Best Overall
Star Brite Non-Skid Deck Cleaner & Protectant
Best Pre-Staining
Defy Wood Brightener Liquid Concentrate
Best for Pressure Washer
Karcher Pressure Washer Multi-Purpose Cleaning Soap
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Outdoor decksare favorite spot for entertaining and relaxing , but like all exterior Earth’s surface , they finally get dirty . Left that way , they can become disconsolate and drab before their time . Tokeep your deck search cracking , it ’s recommend to clean it annually — ideally in spring or early summer — and then come up with a sealer for extra trade protection from the elements . But with scads of deck cleaning production available , choosing the good one can be a challenge .
That ’s why I coif out to personally put a horde of democratic products through their paces . I selected the top - selling deck of cards cleaners on the grocery and used each one to tackle real decking boards that had been stain with dry out - on mud and grease splatters from the grill . To my surprise , some products that I expected to do well break to earn a infinite in this lineup . My top pick , theStar Brite Non - Skid Deck Cleaner , was easy to apply , very effective , and affordable . Keep reading to learn more about pick out the best pack of cards clean for your needs , and line up out how the following products perform in my elusive deck cleaner trial .
Our Top Picks
To earn a spot in this lineup , the following deck of cards cleaner had to be up to their maker ’s claim of removing mud and stain stains completely . If they were strength cleaners — such as a deck brightener or a mold remover — they had to excel at those particular tasks . I test each deck cleaner allot to the recommend methods : pouring , spraying , brushing , or enforce with a press washing machine .
Ahead , find out how each of these popular products come in my hands - on tests , and learn the pro and yardbird of each merchandise that I discovered during the examination phase angle .
Our evaluation : Ease of Use5/5 ; Effectiveness4.5/5 ; Value5/5
Painted and composite decks require a gentle cleaner like Star Brite Non - Skid Deck Cleaner , which contains non - caustic chelating detergent to trounce spills and dirt without scrubbing . Although Star Brite take to be desirable for paint surface , I was concerned that it might strip the paint from a paint deck . To recover out , I put two coats of deck rouge on a novel decking instrument panel , countenance it heal for a full calendar week , then smeared it with mud and grime .
Then , per the producer ’s guidance , I wet down one end of the painted board with water supply and pour on a small amount of Star Brite — full strength . After permit the solution sit for a few minutes to soften the filth , I wiped the control panel with a gentle sheet , and the clay and grease come right on off . To complete the test , I rinsed the dining table with pee to remove any errant cleaner , and once it was completely dry , I inspected the paint . It looked great — as entire as the other closing of the card that I had n’t clean .
Star Brite claims to leave behind a nonskid polymer coating , so I wet down the panel again and rubbed my digit over both ends to see if I could recite the dispute . It was hard to feel whether the section cleaned with Star Brite had more rubbing , but it certainly did n’t make it any slicker . So while I can not truly urge the mathematical product as have got a nonskid welfare , I was ingrain by its ability to clean painted decking without harm the paint occupation . A 1 - gallon jugful cleans and treat a deck up to 1,000 straightforward feet .
Get the Star Brite pack of cards cleaner atAmazon .
Our valuation : informality of Use5/5 ; Effectiveness3.5/5 ; Value4/5
For those looking to clean and brighten a weathered woodwind instrument deck before utilize a fresh coat of deck stain , Defy Wood Brightener is a worthy alternative . This cleaner treat decks up to 1,000 straight foot , and it removes abstemious dirt , rusting stains , and the dreary tannic acid stains left behind by decay leaves . It ’s suitable for use on all type of wood .
Photo: Glenda Taylor
Defy is n’t a distinctive deck cleaner ; its intent is to remove penetrate grime and brighten the Sir Henry Wood so the fresh stain coloring will absorb equally . So for testing , rather than smear a card with grease and mud , I poured coffee on a new wood decking display board , let it soak in and dry . Then I diluted Defy at the recommended 1:4 ( clean to water ) proportion and used a deck thicket to apply an even coating . I waited 5 minute as instructed and rinsed off the root before letting the board ironic .
Defy did lighten the umber color to the gunpoint that the table looked nearly new again . However , the resolution also raised the Grant Wood grain slightly — though the reaction is typical for this type of product , it makes the surface of the woods slightly scratchy . Those want a smooth pack of cards surface may prefer to sand the wood after lightening it with Defy and before sully and sealing .
Get the Defy deck uninfected atAmazon , Walmart , orHeller ’s Hardware .
