DIY Network

Great Outdoors: The Deck Area From "Talking Dirty With the Queen of Clean" episode DQOC-144

• Sweep away debris and wet the deck surface and spray surrounding vegetation with a garden hose (figure A).

• Mix 1 cup of TSP (trisodium phosphate) and 1 gallon oxygen type bleach solution with 1 gallon of hot water. Use less water if the deck is really dirty.

• Apply with a scrub brush or a stiff bristled broom, keeping the deck wet while applying the cleaning solution. Let the cleaning solution soak, then rinse off with a hose (figure B).

• When the deck is dry, consider applying a wood finish, which is different from a surface sealer. A wood finish penetrates deep into the wood grain, guards against moisture damage and protects the wood from harmful UV rays, which prematurely fade and age wood.

Figure A

Figure B

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	Figure C
	Figure D

• If you have concrete surfaces around the exterior of the home consider adding a Cool Deck surface to the concrete. This polymer concrete surfacing keeps patio and pool surfaces cooler and is textured to prevent slippage (figure C).

• It's very easy to maintain a clean finish on the deck surface with a non-toxic, natural cleaner of 1 cup of vinegar, 4 tablespoons of borax and 1 gallon of water. Apply to the deck and rinse.

• Older Cool Deck surfaces may contain asbestos; if the surface is chipped or worn, call in an asbestos abatement professional to evaluate the deck. You may need to have it removed before doing repair work, or simply cover over the existing Cool Deck.

• Wrought iron is generally made out of the purest form of iron, making it more resistant to rust than cast iron. Clean wrought iron with laundry soap on a scrub brush (figure D). Remove rust stains with kerosene and fine grade steel wool. Rinse and when dry, add a protective coat of liquid wax to make cleaning easier and to retard rusting.

  Note: Never use liquid wax, which is very flammable, on iron work close to an open flame.

• Remove rust on a patio floor with Zud cleanser; sprinkle, scrub and rinse. Repeat as needed.

• Clean solar light panels with laundry soap on a dampened cloth.