If you have rented a pressure washer the next challenge is to set up the machine. You hook the water supply, attach the pressure hose and gun and turn the water. Ones you pull the engine recoil cord you will feel the machine roaring to life. If you are a DIY type of person, you approach your deck and point the tip to the deck, you squeeze the trigger to bring forth a jet of water. Ideally you should be cleaning the deck.

However, you may soon discover you did not only remove the dirt from the deck but you also got rid ¼ inch of wood. The DIY deck cleaner you thought you were translates into a wood engraver. And you end up with a damaged deck. Therefore, the question arises, “Which is the best way of cleaning your deck using pressure cleaners?”

If your deck is composite or wood, it needs to be cleaned periodically to ensure it retains its beauty. This preventative maintenance when done correctly will go a long way in adding years to the deck, saving you valuable money and time in the long term.

Type of pressure

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The pressure required to wash the deck surface is almost less than 1500 pounds/square inch (PSI). This amount of pressure is still sufficient to damage soft wood. It is also enough pressure to create lap marks on the majority of composite decking. When it comes to pressure washing, less is more. The pressure washer helps to remove dirt and other contaminants that have been embedded in the wood. Excessive forces present on the wood will help remove much more pollutants that you want removed. The pressure washer is the cleaner that will do most of the work of removing dirt.

Types of cleaners

Cleaners come in different shapes, colors and claims. Some are bleaches, others are chemicals and others are detergents. The chemicals are designed to react with specific types of wood. There is no clear answer what cleaner is best for your deck. The most important thing to do is to read the manufacturer’s directions and follow them.

When you choose to use a pressure washer, the job of the washer is to remove the surface dirt and chemicals. A pressure washer utilizes less water than conventional hoses and nozzles. Getting rid of the residue is easier with the pressure washer. It forces off the cleaner from off the wood and diluted.

Types of brush

Stiff bristle brushes should be used to clean up the deck. The brush should be made of synthetic bristles as opposed to natural bristles. This is because most of the cleaning solutions will undermine the quality of natural bristle brushes. Furthermore, good synthetic bristles can offer many years of good performance.

The brush should be fitted to a lengthy handle and it should be able to reach all the places that need to be reached. Scrub the deck and sometimes watering the deck lightly can help in applying and spreading out the cleaning solution. Most of the solutions should not be permitted to dry on the wooden deck, so periodic spraying may be required. Once the entire deck has been scrubbed, it is now ready for rinsing using a hose and nozzle.