A terrace, either attached to a house or located in a garden, is a dream for many. Those who prefer a more natural look often choose a wooden terrace.
The emphasis here is on the natural brown hue, the pleasant surface texture, and the cozy feel. A wooden deck will only be beautiful if it’s properly maintained and kept clean.
Since wood is a natural product, regular cleaning and maintenance of a wooden deck is essential. This isn’t just a quick rinse with a garden hose and sweeping away leaves and dirt. Cleaning a wooden deck requires meticulous care. This is the only way to preserve the smooth surface, natural brown color, and quality of the wood.
To help you learn how to properly clean your wooden deck and what other outdoor tasks need to be done, Lira has prepared a detailed overview that will make cleaning your wooden deck as easy as possible. Our tips and recommendations always focus on tasks you can do yourself if you choose.
Please don’t confuse cleaning and maintenance. They are two distinct areas that nevertheless need to be considered together. Cleaning involves removing dirt. Maintenance, on the other hand, aims to preserve the value of wood, decking, as well as garden furniture and decorative elements.
When to clean a wooden deck
Maintaining a wooden deck involves establishing a regular routine. Wood, as a natural material, has a wide variety of surface textures. This contributes to its pleasant, warm appearance, which has a special charm and makes it such an attractive decking material.
Just as you regularly oil your wooden furniture, you naturally need to regularly maintain and clean your wooden deck. It’s recommended to clean it twice a year. If you do this, you’ll develop a good habit and enjoy your deck for years to come.
Always remember that you’re exposing a natural material—wood—to all kinds of weather conditions. Unlike, say, garden furniture, a wooden deck can’t be stored away during bad weather. It shouldn’t be kept indoors or in a room protected from the elements. It’s always outdoors, exposed to rain, snow, wind, sun, mud, ice, and all other weather conditions. It also shows signs of natural wear and tear caused by people, furniture, and the like. Therefore, it’s important to clean your wooden deck twice a year.
Rain and snow are the primary causes of serious damage to wood. Deck boards quickly turn gray, and their surface becomes rough. This allows the material to absorb even more moisture, which degrades the wood’s quality and makes the deck unsightly. In some cases, the wood may even rot, requiring costly repairs or complete replacement.
Cleaning your wooden deck in spring and fall is crucial. In spring, cleaning removes all winter damage, including snow, cold, and general dampness. In fall, you maintain and clean your deck, preparing it for winter. Sun, moisture, and heavy use all take their toll on it. The better you clean and prepare your deck in fall, the better it will withstand the cold season and the better you protect the wood.
Our advice: Before applying protective products to a wooden deck after cleaning, it’s crucial that the wood, or more precisely the deck surface, is completely dry. Only then will the wood be able to properly absorb and utilize the care products. If the wood is still damp, the products won’t penetrate, and you’ll end up doing more harm than good.
To care for varnished wood, it’s necessary to sand or remove the old finish beforehand. Otherwise, the wood won’t be able to absorb the care products.
Here’s how to clean a wooden deck
You can first remove surface dirt with a broom. Sand, soil, leaves, and similar materials are swept away first for an initial, basic cleaning.
The next step involves briefly applying chemicals containing surfactants to the wood. This allows the cleaning agent to penetrate deeper into the wood and remove even stubborn stains. If chemicals are still insufficient to clean the wood, a hand brush or scrub brush can be used. This process may need to be repeated several times if the stain has penetrated deeper into the wood.
You can also clean a wooden deck with a pressure washer. However, this is only possible if you use the device correctly. Wood is a soft material, so you need to be careful when using a pressure washer.
If the surface of your wood deck has become heavily grayed, you can use a wood lightener. This will restore the wood’s natural color. Wood lightener is a chemical product that contains bleach, so use it with caution and avoid contact with clothing.
