Start with a sweep and a check
Clear the furniture and pot plants, sweep off loose leaves, and clean out the gaps between boards so water can drain. Look for soft or split boards and nails that have lifted. Fix those first, because cleaning won’t save rotten timber and a raised nail head can catch a brush or a pressure cleaner.
Washing or pressure cleaning?
A wash and scrub
For a deck that is only dirty, a deck cleaner, a stiff broom and a hose rinse is often enough. Work along the grain and don’t let the cleaner dry on the timber.
Pressure cleaning
For grime, mould and old oil, a pressure cleaner is quicker and more thorough, but it is easy to overdo. Too much pressure or a nozzle held too close cuts into soft timber and raises the grain, leaving the surface furry and patchy. Use a wide fan tip, keep it moving with the grain, and stay well back from the board.
Mould, green slime and grey timber
Green and black growth comes back if it is only blasted off the surface. A mould treatment left to work before rinsing kills it at the root. Grey, weathered timber is a different problem: the top layer of the wood has broken down in the sun. A timber brightener after cleaning can bring back some colour; badly weathered boards may need sanding.
Cleaning before oiling
New oil only soaks in where the timber is clean and open. Oiling over dirt or old, flaking coats traps the grime and peels early. After cleaning, let the deck dry for at least a couple of fine days, until the boards look pale and a few drops of water soak in rather than bead.
When to clean a deck
- A light clean each spring, before the deck gets heavy summer use.
- A deep clean before every re-oil, usually every one to two years depending on sun.
- Pick a run of dry, mild days; oil doesn’t cure well in wet or very hot weather.
Getting it done professionally
Our pressure washing is $2.50 per square metre, or $165 per hour. Elite technicians are police-checked and fully insured, every job carries a satisfaction guarantee, and the Elite brand has been operating since 1984.
Deck cleaning questions
Can pressure cleaning damage a deck?
Yes, if the pressure is too high or the tip too close. Soft timbers such as pine are the most easily marked.
How long after cleaning can I oil my deck?
Wait until it is fully dry, usually two or three fine days. Damp timber won’t take the oil evenly.
Should I use bleach on a deck?
Household bleach can discolour timber and harm plants. A cleaner made for decks is safer.
High pressure cleaning from-prices| Service | From price |
|---|
| High pressure cleaning |
|---|
| Per square metre | $2.50 per sqm |
| Hourly rate | $165 per hour |
Carpet Cleaning
Couch & Upholstery Cleaning
Mattress Cleaning
Tile & Grout Cleaning
Commercial Cleaning
Water Damage Restoration
Fire and Smoke Restoration
Mould Removal
Mould Testing
Laser Cleaning
Pest Control
Asbestos Removal
Asbestos Testing
Office Cleaning
Graffiti Removal
Dry Ice Blasting
Pressure Washing
Solar Panel Cleaning
Structural Drying
Dehumidifier Hire
Air Quality Testing
Floor Sanding
Lead Paint Removal
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Gutter Cleaning
Trauma & Crime Scene Cleaning
Deceased Estate Clearing
Hoarding & Squalor Cleaning
Meth Testing & Decontamination