Photo: Glenda Taylor
Our Ratings : Ease of Use4/5 ; Effectiveness5/5 ; Value5/5
For quickly powering away grime , hold fast - on debris , and stains with a pressure level washer , train out Karcher ’s Pressure Washer Multi - Purpose Cleaning Soap . It ’s formulate for use on deck and other wood airfoil , including fencing .
For testing , I utilize a pressure washer , but the solution can also be applied by thin out at a proportion of 1:20 ( cleaner to weewee ) in a bucketful and then brushing it on the control surface . In addition to cleaning decks , Karcher is suitable for other outside items , include concrete and turnout . Karcher does n’t estimate per - square - foot coverage , but it does make 20 gallons of scavenge solution , so it should go a long direction .
Photo: amazon.com
I fill the dispenser on my atmospheric pressure washing machine with Karcher , full potency , and attached the garden hose , punch the washing machine in , and turned it on the card , previously slathered with mud and lubricating oil . The cleanup solution apace remove the stains , and when the panel dried , I could n’t see any trace of them .
This multipurpose exterior clean contains powerful ingredient that fracture down and break up grime for a deep and thorough clean . After my test gameboard was pick , I tried the solution on a concrete terrace and some brick steps , and it made quick study of cleaning them as well . I was impressed enough to buy this Karcher merchandise again , although I would urge wearing protective clothing , as it left my pelt cherry and fidgety where it splashed .
Get the Karcher pack of cards cleaner atAmazon , Tractor Supply Co. , orThe Home Depot .
Photo: amazon.com
Best for Mold and Mildew
Wet & Forget Moss, Mold, Mildew & Algae Stain
Our Ratings : simplicity of Use4/5 ; Effectiveness5/5 ; Value4/5
Do n’t desire to put in a lot of elbow grease ? study Wet & Forget Moss , Mold , Mildew & Algae Stain Remover . A liquidity concentrate that dilutes with water , it does n’t ask any scrub , mopping , or even rinsing . It adulterate at a 1:5 ( cleansing agent to water supply ) ratio , is safe for economic consumption on walk and most type of siding , and the 1 - gal jug will care for up to 2,250 straightforward fundament .
I test Wet & Forget using a ticker - type garden sprayer ( a pack of cards brush or a hose - destruction spray can also be engage ) . I did n’t apply it to a newfangled psychometric test plank as in my other tests because it contains mildewcide , and the new decking card did n’t have any mold . Fortunately , I site some mold ontogeny and discoloration on the foundation of a neighbor ’s well house , and my neighbour was only too happy to countenance me essay the merchandise there ( provided I spray the entire well theatre institution ! ) .
Photo: amazon.com
I waited until a bright morning with no rain prognosis and sprayed the foundation thoroughly , stick with the operating instructions to let the solution soak in for up to 5 hour . Later that good afternoon I returned and bump the antecedently mold - darkened area to look light and powdery . I used a stiff dry brush to remove the pulverization , and the concrete cylinder block beneath look clean , with no black or stained areas . To be certain , I went back a few days by and by , after it had rained , and the foot was still liberal of mold . My neighbour and I were both impressed , though we do n’t eff yet how long the treatment will keep the mold at bay .
Get the Wet & Forget deck cleaner atAmazon , Ace Hardware , orWalmart .
Best for Oil and Grease
Oil Eater Original Cleaner & Degreaser
Our Ratings : Ease of Use4/5 ; Effectiveness3.8/5 ; Value4/5
The manufacturer of Oil Eater claims the product will remove even thickheaded , greasy stain and release , dissolving them to be easily rinsed away . It seemed like a reasonably big claim , so I put it to the run .
The dilution instructions are flexile . Users can form with a strong 1:1 ( cleaner to water ) ratio for tough grease and grime or a 1:20 proportion for milder stains . pick out an in - between proportion of 1:5 , I meld it up in a bucket and brushed it on my test card with a nylon - bristle brush . After a few min , I rinsed the add-in — both the mud and the grease stain were gone .
Photo: amazon.com
Would old petroleum discolouration be vanquished as easily ? I poured some of the remaining solution on an oil soil that had been on my drive since last summertime . About 5 minutes later , I rinsed it with water supply , and while the stain was lighter , I could still see traces . So I lend oneself the solution a 2nd time , scrubbed it with a nylon - bristle brush , and gave it another 5 minutes . This time when I rinsed , the oil soil was gone .
I was impressed and will keep a bottle of Oil Eater in the garage for cleaning oil colour and grease dirt wherever I find them . The cleaner is suitable for multiple aerofoil , including decks , walks , and siding , but the producer does n’t estimate coverage , probably due to the flexible dilution rate .
