How to clean your decking

What you’ll need:

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

How to clean wooden decking

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 jet wash don't quite cut it.

• Decking Stripper is for tough stubborn stains that 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 reviving.

3. Clean your decking

Top tip: 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.

Decking Cleaner and Reviver

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!

Decking stripper

Alternatively, our Decking Stripper will require a bit more work from you, but it’ll leave your decking pristine. When stripping your decking, 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, you’ll need to keep an eye on drying out patches 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.

4. Decking treatment and protection

Once you've cleaned your deck, you'll want to make sure you treat and protect it. There are three options available for this, decking oil, stain or paint. To ensure you choose the right product for your decking, take a look at our detailed guide outlining and comparing the two.

Regular cleaning of your deck can be a simple task that yields significant benefits, such as preventing mould build-up and extending the lifespan of your deck. By following the tips outlined in this post, you can keep your decking in top condition throughout the year.

If your decking needs a new lick of paint after being cleaned then check out our decking paint, now available online from selected stockists.