Cleaning and restoring a wooden deck naturally
Has your wooden deck become gray and slippery? No need for a pressure washer that damages the wood. Here is the gentle and effective method.
Recommended Materials
- Stiff bristle broom
- Black soap
- Sodium percarbonate (wood brightener)
- Bucket of lukewarm water
Steps to follow
Step 1
Start with a good dry sweep to remove dead leaves, dirt and plant debris that accumulate between the boards.
Step 2
Routine cleaning (spring/autumn): mix liquid black soap (about a capful per liter) in a bucket of lukewarm water. Scrub the deck with a stiff bristle broom ALWAYS IN THE DIRECTION of the wood boards. This removes moss, lichen and pollution without attacking the wood fiber.
Step 3
To restore (regain the original color of the wood): use sodium percarbonate (also called solid hydrogen peroxide). Dilute 1 volume of percarbonate for 10 volumes of hot water (hot water activates the product).
Step 4
Apply this mixture to wet wood, leave on for 15 to 20 minutes (do not let dry, re-wet if necessary). Then scrub vigorously with a stiff broom and rinse thoroughly with a water jet.
Step 5
Let the deck dry for 24h to 48h without rain. The wood must be perfectly dry before any other intervention.
Step 6
Once clean and dry, you can apply a protective oil (saturator) with a wide brush to nourish the wood in depth and delay graying due to UV rays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the pressure washer forbidden ?
It is strongly discouraged. High pressure raises the wood fibers (makes it rough, you get splinters) and removes natural protection, which makes it rot faster. If you use it, set it to minimum and hold the lance 50cm away.
Why does wood turn gray ?
It is a natural reaction of the wood's lignin to UV rays and rain. It's not dirty, it's a defensive patina. Cleaning is mainly used to remove the slippery biofilm (moss) for safety.
Precautions
- Do not apply oil in direct sunlight (it dries too quickly and sticks).
- Protect surrounding plants (percarbonate is quite strong).
