Is it time to clean your patio or wash your decking and wooden patio?
Soap and vinegar will do the trick!
Here we give you tips on how to prepare your balcony for spring and summer and what to avoid.
Cleaning a patio, balcony or veranda is definitely hard work. If you skip cleaning, you risk settling dirt, which in turn can lead to microbial growth and damage to the wood. Oh, and it’s also not very pleasant to walk on.
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Patio cleaning is not particularly difficult, but it’s important to be careful not to do unnecessary work and do more harm than good. So how do you do it, what to look out for, and what is recommended for your balcony?
Washing with a high-pressure cleaner? Well, risk ruining your balcony.
If you want to be completely safe and don’t want to risk destroying your patio, you should avoid high pressure washing. Sure, it can be effective, but even a little too much pressure is enough to cause wear and tear on the wooden surface.
If you do want to try it, reduce the pressure and rinse with soap and water. You can also use a brush to clean your patio.
How you wash your wooden patio depends on many factors, but the deciding factor is usually the amount of dirt. Both soap and vinegar usually work well.
To remove common dirt from wood, it is recommended to use regular dish detergent and green soap.
Wood decks should be washed with soap and water.
In principle, all unpainted wood decks are treated in the same way. Usually, the possible difference is determined by the amount of dirt.
For normal amounts of dirt, it is recommended to use a regular brush and vegetable soap. However, if the dirt has penetrated deeper, a tougher grip will be needed. Instead of vegetable soap, you may need a specialty patio detergent. This can be purchased at most hardware stores or online. Otherwise, the workflow is exactly the same as before – rub, rub, rub.
If the wooden deck is very hard, you can use even more powerful detergents, so-called pressure washers. However, this method should only be resorted to in very severe cases.
After you finish washing the patio, don’t forget to rinse it with water.
Clean your patio with vinegar, an ideal remedy for algae and dirt.
An eco-friendly way to clean your patio and tidy it up after the winter months is to use vinegar. Mix a few drops of dish detergent with two deciliters of vinegar and one liter of warm water. Then simply scrub the wood. This will do wonders for the balcony! Make sure you don’t get vinegar splashes on the plants – this can be avoided by wiping off the liquid before cleaning.
Has your wooden patio started to turn green in places? This is algae and can be easily removed with vinegar. You can also remove mold with the same mixture and method. However, if you are trying to remove algae, be patient – you will only see results after a couple days.
To oil or not to oil a freshly washed wooden patio
After washing, it’s time to inspect the surface treatment. Especially if your decking is oiled or coated with a finish. It is then usually wise to oil or re-laser the finish. This is necessary for added protection and durability.
It is important not to allow the wood to dry out completely before starting work. If weather conditions are suitable, a day may be sufficient. Some also recommend pre-sanding the patio, while others believe that it is not necessary. This is where you can make your own decision and see what is necessary for your balcony.
Keep in mind that if your patio is constructed of pressed pine, it will darken with oil.
