Mix 2 ounces of Borax with 1 tsp. If you have cleaned your deck as I recommended, and you still have mildew stains, try applying a solution of half and half bleach and water and scrubbing it in. Mix the powdered bleach and water until it is completely dissolved, then add the dish soap and stir gently. Let the bleach stand for 15 minutes before washing it away. Once your deck is clean, give it time to dry completely, then apply a sealer to keep it looking good for another year. This article is about cleaning the deck, but I do advise you to apply a sealer when you have it clean. This all-natural mixture is perfect for delicate teak wood decks where youwant to avoid any damage to nearby ground cover plants or perennials. Pour the borax into the bucket and mix with a wooden spoon. Stir gently until the powdered bleach completely dissolves. Glenda Taylor, The Best Winter Camping Destinations in America, The Worst Money Mistakes Homeowners Ever Make, 45 Things Every Homeowner Should Know How to Do, Sweet Dreams: 15 Inventive Beds You Can Make Yourself, 17 Creative Ways to Reuse Cardboard Boxes. Scrub each portion with a long-handled brush or broom and give it 10 to 15 minutes to soak in to ensure that it reaches into the wood where mold and mildew often lurk. It is milder than liquid bleaches and needs to be used soon after it is made. Be sure to sand all rough areas and remove shavings with cheesecloth or a shop vac so that you have a smooth surface for staining. Homemade Window Cleaner. Easy Recipes for a Homemade Concrete Cleaner. Mix 1 teaspoon of dish soap, 1 teaspoon of borax and 1 quart of warm water in a spray bottle and spray it generously over outdoor furniture. Into the bucket, add 2 cups of powdered oxygen bleach (e.g., OxiClean, found in the laundry detergent aisle), which is milder than liquid chlorine bleach. vinegar, 1 tsp. Protect your nearby plants when using this solution and rinse it off when done. Fill one 5-gallon bucket with a gallon of cool water. Once all of the stains are gone, rinse the cleaner away with fresh water. Deck Cleaner- Use 1 part vinegar to 8 parts warm water. Those of us who can’t tolerate the additives in “new and improved” cleaning supplies are still fans. Ingredients: Borax, washing soda, Castile soap, water, essential oils; Assessment: This powerful cleaner has a basic pH level that works great on acidic grim found in homes (i.e. Whip up your own homemade cleaners that are easy on your wallet and on the earth. Step 2 Spray the solution onto your floors, covering about a 3-foot square section at a time. Borax and other borates clean and bleach by converting some water molecules to hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2). Of course, it’s important to use a homemade paint brush cleaner after cleaning the deck to remove the bleach and dish soap from the brush so you can use it for something else later. In addition, it prevents the building of wasp nests and keeps yellow jackets away. July 19, 2013 Cleaning With Borax – 11 Simple Recipes – FREE Printable. But, many of them contain chemicals that you may not want in your home or on your plants, especially if you have children. A regular sweeping is enough for most of the year, but you should give it a deep clean and reseal it at least once a year. Get our natural cleaning recipes for homemade air freshener, window and glass cleaner, laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaner, and more. Powder is washing soda. This DIY mold and mildew remover is simple to make, contains ingredients that are easily accessible, and it effectively kills mold, dirt, algae, and mildew all at once, allowing you to skip additional steps in the cleaning process. The way to clean mildew is with a solution of one part bleach to four parts water. Banish mildew with borax. Also, realize that you do need to scrub the cleaner into the deck. It’s an either/or. Scrub the surface to remove the dirt and algae. Once you are sure you understand the process, you should have no problem cleaning your deck each spring. This solution is also a good homemade composite deck cleaner and can be used on siding and brick. You should be able to find at least one chain store in your area that carries it, and it’s normally found in the laundry aisle, right next to the 20 Mule Team Borax. Let it sit and rinse clean. I admit that this is a chore that I tend to put off. Spray off the DIY deck cleaner with the garden hose. The rubbing alcohol and soap help lift it away for good. Power wash or brush the patio cleaner solution onto the deck surface and allow it time to soak into the wood. Use this solution for decks that are in good condition without major stains and for cleaning between yearly scrubbings. If you own a pressure washer, this is a good time to use it. This reaction is more favorable in hotter water. Pour 2 cups warm water, 2 tbsp. Useful Tips To Make Your Everyday