Decks provide a place to enjoy nature.
Constructed to withstand the harsh nature of weather, decks will still become dirty and require a thorough cleaning. Excess moisture left on the deck will cause mildew to begin to grow, which will leave unsightly stains on your deck. Fortunately, you can use several items to get mildew off decks.
Oxygen Bleach
When dissolved with water, the sodium percarbonate in oxygen bleach creates hundreds of bubbles that will cleanse, deodorize and eliminate mildew from your deck without toxic chemicals. Dissolve 2 cups of oxygen bleach in 2 gallons of lukewarm water. Saturate a brush broom or scrub brush in the mixture. Begin scrubbing the deck at the end farthest away from the entrance and work your way toward it. Leave the oxygen bleach mixture on the deck for 10 minutes before rinsing clean with a water hose.
Trisodium Phosphate
Trisodium phosphate is a concentrated cleaner available at home improvement stores. This chemical will remove grease, dirt, mold and mildew from your deck. Before using trisodium phosphate, put on a pair of rubber gloves to prevent possible skin irritation that can occur when using the chemical. Pour 1 gallon of water in a 5-gallon bucket. Add 10 teaspoons of trisodium phosphate and mix until well blended. Scrub the mildew off the deck with a brush saturated in the mixture. Rinse the deck clean with a water hose.
Vinegar
For a natural way to remove the mildew, use white vinegar. White vinegar kills mildew and removes the accompanying odor without toxic products. Fill a spray bottle with undiluted white vinegar. Saturate the mildew with the vinegar and let sit for 10 minutes. Wipe the mildew off the deck. Mist the area once again with the vinegar and let dry on the deck.
Chlorine Bleach
Long used to brighten your whites, chlorine bleach will remove both mold and mildew from decks. Unfortunately, chlorine bleach can cause discoloration on surfaces and harm vegetation. While wearing a pair of rubber gloves, mix 1 cup of chlorine bleach in 1 gallon of water. Test the mixture on a small, inconspicuous area of the deck. If damage or discoloration occurs, discontinue use and choose a different mildew removal method. Scrub the mildew off the deck with a scrub brush saturated in the bleach mixture. Let it sit for 10 minutes before rinsing the deck clean with a hose.
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