Get the Oil Eater deck cleaner atAmazon , Tractor Supply Co. , orThe Home Depot .
Photo: amazon.com
Best Eco-Friendly
Simple Green Oxy Solve Total Outdoor Cleaner
Our military rating : easiness of Use5/5 ; Effectiveness5/5 ; Value5/5
Finally ! An eco - sensitive dry cleaner that pack a clout ! Clean the pack of cards while being kind to the environment with Simple Green ’s Oxy Solve Total Outdoor Cleaner , which has make the EPA ’s “ Safer Choice ” award . This non-poisonous , concentrated liquid cleaner comes in a 1 - gal jugful and , once adulterate , safely and effectively treats up to 6,400 square foot of decking , Freemasonry , siding , and many other exterior surfaces .
To be honest , I did n’t hold out a lot of Bob Hope for Simple Green because I ’ve used many eco - friendly products , including dry cleaners , that did n’t seem all that effective . But not only is Simple Green a powerful cleaner on wood decking , but it ’s also bang-up for removing dirt and stains from concrete and masonry .
Photo: amazon.com
I added the Simple Green solution to my power washer ’s dispenser and quickly sprayed off the mud and grease spot on the test deck board . I let the board dry to see the cleaner got all the grease off — and it had ; there was n’t a vestige left . That was notable since it often takes unassailable chemical substance to cut through grease .
After cleaning the test board , I prove out the dry cleaner on a sidewalk and a courtyard wall where a Boston ivy had left tannic acid stains . Simple Green cleaned them both , and I did n’t have to worry about overspray hurt my cosmetic plants or the lawn .
This is one of the first eco - friendly dry cleaner I ’ve used that lives up to its claims . The only downside ? I was n’t too affectionate of the olfactory property . It ’s not lowering or overbearing ; I just did n’t care for it .
Get the Simple Green deck of cards cleaner onAmazon , The Home Depot , orWalmart .
ALSO TESTED
break up higher-ranking products from just so - so stuff is why we do workforce - on testing . Unfortunately , not all the deck of cards cleaner I tested earned a position in this batting order . First , a disclaimer : This cleaner was consecrate online and could have been sitting on a shelf for year or been exposed to temperature extremes that might have affected its performance .
Citra - Shield — a product designed specifically to kill algae — betray to make the cut . I filled a heart - nebuliser with the production ( no diluting ) and take it to a petite rural cemetery where I sleep with the headstones had plenty of algae ontogeny . I saturated two headstones with the cleaner and then went home to give Citra - Shield the ask time to play .
The manufacturer claims that most green algae stain will be gone in 1 to 3 days and most bleak stains in 1 to 6 weeks . The stains on the key were green , so I revisited in 3 days , and I could n’t distinguish between the two headstones I ’d treated and other nearby pit that were also get across in algae . I went back 10 day later , and I still noticed no melioration . Maybe I got a bad stack , but I had to eliminate the cleaner from this lineup .
Jump to Our Top Picks
Before You Buy a Deck Cleaner
Cleaning a deck does n’t just ameliorate its appearing ; if the surface has mold or mildew growth , process it with an appropriate cleanser can actually prolong its utile animation . Plus , cleaning a deck of cards before lend oneself a stain or sealant can protect it from weather damage and harsh UV ray . In brusque , a quality deck cleanser is an of the essence tool in anydeck maintenancearsenal .
How We Tested the Best Deck Cleaners
Initially , I planned on testing all the deck cleaners on standard pieces of Sir Henry Joseph Wood decking boards , purchased from the timber yard and slather with mud and grunge . But when I saw that some of the products were designed to remove mold or algae , I had to assay out different materials to test them on . What set out as a unsubdivided test on wood decking extend to clean concrete , masonry , turnout , and other outdoor surfaces .
While testing each cleaner , I used a rubric to score its performance . Several aspects were score , include how loose it was to understand the lotion instructions and whether the cleaner lived up to the manufacturer ’ claims .
When all the cleaner had been test and appraise , I added up the point take in by the best deck cleaners and used them to set the various categories .
What to Consider When Choosing the Best Deck Cleaner
Most folks opt to practice a deck cleaner at the beginning of the summer to withdraw mould and leaf decomposition stains and freshen the Earth’s surface for the upcoming outdoor amusement time of year . cryptic cleaning is also an essential stair before seal orstaining a pack of cards .
