How do I get rid of mold on my deck before staining?

White distilled vinegar: White vinegar is a popular natural cleaner that can be used both inside and outside. Simply combine one gallon of water with one cup of white vinegar and scrub the deck with the solution to remove algae, mold, and mildew.

How do you remove black mold from deck boards?

To remove black mold from deck wood, apply a solution of ordinary dish soap and water to the deck, scrub it with a scrub brush attached to a pole, spray it clean with a hose, then spray the deck with vinegar to prevent new mold growth.

Should you pressure wash your deck?

A pressure washer can clean a wood deck much faster than you can scrub it by hand. That is a terrific advantage. However, a pressure washer will frequently destroy the surface of the wood. Those that are not eroded can be dislodged, leaving the wood fuzzy or rough after it dries.

How do I get rid of green mold on my wood deck?

Mix a cup of baking soda in a gallon of warm water and apply it with a scrub brush to remove green mold from the wood. Work the solution into the wood with the brush to lift the fungus out of the wood. The mixture can be used to wash the whole deck, or just applied to the moldy areas. Rinse with fresh water when done.

Is it OK to pressure wash deck before staining?

There is a common misconception that just pressure washing a deck prior to staining is all you need to do in order to prep your deck for stain. Pressure washing can help, but if you want your stain to last, using a good deck cleaner and brightener on the deck prior to pressure washing will provide you the best result.

Why is my wood deck turning black?

The biggest reason for a deck stain turning black is mildew. All wood surfaces need to be cleaned correctly prior to staining. Mildew can begin to grow underneath the deck stain, which causes discoloring. This can also lead to rot and decay because if there is mildew there is also moisture present.

Can you pressure wash mold off wood?

Pressure washing will easily power away all the mold spores along with any debris/dirt that hides on your deck. Letting it dry up in the hot sun is definitely an easy technique to kill mold and mildew. Dry wood is always unattractive to mold and the heat will get rid of those spores.

Can you ruin a deck by pressure washing?

The impact of washing your decks under high pressure is profound in softer materials such as PVC. The pressure washer can significantly engrave the PVC on the deck if you use unreasonably high pressures during a routine washing exercise. Washing a composite deck under high pressure can also lead to extreme damages.

Do not power wash deck?

Wood decks are especially vulnerable to power washing, because the pressure exerted by the power washer can lead to splintering. If there is any area on the deck where the wood is already beginning to split apart, power washing it will exacerbate the problem and cause the split area to expand.

What is the difference between green mold and black mold?

Black mold goes by the scientific name Stachybotrys. Under this umbrella term are numerous species that include Stachybotrys chartarum, or toxic black mold. It grows on building materials such as drywall. A green mold may fall under the name Trichoderma.

Why you should not pressure wash your deck?

Ideally, power washing a wood deck will not ruin the wood and etch or erode the softwood fibers. However, when wood gets wet, the fibers may become raised, creating a rough surface. This is a particular problem on handrails, where the raised fibers can lead to splinters. Make sure the wood is dry before sanding.