How to Pressure Wash a Deck:
Just because we are stuck at home doesn’t mean we can’t go outside! One of my big summer to-do’s is to stain my deck, so I took advantage of the warm sunshine and did a little prep work. You will be amazed at how dirty your deck can get and how satisfying it is to watch that dirt wash away…seriously soooo good!!
My weapon of choice is a Generac OneWASH, and when I say “my choice” I really mean what my father-in-law had available in his shed for me to borrow.
Ain’t she a beauty?!?
It only took a small fib to convince my father-in-law that I knew how to use one of these beasts and that it would be safe in my hands.
Lucky for me there are step-by-step picture instructions on the front! #igotthis
What I did:
Step 1: Remove any debris such as leaves or sticks and move all deck furniture and grills out of the way. For me, it was easiest to push everything to one side while I worked on the other side.
Step 2: Attach your garden hose to the pressure washer and ensure all connections are tight.
Step 3: Turn on the water and squeeze the trigger on the handle of the pressure washer to bleed the air out of the line.
Step 4: Follow your pressure washer’s instructions to turn it on and get pressure washing!!
You will want to start with the nozzle about 6 to 12 inches away from the surface you are cleaning and move closer as needed. The closer you move, the deeper the clean.
Be careful when pressure washing not to get too close as you may cause damage to the wood. Since my plan is to stain my deck, I held the nozzle about 4 inches away from the surface of the wood to get a really deep clean and to remove any currently flaking stain.
If you are looking to just clean your deck, you will want to keep your nozzle about 6 to 12 inches away so you don’t wash away your current stain. It’s important to move with the grain of the wood in a fluid side-to-side motion and never just hold it in one place. You’ll want to start closest to your house and move outward so you aren’t spraying all of the dirt and water right at your siding.
It’s important not to spray directly on a window, outlet, outdoor light fixture or neighbor who may be trying to visit during our time of social distancing.
Once done turn your pressure washer off, turn off your water supply, drain the water from the line by squeezing the trigger on the handle and disconnect your garden hose.
Before:
After:
And that’s how to pressure wash a deck! Now step back and admire all of your hard work and try not to be too appalled at how unknowingly dirty your deck was!
It’s recommended to power wash your deck once or twice each year and to stain your deck every 2 to 3 years. If you do pressure wash your deck in preparation to stain, be sure to give your deck 48 to 72 hours of dry time before staining.
Kelsey’s Pro Tips
Kelsey’s Pro Tip 1: Be sure to close all windows and doors closest to the area you are pressure washing. Here’s to hoping it will only take me once to learn this lesson.
Kelsey’s Pro Tip 2: Ugg’s are not appropriate footwear for this type of work. I suggest something a little more waterproof.
Is your deck on your list of things to spruce up this summer? Share your before and after photos in the comments below!