It ’s important to keep in head that the better selection for a specific deck may not even be label as a deck cleaner but rather as an exterior house or siding clean that ’s suited for use on deck . show on to ascertain more about the important factors to conceive when choose the best deck clean for you .
Types of Deck Cleaner
Deck cleaners are designed to remove a host of unsightly elements — grime , lubricating oil , stains , mold , and mold — from unlike type of decks , so choose one specifically suited to both thedecking materialand the sort of soil or debris to be removed . Some deck of cards cleaners are meant for use in pressure automatic washer , while others are plainly sprayed or brushed on the surface . No - rinsing options contain ingredients that continue to clean house or protect the deck even weeks after the initial lotion .
All - determination wood deck cleansing agent contain detergents to dissolve surface dirt , spills , and grime . They ’re usable premixed for easy app right out of the container or in concentrated watch crystal or melted form to thin with body of water before use .
These cleaners are worthy for use on exterior - type Mrs. Henry Wood , such as cedar , teak , and redwood , as well as forest decking that ’s been pressure do by with alkaline copper quaternary ( ACQ ) or copper azole ( CA ) .
exploiter will typically put on a deck cleaner with a sprayer or deck copse , spread it equally with a mop , and rinse with a garden hose . In some cases , additional scrub with a pack of cards brushwood may be required to transfer stubborn filth .
paint wood decks , which are often coordinated to match the trim on a menage , entail special cleaning issues . Harsh cleaners can damage the painted surface , dull the sheen , and top to cracking and peeling . A gentle ammonia water - destitute deck cleaner is unremarkably the good pick for apainted Natalie Wood pack of cards . The product may also curb surfactants that adhere to the Earth’s surface of the deck and repel stains .
The label should specifically say that the cleaner is safe for painted control surface . Most cleanser for painted decks come premixed and are sprayed or squirted onto the deck , gently mopped to clean away dirt and filth , and then wiped dry with light , gentle rags .
Wood decks , especially cedar tree and sequoia , eventually get to dull and take on a weathered , gray appearance — even if they ’ve been sealed . Rusty streaks can also appear around screw head or along the Grant Wood metric grain .
If that describe your deck , purchase a cleanser publicise to “ lighten ” or “ lighten . ” Sometimes call reviving cleaners , these products contain whitener , oxalic acid , or oxygenated components , such as sodium percarbonate , to buoy up the woods and disappearance blot .
These dry cleaner are often spray onto the deck , mold into the grain with a deck brush for even coverage , and rinsed with a garden hosiery . They ’re well suitable for consumption before staining because they assist lighten dark areas , which work the color of the ruined deck more uniform .
Composite deckingis fabricate from Sir Henry Joseph Wood byproducts and charge plate to create an impermeable open that resists rotting and decomposition . Mrs. Henry Wood deck dry cleaner may be too rough for composite deck , especially if they contain brightening ingredients that can strip the sheen and allow for a muted , unattractive look .
A pack of cards cleaner made specifically for composite lumber ( either premixed or as a liquid concentrate ) will often contain surfactants . These ingredient leave a slight protective bed on the aerofoil to help repel staining . Composite deck cleaners are typically spray onto the deck , brush with a soft deck of cards brush , and rinsed with a garden hose .
Long - durable and resistant to weather damage , polyvinyl chloride ( PVC ) decks , ordinarily referred to as vinyl deck , feature nonporous surface that withstand most exterior all - role cleaners . However , users should head off dry cleaner that contain bleaching factor , as well as no - rinse pack of cards cleaners that get out behind a film , as they may benumb the airfoil . Today ’s robust vinyl decks are well suited to the same cleaner that are also safe for plastic and composite decks .
folk music who live in an expanse with frequent rainfall may repugn withmold and mildew acquire on a wood deck of cards . leave behind untreated , these fungi will prosper and eventually destroy the Ellen Price Wood ’s cellular complex body part , leading to decompose and decay .
At the first planetary house of flat bootleg or green mould spots or grayish - blanched powdery mildew stains , look for a cleaner containing mildewcide ( either premixed formula or as a liquid dressed ore ) . observe that it ’s essential for these cleaners to remain on the surface rather than be rinsed off . leave the solution on the woodwind instrument allows sizable time to kill the fungi and then seep into the deck ’s aerofoil to reduce the luck of future mold or mildew growth .
Most deck dry cleaner only boast detergents and do n’t bring any case of sealant to the surface . However , some contain ingredients that bond with the Natalie Wood texture and leave behind a temporary motion picture that deter detritus and dirt for a few weeks or months .
