Whats the best way to clean my deck?
Deck cleaners are designed to clean away grime and to remove loose wood fibers on the surface of deck boards and railings. There are a variety of formulas to choose from at your home center or hardware store. Some cleaners contain only detergents; others may contain oxalic acid or bleach or a combination of these ingredients. Unless you have mildew, moss, or berry stains, you won’t need a cleaner containing bleach (sodium hypochlorite). Avoid the bleach if you can; heavy concentrations of it can damage the wood. Read the labels and choose a cleaner that best suits the discoloration or staining problems of your deck. Before you clean the deck, replace any rotten wood. When you’re ready to clean, pick a time of day when the deck is shaded. Hot sun will dry out the cleaner before it has a chance to work. Some deck cleaners can safely splash onto plants, but fragile plants, like flowers, could take a beating. Water surrounding plants to saturate the roots, then cover them. Be careful not t
