Tools & Materials
To pressure wash the deck for a perfect state after cleaning, you should prepar somethings below for the best conditions:
- Safety glasses
- Gloves
- Drop cloth
- Deck detergent
- Pressure washer
- Hose
Step By Step To Pressure Wash Your Deck
Follow the step-to-step below to know how to pressure wash your deck the right way.
STEP 1: Choosing the spray nozzle for the pressure washer
To properly clean your deck, you'll want to choose the right nozzle for your pressure washer. Start with either a nozzle that dispenses soap (if you're using a deck detergent) or the widest-spraying nozzle you have (to ensure gentle pressure).
For power washing wood decks, you'll generally want a pressure washer wand tip with an angle between 25 and 40 degrees.
Wider angle tips around 25 degrees work best for decks with heavily ingrained dirt, stains, and buildup that requires more focused pressure. These tips tend to apply more concentrated force at the point of contact.
Narrower angle tips between 35 and 40 degrees are better suited for newer decks with less damage or those made of composite synthetic wood. This is because they distribute the water pressure over a wider area and therefore apply less force in any one spot, minimizing the risk of damaging the wood.
Nozzles typically come in different colors that match up with different spray patterns. The wider the spray, the gentler the pressure. As you get used to the washer, you can experiment with narrower nozzles for more focused cleaning power. But it's best to start wider and work your way in, to avoid damaging the wood.
STEP 2: Connect and turn on the pressure washer
The steps to start and connect the hose and pressure washer and connect to the nozzle can be done if you carefully read the manufacturer's instructions. If they still confuse you then find them from the videos or refer to our how to start pressure washer article. I'm sure you can do it
STEP 3: Fill deck detergent to the pressure washer tank
Using a deck cleaning solution can help you blast away stubborn oils, dirt, and grime that have built up on your wooden deck over time. However, you don't always need a specialized cleaner – a basic pressure washing alone can get your deck pretty clean.
Find the pressure washer tank and apply the cleaning solution following the manufacturer's manual.
STEP 4: Apply the deck detergent to the surface
Use the soap nozzle to spray the deck detergent on the deck, you can choose the low-pressure for cleaning this. After applying, you let the soap lie on the surface for 10-25 mins to handle the dirt.
STEP 5: Pressure washing the deck
Cleaning your deck with a pressure washer is actually pretty easy – the machine does most of the hard work for you. Your main job is to control the pressure washer wand and aim the spray in the right direction.
If you want to clean a wooden deck, it's best to use a pressure washer with the lowest pressure setting that can still do the job well. For softwoods like cedar or pine, that usually means using a pressure washer with about 500 to 600 pounds per square inch (psi). For harder woods, you may need to increase the pressure to 1200 to 1500 psi.
STEP 6: Let the deck dry before sanding, staining, or sealing
After washing the deck, let the deck dry and you can continue using it.
Final Thought
Pressure washing your deck can feel daunting at first, but it's actually an easy process once you get started. With the proper technique and the right equipment settings, you can transform your deck from dirty and worn to clean and fresh in no time. We hope after this article, you can make the deck perfect again.
