This Laundry Staple Might Be The Answer To A Squeaky Clean Deck

Many homeowners think they need a pressure washer to clean a wooden deck, but this isn't the case. Pressure washing a deck comes with some drawbacks and could end up damaging the wood and ruining its appearance. Storebought chemical deck cleaners can sometimes be less than ideal as well. Using pure bleach or cleaners that contain lye and acid can damage your deck and should be avoided at all costs. 

While common deck cleaners aren't the best choice, chances are you already have exactly what you need to remove stains from your deck in your laundry room. That solution? Laundry detergent. Laundry detergent contains powerful surfactants and enzymes that can help remove dirt and stains — and not just from your laundry.

There are a lot of surprising uses for old laundry detergent and using it to clean a wooden deck is one of the best. Decks can accumulate green algae, mold, and mildew and its appearance can suffer if you don't take care of it. Taking the time to give your deck a thorough scrubbing is essential if you want it to last a long time, look amazing, and be comfortable to hang out on during the summer months.

Using powdered laundry detergent and hot water alone can do a pretty good job of cleaning your deck and works as both an abrasive and cleanser. However, it's ideal to also add some bleach. This will create a powerful homemade deck cleaner that does a great job of helping your deck shine. 

For the best results, combine 12 cups of water with four cups of bleach and 1/2 a cup of powdered laundry detergent. Then, use a large stiff brush to ensure the solution makes its way onto every part of your deck's surface. Remember to use oxygen bleach rather than chlorine bleach since it will be less abrasive and safer for plants, animals, and people who are nearby.

Once you've covered every part of the deck, let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Afterward, scrub the deck with a deck brush and rinse with a standard garden hose to discover a cleaner deck free of dirt and stains. If you decide to use a pressure washer instead of a standard garden hose, do so with caution. Avoid causing damage to the wood by keeping the PSI under 2500.

Despite the benefits, you'll want to take a few precautions when using this homemade laundry detergent solution. Primarily, make sure that the detergent you're using doesn't contain ammonia. Combining ammonia with bleach is a big no-no and can lead to the creation of chloramines, gasses that can be harmful to human health. These gasses can lead to shortness of breath, coughing, nausea, chest pain, pneumonia, and more. Similarly, avoid mixing bleach with a laundry detergent that contains hydrogen peroxide since this could cause an explosion. 

You'll also want to take care of your pets. Avoid having them in the area while you're cleaning your deck. Laundry detergent, bleach, and other popular cleaning products can be harmful to them. Cover nearby plants when using this homemade deck cleaner as well, especially if using chlorine bleach rather than oxygen bleach. The chlorine in bleach and the boron in some laundry detergents may end up damaging or killing plants that they touch when you're cleaning the deck.