Cleaning between cleaning

[CLASSICPW 14]

I know this might sound stupid, but I've never done it before. What do you use to clean dirt and debris off a recently sealed deck? I sealed my deck this spring and because of traffic and such it's filthy. Garden hose cleaning does nothing. I don't want to pwash it for fear of screwing up the finish. Maybe one of the Home depot deck clean products would be mild enough.

[herbie1 14]

Use a percarbonate cleaner on it.

Herb Hewlett

Herb's Pressure Washing

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

Exactly. A percarb is what we suggest as well.

Beth

[James 624]

what finish is on the deck? A little bleach and soap and a brush and rinse. If its a penitrating finish put a lite cote on. If its a filmer do nothing. Bleach and soap works better for maint. I've gone back and forth many time's on this issue because I do annual maint.

[seymore 90]

I agree with Jim

[CLASSICPW 14]

It was actually Olympic Maximum's Honey Gold. I wanted to test it before I used it on a customer's deck. It looks fantastic, but all the traffic areas are dull and filthy from the dog and kids.

[CCPC 26]

James, what kind of soap do you use?

[Everett Abrams 501]

I agree with Mick Foley. You should had some soap to the mixture. A light detergent is all that is needed.

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

When a home owner asks what they can do, we suggest OxiClean and a deck brush and a hose. Works well.

Everett, are you saying YES to bleach?

<thump as she hits the floor>

Beth

[James 624]

Dawn -Tide- Instead of pulling out your machine use a bucket and brush and a hose. Takes less than a half hour.

[Everett Abrams 501]

Not chlorine bleach. Soap in the mixture is what I was agreeing to.

[seymore 90]

I use Dawn also lately it's been "Apple Blossom" smells soo good:cool:

[CLASSICPW 14]

Thanks for the help everyone. I was going to use the deck brush and scrub it with bleach, but I didn't feel like removing all the furniture. I'll try the soap and I also cannot live without oxyclean for the laundry. Here's a tip for old ragged out tennis shoes, soak them in a 5 gal bucket of oxyclean overnight. The next day throw them in the wash. You're not going to believe it. I was so astounded that I wrote them a letter. BTW, generic oxyclean does not work.

It's funny how after washing decks all day the last thing you want to do when you come home is lay a finger on your own.

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

Try the oxiclean on the deck. It's a percarb. You can mix a little soap with it. Works great! Oxiclean is not just for laundry anymore...

Beth :groovy2:

[Aplus 525]

I make my own generic "oxyclean" all the time, and it works exactly like the real thing. Try 90% percarbonate and 10% soda ash. We use it as a booster in the laundry, and for general household cleaning.