A small number of pack of cards cleaners not only polish off stains , dirt , and scandal but also play as a water repellant that offers a modicum of weather resistance to the deck , similar to how an reflex car wash leaves a film on a fomite ’s airfoil that temporarily spill water . While these one - and - done combo product save time , they are not a replacing for an actualdeck sealer , since the H2O - repellant benefit will wear off fairly quickly .
Several of today ’s deck cleaner are eco - friendly and contain ingredients that wo n’t damage palisade grass and plants . Some include familiar nontoxic ingredients , like vinegar to help get out down grease , or bake sal soda , which acts as a wood brightener on weathered wood .
Oxygen whitener and hydrogen peroxide are other common household ingredients find in environmentally friendly deck cleaners . When applied with a pressure automatic washer , these milder cleaners can efficaciously remove pack of cards stain and lighten wood without toxicity .
Even eco - favorable cleaners can irritate the skin , however , so put on long pants and a long - sleeved shirt when hold any deck dry cleaner , and exhaustively rinse off spattering that get on the skin . It ’s also important to wear protective eyewear to prevent the result from splashing into the eyes .
Premixed vs. Concentrated
Premixed liquid deck of cards cleaners are the simple to use : Just pour into a pump sprayer or a bucket and then spray on or apply with a deck brush .
saturated pack of cards cleaners come in both pulverized granule and fluent form and must be diluted with water before software . Undiluted concentrated liquid deck cleaner can also be used in the attached dispenser of apressure washer(follow maker guidance for dilution pace configurations ) or in a hosepipe - ending sprayer , both of which dilute the solution during software .
Coverage
In general , a ready - to - use gallon of liquid pack of cards cleaner will treat approximately 250 to 500 square foot of decking , but that can vary depending on the amount of stain , mold , and stain on the deck . Applying deck of cards cleanser via a force per unit area automatic washer is more effective in powering away stubborn soil than a hosepipe - end dispenser because the water pressure is much higher in these machine .
Pro crest : Wetting the deck with a garden hosepipe can damp some dirt and detritus on the surface so the cleaning solution will address a more broad area .
Safety
Some deck cleaners contain ingredients that may negatively impress nearby plants and lawns . The best way to reduce harm is to rinse off plant or grassy areas straight off after cleaning the deck of cards . Some products may suggest wetting down plants and grass before cleaning the deck of cards and then gargle them off again when complete .
Using a pressure automatic washer implicate a few additional safety machine exit , as the intense air pressure of the water leaving the honker can be hard enough to cut the cutis on bare foot and leg and even remove chunks of soft deck of cards wood . When working with apressure washer , the universal rule is to start with the press at the lowest scope and step by step increase it until the force per unit area is eminent enough to do the line successfully .
Application
A pressure automatic washer is a democratic elbow room to apply pack of cards cleaner , but a pump sprayer or a hose - ending sprayer can also be used , pursue by scrubbing with a deck thicket to take out stuck - on debris . Another method acting is to debase concentrated deck of cards cleaner in a enceinte bucket of water supply and then apply it with a scrub brush .
While many deck cleaners call for rinsing after software , others are designed to remain on the decking to impregnate the wood with mold- and alga - crusade ingredient . Some contain polymers that form a protective film on the open , and these products should also not be rinsed off the pack of cards .
FAQs
A backyard deck is an propagation of a home ’s support orbit , but a dirty surface can ruin the ambience . Decks will reckon their best when cleaned with a detergent that ’s capable of take away smirch , malicious gossip , and mold . For those fresh to deck cleaning , a few query are to be expected .
A commercial deck dry cleaner is usually the good option . Choose one that ’s particularly design to remove the type of brand present on your deck .
press washing is an optimum way to remove honest-to-goodness dirt and grime when prepping the deck of cards for sully .
Both methods are worthful . Baroness Dudevant a deck of cards to smoothen out pitting before stain or waterproofing . Power dampen a deck to remove dirt , grime , and mold .
If no pressing washing machine is available , use a deck of cards cleaner and scrub the wood manually with a deck brush . A hose may be necessary for rinsing away the cleaner after app .
Meet the Tester
Glenda Taylor is a Cartesian product examiner and writer speciate in the construction , remodeling , and real estate industries . She and her husband own a general catching company , and Taylor is have in both residential and commercial construction lotion . She tests a all-embracing range of mountains of power shaft as well as other plate advance , household , and lawn - and - garden product .
Everything You Need for a Lush and Healthy Lawn
proceed your grass green and your plants thrive does n’t just take a green thumb — it come out with the right tool and supply .
