I am having a spirited debate with my husband about how to clean a deck. The job doesn't seem that hard, but my husband wants to use a pressure washer because he thinks it will save time. I want to use a green cleaner that is nontoxic and environmentally safe. What is the proper way to clean a deck and keep it looking nice?
Cleaning a backyard deck is not supposed to create marital strife. In this instance, I think you and your husband might be able to reach a compromise that allows each of you to do the job in the manner you see fit. I have cleaned countless decks, and there are pros and cons to each of the methods you mention.
Let's talk about pressure washers. These tools are extremely popular among homeowners. They come in all different sizes, and the end of the spray wand can be equipped with a variety of tips that concentrate the high-pressure stream of water in different ways. That stream of water is what cleans, by agitating the surface of whatever it strikes.
A pressure washer can clean a wood deck much faster than you can scrub it by hand. That is a terrific advantage. However, a pressure washer frequently will destroy the surface of the wood. The stream of water can be powerful enough to erode the light-colored spring wood fibers. Those that are not eroded can be dislodged, leaving the wood fuzzy or rough after it dries.
Professional deck cleaners argue with me that this happens only when an inexperienced user is working with the tool, the pressure was too great, the wrong tip was used and/or the tip was held too closely to the wood surface. If you decide to use a pressure washer, you had better test it or have the professional prove to you that he/she can use the tool without damaging the wood. If you're really interested in making your deck-cleaning project a green activity, you should seriously consider the secondary effects that gasoline or electric-powered machines have on our environment.
I am a big proponent of nontoxic cleaners. The older I get, the more I suspect that certain chemicals in everyday products are responsible for many health issues. I am not a doctor, but common sense tells me that harsh chemicals are not processed well by our bodies.
Years ago I discovered that there are different types of bleaches - one of them being oxygen bleach. Many people think bleach is bleach, but the bleach found in most homes is chlorine bleach. The active ingredient in chlorine bleach is sodium hypochlorite. Check the label of many bleaches or deck cleaners, and you might see this chemical name.