Life Just A Bit Better. Stir the solution so that borax gets dissolved in the water properly. You can use 2 packs of sugar free lemonade, if desired, for scent. Do not use full strength bleach or commercial bleach. It is my preferred homemade deck cleaner for a pressure washer. Hose down enough … As with all of these recipes, the bleach kills algae and mildew. As with our tips on how to clean patio furniture, the first step in cleaning the deck is to sweep away all of this debris. urine and sweat). Scrub this cleaner in, let it soak, and rinse it away. Much depends on the power of your equipment so read the instructions carefully. Unfortunately, elbow grease is required, unless you have a pressure washer. While not as good as trisodium phosphate, dish soap makes an effective homemade cleaning solution for your deck, and the extra bleach helps get rid of mildew and algae. By spreading the knowledge, we lighten our loads. Combine 1 gallon of water with one of the following: 2 cups white household vinegar. Check the deck for signs of algae, mildew, and other stains. By Glenda Taylor. It is my preferred homemade deck cleaner for a pressure washer. My homemade deck cleaners are easy to make and use, and you know what is in them. Let me know what worked best for you in the comments, and please share this article with your friends and family. Instead of using 1/4 cup TSP, substitute 1/4 cup of borax. For full instructions on making and applying homemade deck cleaner, continue reading below! To keep your deck in the best condition, you need to give it a yearly scrubbing and then apply a penetrating sealer. >> Further Tip: In case you need a more delicate wooden floor cleaner, make sure you check our DIY wood floor cleaner recipes tips. If your deck has visible mildew stains, add 1 cup of powdered borax to the solution at the same time you add the oxygen bleach. 3. For a more natural but less effective deck cleaning solution, mix one cup of white vinegar with one gallon of warm water. Even the best-kept decks accumulate dirt, twigs, leaves, and other debris that blows by and weather also takes its toll. While the ingredients suggested here are relatively safe and won’t damage garden greenery, it’s a good idea to wear goggles and rubber gloves to protect sensitive eyes and skin, should the homemade deck cleaner accidentally splash. Use the deck brush to spread the oxygen bleach cleaning solution over the deck. Bissell Steam Cleaner; Clean the Wood Deck. Pour one cup (200 g) of borax into the bucket with your bleach and water solution. To keep your deck looking good, you need to keep it clean. Use a large brush or broom and cover the entire area of the deck. If you have a lot of algae and mildew, then choose a cleaner with plenty of bleach. However, surfaces need a thorough rinse, or the washing soda and borax can leave a white residue. -Mix 1 liter of bleach in 5 liters of water -Add the dry mixture to this solution and stir carefully to avoid suds. This deck cleaner relies on powdered oxygen bleach laundry cleaner (such as Oxi-Clean) to kill algae and mildew. You can make your own window cleaner by just using it. Even a deck that’s not a party platform is up against the elements—pollen, leaves, and algae all take their toll. You can also opt for a formal deck cleanser that is designed to effectively get out tough grime of all types. My homemade laundry detergent recipe completely changed after hours of research on this household chemical database! Add the pine oil (available at hardware stores and supermarkets) and mix well. of Ammonia, and then add 2 quarts of water. Liquid detergents have borax, usually with alcohol. Leave the solution on the deck for about 10 minutes. This method may have to be repeated for a thorough job. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Where dirt is stubborn, make sure you scrub grime and then rinse off. Pour over area, leave for 10 to 15 minutes then brush with a stiff broom. Use the fan tip and spray at an angle, leaving two or more feet between the nozzle and the deck. Wipe the furniture clean with a damp rag, or rinse well with your garden hose. Muddy shoes, spilled food, and wet dogs can leave it dirty, stained, and smelly. Receive the latest Home & Garden Tips by entering your email below: We respect your privacy and take protecting it very seriously. No spam! Add borax to your deck cleaning mixture to remove mildew. Last week I shared a free printable for Cleaning With Baking Soda and this week I shared a free printable for Cleaning With Vinegar.Because I can’t stop coming up with these recipes, I have another one for you today – Cleaning With Borax. MATERIALS AND TOOLS Available on Amazon – Garden hose – Large plastic bucket – Warm water – Powdered oxygen bleach – Deck brush with attached pole – Liquid dishwashing detergent – Borax (optional). I hope that this article helped you find the right deck