How to clean your decking

What you’ll need:

• A wire brush
• Decking cleaner (see step two for options)
• A pressure washer or hose

1. Clear the decking

First things first, take everything off your decking so it’s completely clear and ready for you to clean.

Grab a broom and give your decking a good sweep to dislodge any dirt. Don't worry too much about any particularly problematic dirt, we'll tackle that next.

2. Find your cleaner

Some cleaners are better at tackling certain jobs than others, so you need to consider what it is you want the cleaner to do.

Decking Cleaner and Reviver preps new wood whilst cleaning up older decking. It can tackle algae and mould and can be used over stains and oils. it’s a good general-purpose cleaner and can brighten up your decking throughout the year. This is good for decking that's dirtier-than-average and in instances where a brush and jetwash doesn't quite cut it.

Decking Stripper is for those really tough stubborn stains that just won’t budge. It does exactly what it says on the tin and strips all stains and oils from your decking. it’s ideal for prepping your deck ready for a fresh coat of stain, paint or oil. This is most effective with really, really dirty and discoloured decking that needs completely reviving.

3. How to clean your decking

Before you power ahead, read the instructions on the back of the packet. Some of our cleaners don’t need water and can be poured directly onto your decking.

How to use a decking cleaner

If you’re using our Decking Cleaner and Reviver, you’ll need to scrub it into the surface as soon as you’ve poured it on the deck and then leave it for 15 minutes. Grab the pressure washer or hose and thoroughly wash your decking. Once it’s dry, you’ll have brilliantly clean decking ready for a summer BBQ!

To use our High Performance Decking Cleaner dilute one sachet in 2.5 litres of water and spray or pour it on. If you want to use it for general cleaning you’ll need to scrub the surface and leave it for 10-15 minutes. Give it another scrub and hose down the decking to remove any excess. If you want to kill algae, just pour the liquid on and leave it for two or three days. All you need to do then is brush it away, it’s easy.

How to use decking stripper

Our Decking Stripper will require a bit more work from you, but it’ll leave your decking pristine.

For this one, you’ll need to wear some gloves and give it a good shake before use. Apply the stripper to your decking with a decent sized brush and don’t be shy to put a thick layer on. It takes around 30 minutes to work, but if it’s a hot day then you’ll need to keep an eye on patches that are drying out and re-apply a layer. Test a small patch with a paint scraper to see if it’s done its job and if it has, scrub your decking to remove all stains and finishes. Keep scrubbing with warm water and then wash it all off completely with a hose.