Decking is a great addition to any outdoor living space. An option that lets you enjoy some really special moments in your garden, it’s important to keep your deck looking good. One of the ways you can keep your deck looking great is by power washing it now and again. Irrespective of whether you rent or own your power washer, it’s important not to attack your deck with a power washer set on a high setting, otherwise you might just get more than you bargained for. Power washing your deck on too high a setting won’t only remove the dirt and grime on the surface of your deck, but it risks removing a good chunk of your decking as well.
When you plan to start your power washing, you should start with the lowest setting on your power washer and combine this with a suitable detergent for your deck. Power washing your deck will enable you to do the washing and the rinsing much more effectively than you could with just a hose and water, but you nevertheless need to be careful.
If you are in any doubt about which cleaning product would work best with your deck, you shouldn’t hesitate to speak to either your decking supplier or a reputed decking supplier to advise you. At Wood and Beyond we have a range of decking cleaners in the accessories part of our website, which you’ll find here. That said, if you’re not sure about what might work best for you, just contact us and we’ll gladly give you some help.
The cleaner you choose will determine the first stage of your power washing process. Some cleaners will go inside your power washer, others will need to be applied by hand or by brush and will then will rely on your power washer to rinse them away. Either way, the most important thing is to respect the manufacturers instructions to the letter.
Here are our TOP TIPS when it comes to power washing:
- Choose a power washer with a good range of settings.
- Make sure you use a synthetic and not a natural bristle brush because most deck cleaning products will damage natural bristles.
- Choose a long handle for your power washer, as this will give you easy access to areas that are hard to reach.
- Take care to work as gently as possible to avoid any trace marks from the power washer.
- Work in long sweeps to avoid tell tale traces of having stopped and started the power washing process.
- When it comes to cleaning corners, make sure you work from the corner outwards to avoid risk of splash-back.
- Wear appropriate protection to avoid risk of harm, particularly when working with chemicals.
- Once you have power washed your deck, it is important to allow it to dry thoroughly before applying any finish or protection. And when you have completed the process, you can sit back and enjoy the beauty of your refreshed deck.