6 Tips For Pressure Washing Your Deck

Even the most beautiful decks can accumulate dirt, debris and grime. You should periodically clean away these elements either with a regular garden hose or a pressure washer. Keep in mind that wood decks aren't designed to withstand the constant blast of pressurized water that a washer can deliver. So, it's important to do it properly to avoid damaging the wood. Here are 6 quick tips for pressure washing your deck. Tip #1: Open The Spray Head The spray head or nozzle on your washer should allow you to control the "fan" or the degree of spray intensity. Don't set your spray head to 0 degrees. If you do, the pressurized water will scar the wood of your deck. Instead, set the spray head at 25 to 40 degrees. Tip #2: Use Cold Water You should only use cold water when pressure washing your deck. If you use hot water, you'll find that it often raises the wood's grain dramatically. Tip #3: Avoid Chlorine Bleach Your home improvement store will probably carry several types of deck cleaning detergents. Be careful. Some of them contain chlorine bleach which can dilute the wood's natural color and deteriorate the binding glue. Tip #4: Rinse Quickly Once you have spread the cleaning solution across your deck, don't let it sit for longer than 15 minutes. If you do, it will leave residue on your deck. Use your pressure washer to rinse it quickly. Tip #5: Maintain Constant Motion Wave the spray wand across the deck and avoid concentrating the water on one area. Otherwise, it can pit the wood. Besides, if you allow the cleaning solution to do its job, the dirt and other debris should clear away easily. Tip #6: Use Low Pressure While many pressure washers offer a PSI up to 5000, your deck will never need more than 1500. In fact, 1200 PSI is enough to clean nearly every deck. If you pressure wash your deck with anything over 1500 PSI, it's likely that you'll cause damage to the wood. Karcher's K 2.21 washer a great machine with 1500 PSI that's perfect for decks. Pressure washing your deck can deliver outstanding results if you approach the job properly. Use the 6 tips above to clean your deck without damaging it. You may also be interested in 4 tips on pressure washing your house.