How to Easily Clean Your Deck

Spring is right around the corner and behind it summer fun. It’s the time to clean up after the long winter and prepare the yard for enjoyment. Most people don’t build a beautiful deck so they can spend time cleaning it, but proper deck care is essential to maintain its appearance and the life of the wood.

To treat your wood deck with a stain or finish, it’s important to clean it first. To get this done the quickest and easiest way possible, you need to have the right tools. Look for quality deck cleaning solutions at your local hardware store or home center. And while you will find power washers on display with the solutions, these are not as easy to use or as convenient as you might think.

Power sprayers typically are only used for heavy duty surface removal -- like taking paint off. The spray is powerful and can even damage the surface you’re cleaning if you’re inexperienced. For most deck dirt that accumulates over the course of winter, a stiff scrub brush and proper cleaning solution will do the job nicely.

Mr. LongArm's TeleWash flow-through extension pole and cleaning brush is an excellent tool to help you complete many outdoor tasks, including deck cleaning. The TeleWash makes finishing a tough job fast and easy and is a much less expensive solution than its heavy-duty counterpart.

The lightweight, aluminum flow-through extension pole is easy to use and extends three to six feet in length. The TeleWash's stiff, short scrub brush is perfect for deck cleaning and surface preparation. Durable, chemical resistant materials work well with most common cleaning agents. Other brush styles are available to clean everything from fine auto finishes to windows, concrete and more.

Preparation

• Remove patio furniture and all other items from the deck.
• Lightly cover potted or other plants near the deck to protect them.
• Be sure to use a commercial deck cleaner specially formulated not to harm vegetation.
• Make sure you have all the tools, including the TeleWash (flow-through extension pole and cleaning brush), dust pan, trash bag, garden hose, bucket and commercial deck cleaner.

Cleaning

• Pick up large debris and sweep the small stuff into a trash bag.
• Attach the garden hose to the TeleWash and turn on the water. Adjust the flow using the flow control/shut-off valve on the TeleWash and sweep over the surface of the deck to rinse it clean. Use the most powerful flow of water on heavily soiled spots and scrub the area with the TeleWash brush to remove as much dirt as possible. Begin at one end of the deck and continue until you have rinsed it completely.
• Use the bucket to prepare your deck cleaning solution; follow the directions on the container.
• With the water off, dip the TeleWash brush into the bucket and scrub the entire surface of the deck using up all the solution.
• Be sure to check your cleaning solution directions for appropriate application time. Turn the water on and sweep over the deck with the TeleWash to remove the cleaning solution.
• Allow the deck to dry completely before staining or applying a wood finish. This may take as long as two or three days depending upon weather conditions.

Get this project done in the spring after temperatures have warmed and before spring rains. Washing and caring for your deck once a year will keep your wood looking beautiful for years to come.

Mr. LongArm, Inc. of Greenwood, Mo. has manufactured extension poles, painting tools, window washing equipment and hardware products since 1958. The first to offer telescoping extension poles, they continue to lead the industry in their development.

For a list of locations that carry the Mr. LongArm TeleWash and brushes, or for more information visit www.mrlongarm.com or call (800) 821-3508.



Courtesy of ARAcontent