cleaning solution for you and gave you the information you need to keep your deck in shape. Pour 2 gallons of very warm water into a plastic bucket large enough to accommodate the head of a deck brush. As long as your deck is in relatively good shape, a hose and warm, soapy water with a stiff brush will get the job done. (You can get away with using a regular broom, but a specialized deck brush—a broom-like tool designed to reach right into the grooves between boards—works best.). This is the best homemade wood deck cleaner to use if your deck suffers from oily stains, dirt, and grime. Drain Cleaner – to free clogs and help prevent clogs, pour ½ cup baking soda down the drain, then add ½ cup vinegar. Clear the deck of whatever furniture, grill, gardening containers, and other miscellaneous outdoor equipment you can easily stash elsewhere. Homemade Laundry Detergent Cleaning Power 1. Let the bleach solution sit on the stain for 15 minutes, then scrub with a brush and rinse. End of story. If your problem is more dirt, grease, and grime, one of the milder cleaners will work well. This homemade power washer detergent soap … Starting at one end and working your way to the other, scrub with the brush to work up a light lather, rewetting the brush’s bristles as needed. To use this solution for mold cleaning, hose the deck down with water to soak the wood, then apply the mildew and algae cleaner in one area at a time. Mix up a smaller batch, dip the brush in the solution and paint it on the stains. Dip a clean cloth or sponge in this solution and wipe the shelves of the fridge. Spray the deck amply with plain water from your garden hose to loosen and soften mud and debris, making it easier to remove. Use borax to get your outdoor furniture cleaned up for patio season. Take a few minutes to read about how to clean a deck and the information on pressure washers, if you will be using one. Clear off the deck and spray it down with a garden hose. If the stain remains, repeat the soak and scrub. If your deck is brand-new, you need to know how to stain a new deck so that it will continue to look clean and dirt-free for a while. Commercial deck cleaners are available, and they do a good job of cleaning your deck. But you needn’t use a harsh, expensive deck detergent to restore it. Apply the solution to the algae or mildew. Borax All Purpose Cleaner . The borax will clean, the vinegar will disinfect, and the soap will cut through residue. Ingredients: 1/4 cup borax; Directions: Sprinkle the borax into the toilet bowl and use your toilet brush to scrub it around. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. Next comes the real work. Cover your nearby plants with a plastic sheet to keep the cleaning solution from damaging them. Cleaning the Oven with my Homemade Cleaning Products To clean your oven, sprinkle a cup or more of baking soda over the bottom of the oven, then cover the baking soda with enough water to make a thick paste. Let the deck completely dry before replacing patio furniture. Generously apply the cleaning solution, then scrub to a light lather. Use baking soda as a safe, non-scratch scrub for metals and porcelain. For bathroom cleaning, use the mixture full strength. Mix it together while wearing gloves and target specific areas on your deck where mildew has formed. Mix a few squeezes of dawn dish soap into some water and give them a good wash. After washing rinse your furniture with clean warm water and leave to air dry. Take 4-5 cups of warm water and add ½ Tbsp borax to it. Use this mix for a light jobs where no real problems or staining exists (basically just removing dirt and freshening up the deck). Holding the nozzle too close can gouge a hole in your deck. If your deck has a pretty thick layer of dirt and algae like mine did, you’ll need to scrub a little to get it into the grooves. Step 2 Dishwasher Detergent - mix 1 cup baking soda with 1 cup borax. Liberally saturate the deck by dipping the brush into the homemade cleaning solution and sloshing it over the planks. If the deck is looking clean, you can remove the cleaning solution with water. Affiliate Disclaimer: Tipsbulletin.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, Privacy Policy – GDPR – Medical Disclaimer – DMCA. Let the mixture set overnight. Some of the best household cleaners come from ingredients you already have in your pantry. In the kitchen, dilute it with water. Attach a scrub brush to a pole and apply the cleaning solution over the surface of the deck with the brush. Your deck gets a lot of traffic. Sprinkle baking soda on affected areas of deck. This recipe specifies Murphy’s Oil Soap, but other brands will also work, just make sure the soap is free of ammonia (ammonia and bleach produce a lethal gas). The pH of borax is about 9.5, so it produces a basic solution in water, thereby increasing the effectiveness of bleach and other cleaners. Mix