How Do You Clean a Wooden Deck With Bleach?

To clean a wooden deck with bleach, mix a bleach-detergent solution, apply the solution to the deck with a push broom, scrub the deck clean, and rinse the deck with a hose. You need water, bleach and powdered laundry detergent to make the cleaning solution.

  1. Prep the deck area

    Place tarps over ornamental plantings around the edge of the deck. Wet down nearby grass with a garden hose. The water dilutes any bleach spills.

  2. Mix a cleaning solution

    Pour 3 quarts of warm water into a 5-gallon bucket. Add 1 quart of household bleach and 1/3 cup of powdered laundry detergent. Do not use a detergent that contains ammonia. Stir gently to mix.

  3. Apply the cleaning solution to the deck

    Dip a stiff-bristled push broom into the cleaning solution, and brush the solution onto the deck boards. Wet the broom in the solution as necessary.

  4. Scrub the deck

    Rub the push broom back and forth against the deck boards to remove dirt and debris. Do one section at a time, scrubbing repeatedly to deep clean the deck surface. Apply more cleaning solution, if necessary.

  5. Rinse well

    Spray the deck down a few times with a garden hose to rinse away the cleaning solution. Avoid letting the solution sit on the deck for an extended period of time.