My old deck boards looked like new after a simple cleaning mix

I cleaned my back deck with a mix of 1 gallon of water, 2 cups of bleach, and a cup of laundry detergent, scrubbing it with a stiff brush. The gray, weathered wood from last summer turned back to its original color in about 20 minutes of work. I was shocked at how much of a difference it made without needing to sand or stain. Has anyone else tried a homemade deck cleaner that worked well?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_miles1mo ago

Whoa, hold on! Bleach can really damage wood fibers over time, even if it looks good right now. A lot of deck experts say oxygen-based cleaners are a much safer bet for the long run.

parker_sullivan1mo ago

That bleach mix can also kill nearby plants real easy.

derek_brown281mo agoMost Upvoted

Yeah, the_miles is right about it hurting the wood itself. I read a whole thing from a guy who fixes decks for a living. He said bleach breaks down the lignin, which is like the glue that holds wood fibers together. It makes the surface all fuzzy and weak over time, even if it looks clean now. That's why it gets brittle and splinters so bad after a few years. Oxygen bleach cleans without eating away at the actual structure.