How To Make A Homemade Deck Cleaner That Works

Maintain your outdoor deck platform without damaging your nearby plants.

Your outdoor deck gets a lot of foot traffic. From muddy shoes, to spilled food, and your wet dogs that keep on running back & forth, your deck will get dirty, stained, and smelly. 

Your deck is also subject to elements that include pollen, leaves, and algae. You do not need to use a harsh, costly deck cleaner to repair it. Mix up a batch of eco-friendly homemade deck cleaner, apply it with a deck brush and a little elbow grease, and then scrub away all kinds of dirt and grime for a refreshed deck in under 30 minutes.

Continue reading for detailed instructions on how to make and apply homemade deck cleaner!

Before You Make Your Own Homemade Deck Cleaner, Here Are Some Safety Recommendations

1. Make a plant-friendly deck cleaner at home.
   Surrounding grass & other plants can be poisoned if you use hazardous products & harmful chemicals. Only non-toxic cleaners should be used. OxiClean contains sodium percarbonate, a hydrogen peroxide derivative that is effective at removing a wide range of difficult stains and spills. Best of all, it is eco-friendly and biodegradable, which means it will not damage plants or pollute the atmosphere.

2. Do not use a power washer or pressure washer together with your homemade deck cleaner.
   Homemade deck cleaning solutions are not appropriate to use with power washers. While they are great for a DIY solution, if your deck needs more than a simple scrubbing, you should hire a professional like a HomeSmiles technician to come out and get your deck looking good as new.

3. Protect your skin and hands- wear gloves while making your cleaner.
   In high concentrations, cleaners and boosting agents like Borax can cause skin irritation. This DIY deck cleaning solution is not harmful, but wearing rubber gloves when mixing and applying the solution is recommended as a safety precaution. If you get some on your skin, quickly wash it off.
   
4. Never combine ammonia-based ingredients with bleach. 
   When these two ingredients are combined, toxic chloramine gas is produced, which can cause eye, nose, mouth, and respiratory irritation.
   
5. Make sure to keep your homemade deck cleaning solution in a well-ventilated place.
   While this DIY deck cleaner is not a harmful chemical, it does emit an odor that some people may find unpleasant. Since it is intended for outdoor use, leave it outside before you use it to clean the deck, and then dispose of any leftover solution. Whenever you clean the deck, make a new batch.
   
6. Keep the solution out of children’s reach.
   Children are naturally curious, and a bucket of warm sudsy solution can tend to be an enticing toy. Like all cleaners, keep this homemade cleaner in a safe place where children can not reach it. Although this is mild in comparison to other deck cleaners, it is best to take precautions.

TOOLS & MATERIALS:

• Garden hose
• OxiClean Powder
• Extension Pole
• Borax (optional)
• Large Plastic Bucket
• Deck brush
• Dawn dishwashing liquid

STEP 1: Clean Up The Deck With A Garden Hose.

Empty your deck. Keep your chairs, grills, gardening pots, and other outdoor equipment somewhere else. Using your garden hose, liberally spray the deck to loosen and soften mud and dirt, making it easier to remove.

STEP 2: Prepare The Deck Cleaning Solution

• Put two gallons of warm water into a plastic tub, big enough for the head of a deck brush to fit in. It is possible to get away with a sturdy broom, but a specialized deck scrub brush — (a broom-like tool that works well right between the small & hard to reach spaces) is ideal.
• Put 2 cups of powdered oxygen bleach (e.g., OxiClean, sold in the laundry detergent aisle at the grocery store), which is gentler than liquid chlorine bleach, to the bucket.
• Gently mix until the powdered bleach is absolutely dissolved. Stir in 1/4 cup liquid dish soap & allow it to spread throughout the solution.

It is advisable to wear goggles and rubber gloves to protect your sensitive eyes and skin in case the homemade deck cleaner spills. The ingredients mentioned here are reasonably safe and will not damage your garden & plants.

STEP 3: Apply The Cleaning Solution, Then Scrub To A Light Lather.

Dip the brush into the homemade cleaning solution, soaking the deck with the solution, and splash it across the planks. Start at one end and work to the other end, clean your deck with a brush & make a light lather, whenever appropriate, rewet the brush’s bristles. Allow the solution to sit for 15 minutes to allow the oxygen bleach to work.

STEP 4: Use A Garden Hose To Clean The Deck

Using the garden hose, remove the DIY deck cleaner. Before redecorating your deck & putting back your outdoor furniture, allow it to dry naturally and fully in the sun’s rays.

Deck Maintenance Tips

• Borax can be used to get rid of mildew. If you have noticeable mildew stains on your deck board, add 1 cup of powdered Borax to the solution at the same time you add the oxygen bleach. Borax is a naturally occurring mineral compound that will not damage local landscaping plants. Follow the steps mentioned above to incorporate the solution.
• Use oxygen bleach paste to remove stains. To remove a stubborn stain, make a paste with warm water and a small amount of powdered oxygen bleach. Apply with a stiff-bristled brush directly to the stain and leave on for 30 minutes before rinsing.
• Sweep away the dirt as soon as possible. A daily sweep your deck to clear any loose dirt, leaves, or other debris before it goes in between the spaces in your deck will keep it looking great longer. Consider using a cordless blower if you are not a fan of sweeping. A cordless blower is a lightweight, simple-to-use leaf blower that quickly clears twigs, dirt, and other natural debris.
• Once a year, apply a penetrating sealer. Even pressure-treated decks can deteriorate over time due to UV rays, wet/dry cycles, and temperature variations because wood is a natural product. Treat your deck with a decent penetrating sealer once a year to prolong its useful life. The best time to apply a sealer is after you’ve thoroughly cleaned your deck!

Take a look around you, if your wood handrails,  balusters, or outdoor wooden furniture are looking a little worn, make another batch of this DIY cleaner to safely repair them and you’ll be ready for any outdoor party, big or small.