Can You Use Pool Bleach To Clean A Wood Deck

4 Homemade Deck Cleaners That Actually Work

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Jennifer L. Betts

Jennifer worked for five years equally a housekeeper in a big hotel chain. In that capacity, she learned how to clean only about anything.

| Professional Cleaner

Updated February 1, 2022

Brush, plastic canister with mortar and soapy water on wooden terrace

Formulating a homemade deck cleaner is not only simple, only information technology'due south often more economically and ecologically friendly than what you find in the aisle of your grocery store. Side by side fourth dimension it'south time to make clean your deck, effort a homespun concoction that will finer get the job washed on the showtime attempt.

Mildew and Algae Eliminator

If yous live in a region with a loftier level of moisture in the atmospheric condition, you may see problems with mildew and/or algae on your deck. This is especially true if the deck is regularly in a shaded area, and this development of bacteria can be unhealthy and cruddy.

You will demand:

Trisodium phosphate (also known as TSP)
Powdered oxygen bleach (found in your grocery store's laundry aisle)
Warm water

Directions:

Mix one and a half cups of TSP with a gallon of water.
Throw in one cup of oxygen bleach if there is an excessive amount of mold.(If yous are concerned about too potent of a mixture, kickoff with only one cup of TSP and be certain to always use powdered oxygen bleach considering liquid chlorine bleach can damage the forest.)
Wash down your deck with the hose, which opens up the woods and makes it much simpler to make clean.
Utilize a scrub brush fastened to a long pole or handle so you are not downwardly on your hands and knees breathing in the TSP and bleach.
Hose off the mixture and echo if necessary.

Once a Year Cleaning

While too harsh for regular cleaning, this recipe gives your deck a expert scrub downwardly once or twice a year.

You will need:

Water
Powdered oxygen bleach
Liquid dish detergent

Directions:

Add two cups of oxygen bleach to ii gallons of h2o.
Pour in 1/4 cup of dish detergent and mix until it suds.
Use a broom or another big brush and cover the unabridged deck.
Scrub where there is stubborn dirt and grime so rinse off.

Yearly Mildew Cleaner

If you find that your in one case-a-yr cleaner doesn't accept plenty juice to get rid of the mildew, y'all can add a bit of Borax.

Yous need:

Borax
Oxygen bleach
Dish soap
H2o

Directions:

Mix ii gallons of h2o, two cups of oxygen bleach, and one loving cup of borax.
Stir the recipe until everything dissolves.
Add ane/4 cup of dish soap and stir.
Utilize the cleaning solution and scrub with a brush.
Hose off the solution.

Kile'south Magic Mildew Launder

Named after the man who invented it, this cheap and extremely simple recipe has proven to work as finer every bit store-bought brands. However, information technology does call for liquid bleach which, as mentioned previously, can potentially damage the structure of the deck'south wooden surface, so be forewarned. (Note that the original recipe called for the addition of rubbing alcohol, which is extremely dangerous when mixed with bleach. This cleaner volition work just fine without the alcohol.)

Y'all will need:

Water
Chlorine bleach
Murphy's oil soap

Directions:

Mix together one gallon of water, four cups of chlorine bleach (ensure it is inexpensive laundry bleach), and two tablespoons of Murphy's (or another ammonia-free detergent).
After the ingredients are mixed, simply brush information technology onto your deck and rinse very thoroughly with hose water.

Important Tips

Creating deck recipes can be very effective and inexpensive. Yet, at that place are a few things you need to go along in heed when it comes to creating your own cleaners.

Remember to always mix your solution outside, or in a very well-ventilated room.
Check the alarm on any bottled chemicals you use, to ensure they will not adversely mix with some other ingredient in your recipe. Failure to do so can result in a chemical reaction that can exist very dangerous.
Keep all deck cleaner away from small children. This tin can exist trickier if you don't take a independent, mill-made container, and so designate a bottle or bucket for your cleanser that will remain out of reach at all times.
Be sure to wear protective gear like gloves and goggles when working with chemicals to avert burns.
Do not mix products with ammonia with bleach. This can create a toxic chemic.
Dispose of unused cleaner when you are washed.
Brand a fresh batch of cleaner every time to make clean your deck.
Be sure to keep your cleaners with chlorinated bleach abroad from grass or plants, it can kill them.

Homemade Deck Cleaner for a Sparkling Patio

Store aisles are full of unlike cleaners for your deck. Nonetheless, y'all don't take to waste your money to become information technology clean. You can clean your deck easily with a few chemicals you have at habitation. Just remember to be prophylactic when using these chemicals and mix them outside with protective gear.