Using a pressure washer to clean your deck is a great way to remove mold and pesky debris.
Spring cleaning isn’t just about getting rid of those old clothes and sprucing up the interior of your home – your wood deck needs love, too! These outdoor features can suffer damage throughout the winter season. Additionally, summertime in Maryland comes with intense heat and harsh UV rays that could cause further damage.
Does the wood on your deck appear to be gray? This is a sign of decay and rotting and should be addressed immediately. Do you see mold or algae growth? The experts here at Mid-Atlantic Deck and Fence are here to fill you in on how to remove mold from your wood deck.
Step One: Apply a Deck Cleaner
The first step to removing mold, mildew, or algae from your wood deck is to clean it. Practicing routine maintenance year-round is the best way to prevent a stubborn accumulation of debris, mold, or stains from plaguing your deck. There a few different ways you can clean your deck to eliminate mold, mildew, and algae. After doing a general sweep, you can invest in a mild soap or safe, stain-removing detergent. Before using any type of detergent on your wood deck, it is important to do a test application on a small area. A useful homemade deck cleaner recipe is as follows:
- Mix 1-1.5 cups of Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) into two gallons of warm water
- If mold is excessive, add ½ cup of household bleach (NOT commercial bleach)
If you want to avoid the use of bleach for the sake of nearby plants or animals, consider using solutions with baking soda, vinegar, or Borax instead. Before applying your cleaner, wash your deck down using a hose – this will open up the wood and make it easier to clean.
Step Two: Scrub, Scrub, Scrub
Once you’ve applied the deck cleaner, you should attach a scrub brush to a long pole or handle and target the areas in question. You may have to scrub the affected area a few different times to remove debris, applying the cleaner and hosing off the deck in between each scrub.
Step Three: Pressure Cleaning
One of the best ways to remove pesky debris from your wood deck is to use a pressure washer. Pressure cleaning is a highly effective method that can restore your deck to its natural beauty, removing debris from even the smallest deck slats. Once you have cleaned your deck, you should have it professionally resealed to ensure ultimate protection for the summer season ahead.
Are You Ready to Talk to Someone About Your Deck?
Mid- Atlantic Deck and Fence has been building custom fences and decks throughout Maryland since 1987. We also offer gazebos, pergolas, pagodas, and screen porches. Today, we are one of Maryland’s leading and most innovative deck and fence companies. Click Here to request an estimate today!
Mid-Atlantic Deck and Fence offers many different styles of standard fencing and decking, as well as custom built designs to choose from. We are also one of Maryland’s only manufacturers and installers of vinyl fencing. If you have any questions about Decking in Baltimore, please contact Mid Atlantic Deck & Fence (MAD Fence) today by clicking here or calling 1-800-833-9310.
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Tags: deck cleaning, deck maintenance, mold removal, wood deck