Outdoor spring cleaning: cleaning your wooden terrace

Has winter left its mark on your wooden terrace? Read here how to make it as good as new with simple means.

Overview: Cleaning your wooden terrace in the spring

• A wooden terrace needs cleaning in the spring because winter leaves its mark.
• First tidy up the patio and sweep it clean.
• Is the terrace wood suitable for ahigh pressure cleaner? Then use it with a washing brush attachment for easy and gentle cleaning.
• Home remedies such as baking soda or green soap are a good alternative.
• Vinegar damages the wood. Better to leave it out.
• It is advisable to treat the wood with oil after polishing.

How to clean a wooden terrace

After the winter the terrace is discoloured by dirt and the wood no longer looks fresh. A green layer has formed especially in shady areas which you can best tackle. This can be done quickly with simple home remedies. You can also clean a terrace carefully and efficiently with a high-pressure cleaner with the right attachment. We will show you how.

The right material to clean a wooden terrace

First of all: sweep your wooden terrace regularly so that stubborn dirt cannot settle. For a thorough spring cleaning in addition to a broom a scrubbing brush or a high-pressure cleaner with a washing brush attachment are also useful.

The type of wood determines how you clean the terrace

In general never direct the jet of a pressure washer directly onto a wooden deck. The pressure of the machine can wash the resin out of the wood making it brittle more quickly. Check in advance what kind of wood your deck planks are made of. The durability class of the wood determines how you approach cleaning.

• Class 1 and 2are for example tropical woods such as bangkirai and teak. Acacia and oak also belong to this group. They are sustainable robust and strong woods. They can be used with thewashing brush to be cleaned.
• Class 3 and 4are wood types such as beech pine and fir. These types of wood are slightly less durable and require manual cleaning with a broom and scrubbing brush. Further on we explain which home remedies exist.

Cleaning a wooden terrace with a high-pressure cleaner

Get started with ahigh pressure cleaner of washing brush attachmentif the wood of your terrace is suitable for this. Attach the attachment and set the water pressure to a low setting. Too high water pressure damages the wood surface. The wood becomes rough and the surface structure is affected making the wood brittle and can even splinter.

When cleaning make sure you treat the entire surface evenly. This way the terrace will get the same color everywhere.

For hard and untreated wooden surfaces we recommendSTIHL CS 100 cleaning product for stones and facadeson. It removes stubborn green deposits safely.

Home remedies for a wooden terrace

If you don't have a pressure washer or the wood of your terrace is not suitable for it then resort to simple home remedies. Soda (sodium carbonate) is an environmentally friendly and cheap alternative and the classic green soap also gets the job done.

Soda and cornstarch: a powerful team

With soda and cornflour you can easily make your own cleaning paste. Dissolve 2 to 3 tablespoons of cornflour in 1 640.50'l of lukewarm water. Keep stirring until there are no more lumps. Pour this mixture into a saucepan with 5 l of lukewarm water. Add 100 g of soda (sodium carbonate) and bring the liquid to the boil until it starts to bubble. With this paste you can easily and gently clean a wooden terrace.

Apply the paste to the wooden planks with a scrubbing brush. Let the paste work for a few hours and then rinse it off with water.

Cleaning a wooden terrace with green soap

You can also clean a wooden terrace perfectly with soap. Of course environmentally friendly products are preferable. Make sure that not too much dirty water ends up in the garden.

Apply the green soap undiluted and rub the planks with a brush. With a little patience you can get the smallest joint of your wooden terrace clean again. Finally rinse everything with the garden hose or with a watering can.

Cleaning the terrace with vinegar

Wooden decking boards do not tolerate acidic cleaning agents including vinegar. They shorten the life of your deck and you should not use them.

More tips for maintaining your wooden terrace

Cleaning the surface of the wooden terrace is a first step but if you want to work more thoroughly there is still a job to do.

Cleaning the surface under the wooden deck

Out of sight out of mind: this unfortunately also applies to wooden terraces. All sorts of things fall between the cracks and what ends up under the terrace is often forgotten – until it starts to smell unpleasant. To prevent this clean the surface under the terrace as well.

Regularly remove leaves and dirt that have ended up between the cracks. This can be done with avacuum chopper or a leaf blowerThe terrace remains clean at the bottom and mold and vermin do not stand a chance.

Protection: treat your wooden terrace with oil

As a final step after cleaning protect the wood with oil.

After cleaning wait about 24 hours: oil applied to wet wood can lock in moisture which will eventually cause rot. Protect the terrace with oil or stain and also bring it visually in top shape for the new garden season.