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A clean backyard deck

Overview

A deck is the perfect place to entertain family and friends, so it’s important to make sure it’s always looking great. There’s nothing like giving your deck a thorough clean to bring it back to life and with the right tools and equipment, it’s a pretty simple job.

Steps

1Sweep away dirt and leaves

Brush the deck down with a soft broom to remove any dirt or leaves. This will help prevent particles from building up and damaging the deck. If the deck needs a more thorough clean, use a stronger bristled brush and some water.

A deck being brushed clear of debris before cleaning

2Use a high pressure cleaner

A high pressure cleaner will wash away any remaining dirt. Make sure you carefully go over the whole deck. If you're cleaning an older deck, make sure the high pressure cleaner doesn't split or crack the wood. For safety reasons, wear closed shoes, safety glasses and earmuffs. If you don't have a high pressure cleaner, a hose will do.

A Bunnings team member using a pressure hose to clean a backyard deck

3Mix the deck clean with water

Mix the deck cleaner with water, making sure you follow the instructions to get the correct balance. Use a measuring cup for accuracy and mix the deck clean with the water thoroughly. Make sure you wear gloves, goggles and a mask when working with deck cleaner.

Deck cleaner being measured into a bucket of water

4Scrub the deck

Dip the deck scrub broom into the bucket of cleaning mixture and start scrubbing the deck. Thoroughly scrub every part of the deck to avoid spotting. Leave the cleaning mixture on for 10–20 minutes, taking care not to get any of the cleaning mixture on your plants.

A stiff brush being used to scrub a deck

5Give it a high pressure clean

After you've left the cleaning mixture for no more than 20 minutes, wash it down with the high-pressure hose. Make sure you wash away all the cleaning mixture along with any dirt and grime. Leave the deck to dry. 

A Bunnings team member using a pressure hose to clean a backyard deck

6Enjoy your clean deck

Now you have a brilliantly clean deck again, all you need to do is put your outdoor furniture or barbecue back where they were. You could also stain or oil the timber to help protect it from the elements.

A clean backyard deck
Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer. You can also use a simple test kit from Bunnings to indicate the presence of lead-based paint.