09/07/2024
We had someone ask about an evironmental method to clean their dock, here ya go.
Cleaning Your Dock Without Using Chemicals
The first step to restoring your deck is to clean it so it's able to absorb the new finish. Traditional cleaners such as Clorox and TSP are not at the top of the list for environmentally friendly products - for good reason! Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) produces dioxin, and TSP (30-second cleaner) releases phosphates - both of which have negative impacts on our fresh waterways.
You may be wondering what you can use to get your deck clean if you can’t use these common cleaners or one of the commercial deck brighteners? You may be surprised at how easy it is to clean your deck with environmentally friendly ingredients - some of which may already be in your kitchen:
Vinegar - White vinegar has degreasing power as well as anti-mold and mildew properties. Use a mixture of 1-part water to 1-part vinegar, and spray onto your deck with a hand sprayer or pump sprayer (available in the home and garden section of your local hardware store). This formula also works well with the addition of 1 tsp of mild (not ultra) liquid dish soap to 2 gallons of the vinegar/water solution.
Baking Soda - Combine 1-gallon water with 1 cup baking soda and stir until the baking soda is dissolved. Brush onto the deck with a scrub brush or brush broom, and rinse clean with water.
Oxygen Bleach - Oxyclean has a new purpose - deck cleaner. Dissolve 1 cup Oxyclean in 1-gallon water. Apply to the deck and scrub. Oxygen bleach goes to work on rust and other stains yet doesn’t bleach the wood.
Hydrogen peroxide - used full strength, also works very well as a natural cleaner. It will bubble up, showing that it is eating away the dirt and grime.
Pressure Washing - AVOID using a pressure washer as this process may lift off wood splinters and tiny metal flakes from bolts and fasteners, flushing them into the water.
Deck Wash - another product consisting of oxygen & hydrogen peroxide, also gets high marks and good ratings on keeping our waterways fresh. Follow label directions.
