Cleaning Wooden Decks
- Clean on a cool cloudy day so that the deck will stay wet long enough for the cleaner to do its job.
- Cover plants near the deck with plastic or soak them with water to cancel out the effects of the cleaning solution you will use.
- Homemade deck cleaner: A mixture of 3:1 water and household bleach with a small amount of powdered laundry detergent. WARNING: Liquid detergent mixed with bleach will produce toxic fumes. Be sure to wear old clothes.
- Spray the cleaner on the deck in a manageable area. Let it soak five minutes or so. Clean with a brush with short bristles. Rinse the area.
- Let the deck dry thoroughly for two-three days.
- Waterproof within three weeks. Mildew starts growing again after that.