{"id":666,"date":"2017-03-06T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-03-06T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/?p=666"},"modified":"2023-03-28T15:00:49","modified_gmt":"2023-03-28T14:00:49","slug":"how-to-clean-your-decking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/how-to-clean-your-decking\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Clean Your Decking"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Spring is in the air, which means it\u2019s a perfect time to spruce up your decking. The first step is giving it a blooming good clean in time for the good weather to come around. The first in our series of how to keep your decking looking tip-top, in this week\u2019s blog we tell you about some of the best ways to clean your decking while keeping it free of marks or damage.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>Getting Started On That Dirt And Grime<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"img-responsive alignnone wp-image-669 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/How-To-Clean-Your-Decking-min-2-1.jpg\" alt=\"clearing pots and objects from the decking area\" width=\"730\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/How-To-Clean-Your-Decking-min-2-1.jpg 730w, https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/How-To-Clean-Your-Decking-min-2-1-300x123.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 730px) 100vw, 730px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Before you get cracking, make sure you\u2019ve got the area set up to do it. That means removing potted plants, patio furniture, and anything else you don\u2019t want liberally getting sprayed with a hose. Pick up all the large bits of rubbish and debris with your hands or gloves, then put your best broom to work getting rid of the remaining nitty-gritty stuff like soil, gravel or plant\/leaf debris. When the surface is all clear, use a slender brush (some recommend a putty knife) to get what you can out from the gaps in between the boards<\/p>\n<p>That takes care of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.savoytimber.com\/decking\/decking-boards.html\">your decking boards<\/a> \u2013 when it comes to the railings and balustrades, there probably won\u2019t be as much loose debris hanging around on them, but they might also require a light dusting with a brush all the same. It\u2019s best to do the railings first by the way, as anything you sweep off them will obviously fall straight onto the boards. This might be irritating if you\u2019ve just spent ten minutes getting dirt out from in between them.<\/p>\n<h3>Washing Down Your Decking<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"img-responsive alignnone wp-image-671 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/How-To-Clean-Your-Decking-min-3.jpg\" alt=\"jet washing decking\" width=\"730\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/How-To-Clean-Your-Decking-min-3.jpg 730w, https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/How-To-Clean-Your-Decking-min-3-300x123.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 730px) 100vw, 730px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Now get ready to give your deck a good old jet washing. When it comes to this bit, you\u2019ve basically got two options: hose or pressure wash. Whichever one you choose, it\u2019s always best to make sure it\u2019s something smaller than 1500psi, with a wide fan jet. Be methodical about it, following the grain from one end to the other and finish by using the hose to clean any remaining debris between the boards that you couldn\u2019t get with the putty knife.<\/p>\n<p>You can also use a concentrated jet to focus on particularly dirty spots, but if it\u2019s too high or powerful it\u2019ll gouge the wood so use your judgement. If in doubt, work your way up from the lower settings rather than starting on the higher ones \u2013 this way you can be sure it\u2019s only ever as powerful as it needs to be. Even then, don\u2019t do it too up close; leave a little space between the nozzle and the deck, just to be on the extra safe side. With the balustrades, gently wash them with the spray setting then use a scrub brush to gently clean them. You can also use specially formulated wood decking agents just for the purpose. An alternative is oxygen bleach, which we\u2019ll get onto in just a moment.<\/p>\n<h3>Cleansing And Bleaching Your Softwood Decking \u2013 Very Carefully<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"img-responsive alignnone wp-image-673 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/How-To-Clean-Your-Decking-min-3-1.jpg\" alt=\"using bleach on decking\" width=\"730\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/How-To-Clean-Your-Decking-min-3-1.jpg 730w, https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/How-To-Clean-Your-Decking-min-3-1-300x123.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 730px) 100vw, 730px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve rinsed down your decking boards with the hose or pressure washer, there are a few ways to go from there. One is by cleansing it with a solution of sudsy water using a laundry detergent. You can use a long handled brush or your trusty broom to gently scrub it in, leave it for a short time, then use the garden hose or pressure washer to rinse it again.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve spotted any algae or mildew anywhere, another viable option is bleaching it. Obviously, this needs a steady hand and a careful eye \u2013 two things, incidentally, that you should make sure to protect when handling it. Use gloves to keep the bleach off your hands, especially if you\u2019ve got delicate skin, and exercise caution with it. Use a solution that\u2019s 1 part bleach, 4 parts water, and pour it onto the growth. If it looks new, you can leave it for about five minutes or so, but if it looks like it might have been there a while then fifteen minutes might be a better idea. Then promptly scrub it with the brush or broom. If the algae refuses to go away, repeat the process carefully each time until it\u2019s completely gone. When that\u2019s done, thoroughly rinse your decking again and allow it to dry.<\/p>\n<p>And that\u2019s it! It looks like a lot, but that\u2019s because we\u2019ve accounted for just about everything. You might only need the core steps, depending on the state of your decking. Look out for our blog next week, when we\u2019ll be talking about the various methods to seal your decking boards.<\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, feel free to visit one of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.savoytimber.com\/our-stores\"><u>our stores in Blackpool, Wigan or Preston<\/u><\/a>, and our staff will only be too happy to help. Alternatively, you can call 0345 0268 799 for a quick bit of help and advice over the phone.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Don\u2019t forget to follow us on Twitter: <a href=\"https:\/\/mobile.twitter.com\/savoytimber\">@SavoyTimber<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Spring is in the air, which means it\u2019s a perfect time to spruce up your decking. The first step is giving it a blooming good clean in time for the good weather to come around. The first in our series of how to keep your decking looking tip-top, in this week\u2019s blog we tell you [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":668,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[37],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How To Clean Your Decking | Savoy Timber<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The first in our series of how to keep your decking in top condition, this week looks at the best ways to get your wood deck looking absolutely spotless.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/how-to-clean-your-decking\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" 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