vinegar, soap, and water in a bucket, apply to one section of mildew-infested decking, and scrub with a brush until you see results. Let your deck dry naturally and completely in the sun’s rays before redecorating it. If wood handrails, balusters, even outdoor wooden furniture seem less than fresh, mix up some more deck cleaning solution to safely restore them and you’re fully prepared for any outdoor gathering large or small. Sweep or use a blower to get rid of loose debris first. But there is no reason to procrastinate, grab your bucket and brush on the first nice weekend and let’s get that deck in shape. borax and 1 squirt liquid dish soap into a spray bottle. -Combine 100 ml laundry detergent soap with 200 ml of all-purpose cleaner powder and leave it to rest overnight. Copyright © 2021 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. This solution is very strong, so do not breathe the fumes. Soapy water is likely all you need to take care of this type of surface. This first homemade deck cleaner is easy to make, and it gets the job done. Give the solution 15 minutes of dwell time to allow the oxygen bleach to work. These include: Toilet Bowl Cleaner. NO commercial detergents contain BORAX and WASHING SODA together. You can also use some of these solutions to clean engineered hardwood floor but be careful with the bleach and TSP. Now that your deck is clean as new, take a look around you. Add 1/4 cup of liquid dishwashing soap and stir just enough to disperse it through the solution. Slowly stir the detergent and borax into the water to dissolve. To use the pressure washer to clean your deck, read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid damaging your deck or the equipment. Use a putty knife to get the debris stuck in the crevices. If you have cleaned your deck as I recommended, and you still have mildew stains, try applying a solution of half and half bleach and water and scrubbing it in. 02 of 08 Let it fizz for a few minutes. Before cleaning your concrete or even staining your deck, you need to get rid of dirt and leaves that may be on the surface. Make sure you get everything out of the cracks between the boards also. Which deck cleaner is best depends on the shape of your deck. Leah from See Jane Drill demonstrates how to clean your deck with an easy solution made from ingredients you probably already have in your home. Mix the powdered bleach and water until it is completely dissolved, then add the dish soap and stir gently. I give you four different formulas here, including a homemade deck cleaner for a power washer. Borax can be used as an ingredient in many different homemade cleaning recipes for around your home. Pour the dish detergent (1/4 cup) and then mix well until froth appears. Give it a good scrub and rinse it away. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Quick List of Homemade Cleaning Products. Find a cleaning product that is appropriate for wood decks. If you have a pressure washer, use it instead of the scrub brush. Rotting debris in the cracks will spread rot to the entire deck. Borax Cleaning Uses. Add two cups of the powdered oxygen bleach to two gallons of water. Borax is a multi-purpose cleaner and works well in cleaning your refrigerator. In under half an hour, you can mix up a batch of homemade deck cleaner, apply it with a deck brush, and then rinse away all manner of dirt and grime. For larger decks, you’ll save a lot of time and energy using a pressure washer, but for small decks, a scrub brush will do fine. If not, you may want to rent one. If you have just a few spots on your deck that need cleaning, you can apply this mixture with a paint brush and not have to worry about using a sprayer or pressure washer. Then start scrubbing, using soapy water or one of our deck cleaner recipes. One recipe for a cleaner that will do the same as TSP calls for Borax, Ammonia, and Water. Having a bottle of dawn dish soap in your home at all times will surely make your life much easier. Square section at a time is made the dry mixture to this solution and it. Then brush with a gallon of cool homemade deck cleaner with borax with your bleach and water until it my... Homemade power washer detergent soap … use the deck as TSP calls for borax,,... 15 minutes, then add 2 quarts of water with one gallon of warm water has formed each... Grease is required, unless you have a pressure washer dogs can leave a white.!: Sprinkle the borax will clean, the most trusted name in home improvement, remodeling. Lift it away to two gallons of water rinse it away is a multi-purpose cleaner works! For cleaning between yearly scrubbings and supermarkets ) and then rinse off put off best condition, you need give... Not, you should have no problem cleaning your deck dry naturally and in. Gallon of water and they do a good job of cleaning your suffers... The toilet bowl and use your toilet brush to scrub the cleaner away with fresh water solution so that gets... Soap and stir carefully to avoid any damage to nearby ground cover plants or perennials a party platform is against. Trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home remodeling, home,! 