How to Clean your Deck and Patios

Cleaning your deck and patio is a great way to get your house ready for the summer months. Here in the Pacific Northwest, after a wet winter and fall, decks are often covered with moss and other debris when the spring and summer months roll around. Depending on your climate, you may not need to clean your decks and patios as often as we do here in Washington State. But no matter what the climate and conditions, weathering will have an effect on your deck over a prolonged period of time. 

One great thing about cleaning your deck and patio with Quick n Brite is the cleaning solution is non-toxic and biodegradable, so it is safe for any type of decking (wood, composite, concrete, stamped concrete etc.), safe for you, your pets and your plants or landscaping. You do not have to worry about keeping animals away while you are cleaning, or killing your plants and lawn.

(If you are going to use a pressure washer to clean your deck or patio, make sure to read the manufactures information to prevent damage to your deck or patio from the water pressure)

To begin the deck cleaning process take your garden hose and spray your deck down. This will help remove large debris and will also help the cleaner spread evenly. Next, a trick of the trade to mix your Quick n Brite solution: Mix it into a clean bug sprayer! Add 2/3 cup of Quick n Brite Liquid to 1 gallon of HOT water. (Hot works better to dilute the cleaner, and is also more effective to clean.) If hot water is not easily accessible, water from your garden hose will work fine as well. 

Once your heavy solution is mixed, generously spray your deck or patio with the Quick n Brite heavy solution. If your deck is in desperate need of cleaning, let the solution sit for 10-15 minutes before beginning the next step. With Quick n Brite, the longer the solution sits on the surface the better it is going to work and the less scrubbing you have. After 10-15 minutes use a push broom or stiff brush to brush the surface of the deck. If you have leftover heavy solution, you can dunk your broom into the cleaner to get more cleaning solution onto the deck, or you can mix and additional gallon of heavy solution. Again, let this sit for 10-15 minutes then use your garden hose to rinse off the deck or patio. 

Cleaning Tip: Use the same technique to clean your house siding! Works great at removing red clay, dirt, moss and dust.