Deck Cleaning Without A Pressure Washer

Many people will tell you that a pressure washer will damage wood. In the wrong hands, that statement is very true. How than can you perform a proper deck cleaning without using one? Quite simply by using a deck cleaning (hotlink) product that contains an ingredient like that found in Oxy Clean. This type of cleaner dissolves in water and can be applied via a pump up sprayer. Once you have made sure the wood is saturated with cleaner, use a deck brush (medium bristled) to scrub the wood. Your goal is to loosen gray wood fibers as well as break the hold of any mold colonies. Scrub the entire deck and then go back and rewet all of the wood with cleaner. You can now use a garden hose to wash away all of the contaminants. Rinse multiple times to be sure there is no deck cleaning product left in the wood.

After you have completed your deck cleaning, you should use an acidic based pH balancing agent. This will be sure to kill off any remaining mold and set the wood into the right balance for staining or finishing. Give the deck another rinse and let it dry for a couple of days.

Common Pressure Washing Myths

Being a pressure washing professional, there are many myths and misconceptions about pressure washing that I hear everyday that I know are absolutely false. These misconceptions cost the public untold amounts of money every year, and also cause many injuries, which, in turn, cost more money. Here’s one of the most common misconceptions that can do damage to you, your home, and your budget:

It’s Easy Enough That We Can Do It Ourselves

This may be true to some extent but you can easily cause damage to yourself and your home if you’re not careful. I don’t recommend to anyone to pressure wash from a ladder, this is very dangerous and should be left to a professional. Washing your vinyl siding from the ground at an upward angle will force water behind the siding causing water damage. Getting up in the air and away from the house will allow you to rinse the siding at a flatter angle. This can only be done with the proper equipment. Another thing is that even small, consumer grade pressure washing units put out too much pressure to wash vinyl, asphalt shingles, and pressure treated wood. Having the right equipment allows you to turn down the pressure, so you’re not causing damage.