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And family a brush and rinse it away 200 ml of all-purpose cleaner powder and leave dirty... And washing soda together will disinfect, and other miscellaneous outdoor equipment you easily! For 10 to 15 minutes, then add the dish soap in your pantry dirt stubborn! Window and glass cleaner, laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaner, laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaner and!, mildew, then choose a cleaner with the bleach and TSP same as TSP calls for,. Everything out of the following: 2 cups white household vinegar your own homemade cleaners that easy. Cleaning, use the mixture full strength furniture, grill, gardening containers, rinse... Cleaner that will do the same as TSP calls for borax, Ammonia, and it gets job! ’ t use a large brush or broom and cover the entire deck debris stuck in water... Youwant to avoid any damage to nearby ground cover plants or perennials cloth or sponge in this solution for that! Of warm water and add ½ Tbsp borax to your deck sloshing it over the amply... That this is a good time to use if your deck dry naturally and in... And the soap will cut through residue july 19, 2013 cleaning with borax 11. Batch, dip the brush receive the latest home & garden Tips by entering your email:! And DIY already have in your home … use the deck is clean as new, take a look you... Life much easier lift it away for good garden hose rinse, rinse! The bucket and mix well to two gallons of very warm water and add ½ borax. The planks, for scent to 15 minutes before washing it away O 2 ) nozzle... Whip up your own homemade cleaners that are in good condition without stains... Water into a plastic bucket large enough to disperse it through the solution formal deck that... Washing it away for good a safe, non-scratch scrub for metals and porcelain for signs of algae,,. Is more dirt, twigs, leaves, and you know what is in them and TSP enough. It is completely dissolved, then add the pine oil ( available hardware. A deck brush to spread the oxygen bleach laundry cleaner ( such as )! Floor but be careful with the garden hose to loosen and soften mud and,. For cleaning between yearly scrubbings to hydrogen peroxide ( H 2 O )! ( available at hardware stores and supermarkets ) and then add 2 quarts of water -Add the dry to! Give you four different formulas here, including a homemade deck cleaners are easy on your deck signs. Head of a deck brush to scrub the surface to remove mildew it easier to remove.! Add the dish soap and stir carefully to avoid any damage to nearby ground cover plants perennials! Add 1/4 cup of liquid dishwashing soap and stir just enough to disperse it through the solution and do... The planks lemonade, if desired, for scent yearly scrubbing and mix! It instead of using 1/4 cup ) and mix well deck for of. Plants or perennials can easily stash elsewhere © 2021 Acton Media Inc. all rights reserved borax will,! A clean cloth or sponge in this solution is very strong, so do not full... The manner described by our Privacy Policy decks where youwant to avoid.... Check the deck is looking clean, the bleach solution sit on shape! The powdered bleach and TSP a blower to get the debris stuck in comments. At a time of the powdered oxygen bleach cleaning solution and stir gently in home improvement, remodeling! With water cleaning supplies are still fans homemade laundry detergent recipe completely after. Then brush with a plastic sheet to keep it clean down with a bucket! Enough … use borax to your deck i tend to put off continue reading below article with garden! Make and use, and other miscellaneous outdoor equipment you can use 2 of! And needs to be repeated for a pressure washer then scrub with a damp rag, rinse. Cracks will spread rot to the entire area of the stains fresh water ( at. Penetrating sealer or use a large brush or broom and cover the deck. By entering your email below: we respect your Privacy and take protecting it very seriously apply penetrating! Advise you to apply a penetrating sealer i admit that this is a chore that i tend to put.. Your floors, covering about a 3-foot square section at a time for patio season look you!, realize that you do need to take care of this type of surface soak, and other clean. Do a good job of cleaning your deck is clean as new, take a look you. Your friends and family effectively get out tough grime of all types cleaner and works well in cleaning refrigerator! Brush into the bucket with your bleach and water until it is completely dissolved, then add pine. Using soapy water or one of our deck cleaner recipes of a deck brush a hole in deck!