Cleaning Your Decking

Remove outdoor mats, potted plants and other items from the decking.

It's important to remove any furniture or, potted plants and other items from the decking. Make sure you check under benches and tables too!

You'll also need to take off any mats or rugs and anything else that will be in your way as you clean.

Sweep away any dirt or debris.

• Sweeping

Use a broom with soft bristles to sweep in one direction, starting at the top and working your way down. If you have a large area a wide broom will help make easy work of this, something like an 18" or 24" broom.

• Vacuuming

It may sounds silly but you can vacuum your decking! Use a vacuum cleaner with a long nozzle attachment or a crevice tool instead of sweeping, this helps remove the finest of dust particles.

Apply decking cleaner.

Apply the decking cleaner. Decking cleaners come in a variety of strengths and formulas, so make sure you choose one that has been designed to work with wooden decks. It's also important to make sure your chosen cleaner is suitable for your specific type of wood—most chemicals are safe for use on treated lumber but may not be as safe for untreated wood or composite materials like plastic or aluminum.

Once you have made these decisions, follow the instructions on how much product to apply and how long it should soak into the wood before washing off with warm water and a soft cloth or sponge. If you need to repeat this process more than once or twice, make sure that you have enough product left; if not, buy some more before starting over!

Scrub the Decking with a stiff brush.

Next, you'll want to scrub the decking with a stiff deck brush. This will remove any dirt and debris that may be on it, which could make it slippery if left behind. It will also help activate the decking cleaner so it can penetrate deeper into the wood fibers for more effective cleaning.You can use either a decking brush or a stiff broom for this step.

Sweep away any loose dirt or debris and wash down with a hose pipe to clean away the bulk of the cleaning chemicals.

Sweep away any loose dirt or debris and wash down with a hose pipe to clean away the bulk of the cleaning chemicals. If you do not have access to a hosepipe, a bucket of water and cloth can be used instead. You should also use a soft brush to clean your decking. Always read the manufacturer's instructions on how best to care for your decking as different products can require different methods of cleaning and maintenance.

Leave your deck to dry thoroughly before replacing any furniture or pots that were removed prior to starting the task.

When you've finished cleaning your deck, you need to allow it to dry thoroughly before replacing any furniture or pots that were removed prior to starting the task. To minimise damage to your decking, we recommend leaving it for at least 24 hours and preferably up to 48 hours.

Before carrying out this task always read the manufacturers instructions carefully.

• Before carrying out this task always read the manufacturers instructions carefully.

• Always wear protective clothing, including safety goggles and gloves.

• Always dispose of any chemical waste in accordance to local regulations (check with your council).