Instructions

• 1). Take everything off of the deck. This includes patio furniture, the grill and any potted plants.
  
  
• 2). Use your push broom to sweep the deck. It's fine to sweep organic materials into the yard, but it's a good idea to use a dust pan just in case there's a piece of paper or plastic in the mix. You can also use a shop vacuum cleaner. Just make sure the wheels don't scratch your wood.
  
  
• 3). Place plastic sheeting over any plants that sit directly below the deck or adjacent to it so they don't get damaged by the cleaning solution. Put on a long sleeve shirt and long pants to protect your skin from the deck cleaner.
  
  
• 4). Pour your commercial deck cleaner into a bucket and add water according to the package directions or mix your own solution of half a gallon of water to one cup of oxygenated bleach. Fill your garden sprayer with either cleaning solution and spray the deck in rows to ensure you coat all of the wood. Don't forget the railing.
  
  
• 5). Scrub the cleaning solution into the wood with a heavy scrub brush or your push broom. Or, fill a power washer with lukewarm water and spray the deck down on a medium setting. Don't scrub or power wash too hard. Ease up if you notice you're scratching or splintering the wood. (If that happens, fix the spot later with sandpaper.)
  
  
• 6). Rinse the deck with the garden hose, making sure to get all of the cleaning solution off. Let the deck air dry for at least five hours.
  
  
• 7). Sand off any rough, scratched or splintered wood with medium grain sandpaper. Stir your deck finish with a dowel to create uniform color and consistency. Paint an even coat of finish on the wood, following the direction of the grain. Do not walk on the deck or put the furniture back until the finish is dry.