Cabot’s Deck Hand Bucket and fill it with one part Deck Cleaner and four parts water and mix.
Step 4: Scrub the deck
Take your deck prep brush and apply the solution generously and scrub vigorously.
Step 5: Allow to sit for 10 - 20 minutes
Apply more solution to avoid any dry patches.
Step 6: Wash it off
Wash the deck cleaner off with the pressure washer or hose it down.
Watch this video for a complete tutorial.
Don’t Miss: How to Choose Best Fence Stain Colour (WIP)
How To Clean A treated wood deck in 6 Steps - Cleaning Your Deck Between Coats
The process of cleaning your deck between coats is very much the same as cleaning before coating or staining- the only difference is that you would use Cabot's Everyday Deck Wash instead of the Deck Cleaner.
Step 1: Remove dirt and debris from the deck
Step 2: Power wash or hose down your deck
Step 3: Dilute one part of Deck Wash in 10 parts of water in your Cabot's Deck Hand bucket
Step 4: Scrub the deck wash into the timber using the brush
Step 5: Allow the solution to sit for 10-20 minutes
Step 6: Wash it off with a power washer or hose
Watch this video tutorial for more clarity
Deck Cleaning FAQS: 3 Important Deck Cleaning Questions Answered
How do I know if my deck is clean enough to stain?
With the water bead test! To find out if your deck is ready for a recoat or new stain, sprinkle water over the timber surface. If it beads, there's no need to recoat your deck.
But if the water gets absorbed into the timber, it's time to bring out Cabot's range of exterior stains!
How often should I clean my wooden deck?
Exfoliating your deck once a year will allow protective sealants to penetrate the wood more deeply. You can use Cabot's Everyday Deck Wash to easily do this.
What is the importance of deck cleaning?
Wood is a porous material, which makes it particularly prone to contamination by dirt, grease or mould.
Because of the harsh New Zealand sun, your wooden deck may warp in the heat, exposing its pores to harmful contaminants. This is why routine deck cleaning is your best defence against lasting harm.
Cabot’s Deck Cleaner and Everyday Deck Wash are perfect for this job, as they deep-clean the timber's pores and remove dirt, grease or mould.
After cleaning your deck, you can apply a coat of exterior stain to keep it looking fresh and protect it from harmful UV rays.
We hope this comprehensive guide has helped teach you how to clean your deck. For more information, visit our Help and Advice page, which has tonnes of advice and tips on deck cleaning.