cleaning decking ideas please!!

not sure if it should be in this bit or not!! anyway its there now! Had my nice new pation decking last year and after a wet winter have noticed that theres a bit of algae growth on it!!! I havent got a water presure thingy so was thinking of scrubbing it with something such as jif. Will this do the trick do you think??? will give me something to do over the holiday anyway!

 

You can get special deck cleaners at the likes of B&Q, not sure if Jif would be strong enough, but worth a try!!!

 

you know I never thouight of that. what a div I am! have to go there after work anyway so will look. sometimes I make life hard for myself!

 

Don't use a pressure washer - it forces water into the grain and causes rot

 

I have decking which gets really green and grotty during the winter,last spring instead of paying a lot for decking cleaner I got a few bottles of household bleach, left it on for an hour or so then brushed it off with a long handled brush. It worked really well and am going to use it again this year

 

One word: Armillatox :D

Keep well away from ponds or anywhere that run off can get into a water course. It is bio-degradeable but you don't want to be dosing fish or taddies etc. with it. The smell does linger for a few days but will dissipate over a week. Dilute 100:1, use on dry wood or stone and slabs and let it soak in. I find a watering can is better than a spray gun.

 

I bought some deck cleaner from homebase. Spent coupla hours Thursday with a scrubbing brush and bucket of water. I didnt use it at the rate it said as it was only laid the previous year and not that mucky. Hosed it down then spent Friday re staining /sealing it. Moved all the pots about a bit and voila!!! a nice new looking deck

 

That's the only way to do it. Good old fashioned elbow-grease!