Regular pool deck cleaning might seem like a straightforward job, and many homeowners attempt to tackle this work on their own, either with a garden hose and some cleanser or with a rented power washer. However, proper cleaning of your home's outdoor deck, as well as other concrete and wood surfaces, is not a DIY job!
A professional soft wash pool deck cleaning with specialty surfactants and brushes dissolves grit, sand, silt, and ground-in mud, as well as chlorine and pool chemicals, protecting concrete and wood surfaces from becoming dry and damaged.
Your home's pool deck needs consistent cleaning to remove dirt and grime, as well as pool chemicals, mildew, and other bothersome debris. A garden hose is not strong enough for this cleaning, and a homeowner might use the wrong detergents, scrub brush, and pressure washer when cleaning a deck on their own. To ensure your property is always clean and pristine, and in good condition, note some additional details about professional pool deck cleaning as well as exterior house washing, concrete cleaning, and wood deck and fence cleaning as well.
What Is the Best Way to Clean a Pool Deck?
A concrete pool deck is not necessarily as dense and solid as you might expect. Concrete has many pits and pores along its surface and is prone to chips, cracks, splits, and other such damage. Patio pavers and outdoor stone tiles are also typically covered in nooks and crannies and may be softer than you assume. Consider why it's important to understand the composition of these materials and why a professional pressure washing company should handle needed exterior concrete cleaning.
- Many concrete and stone cleansers sold at hardware and home improvement stores are not strong enough to dissolve thick, caked-on dirt, mud, grime, and other residues and will not seep into all those pits and pores of concrete and stone. Professional power washing companies use specialty surfactants that soak into all those openings and dissolve the most hardened, thickest dirt and grime.
- A professional power washer will be able to recognize stains on concrete and patio pavers, including motor oil, rust, paint droplets, and the like. A cleaning professional can then apply specialty detergents and scrub that area as needed, to ensure all traces of that stain are removed, and the pool deck is left clean and pristine!
- Cleaning concrete and patio pavers with low-quality brushes results in inadequate cleaning, whereas heavy-duty brushes might strip paint from concrete or otherwise damage a pool deck. A professional property cleaner will also ensure that all dirt and grime is brushed and cleaned away from your home and lawn properly to avoid damage and an unsightly mess.
- While a garden hose is typically too weak to remove ground-in dirt from all those pits and pores of the concrete, too much pressure from a heavy-duty power washer can strip paint and sealant off the pavement and even crack brittle patio pavers.
- A pressure washing professional might recommend soft wash systems for cleaning a concrete pool deck. Soft wash systems start with a surfactant that dissolves thick dirt and sand. A low-pressure rinse removes all that residue without damaging concrete paint or sealant or cracking and chipping pavers and stone tiles.
- Timber decking requires specialty care. Harsh surfactants can dry wood decks and pool fences, leading to cracks and chips. Improper use of a pressure washer also leaves behind streaks and watermarks. A power washing professional will know the right detergent to use for a thorough clean and to remove mold, algae, and other buildups along a timber deck or pool fence.
Why Opt for Concrete Cleaning on Your Property
A pool deck is exposed to many residual pool chemicals, as said, but the rest of the concrete, patio pavers, stone tiles, and asphalt on your property also needs regular power washing! Motor oil and other automotive fluids are very corrosive to concrete and especially asphalt and will eat away at these materials. Professional pressure washing machines remove all traces of this damaging residue, protecting concrete and asphalt from early damage.
Properties in coastal or tropical areas also need regular concrete patio and driveway washing. Sand, silt, and other gritty residues from nearby beaches become airborne and settle onto a property's pavement, getting ground into those surfaces and causing etching and scratching. Soot and pollution from vehicle and boat engines also settle onto concrete and other hard surfaces of a property's exterior, causing long-term damage.
As with pool chemicals, a garden hose and over-the-counter detergents are not strong enough to wash these residues properly. Power washing by a professional with strong, effective soaps ensures that all outside surfaces are clean and free of all traces of grit and grime. Your property will then look its best and avoid otherwise unnecessary damage.
In the meantime, many homeowners choose to use an outdoor brush to prevent grime build-up between cleanings.
Pressure Washing Mistakes to Avoid
Hiring a professional pool cleaning service every year or as needed is the best choice for deck cleaning around your home's pool, but you might still manage some light cleaning of the concrete and other surfaces of your property between professional visits. Note some mistakes to avoid when choosing and using a pressure washer so your property is protected from damage while also left looking its best.
- An electric pressure washer is lightweight and easy to manage, but if the equipment you choose doesn't run on a rechargeable battery, you'll need lots of extension cords. It's dangerous to run these cords around wet areas of your property, so don't overlook safety precautions if you should choose an electric power washer; have someone in charge of keeping the cords out of the water as needed.
- While a gas-powered pressure washer typically offers more pressure than an electric model, added power isn't always a good thing! Too much pressure can etch and chip virtually any surface around your property, including brick, concrete, and wood. Using too much pressure when cleaning river rocks and small patio stones can also cause them to come loose and also allows water to seep under those materials, creating a muddy mess.
- Never aim the wand of a pressure washer directly in front of you when cleaning any surface. A wand should always be held at an angle to avoid too much pressure on a surface and to protect you from splattering and splashing. A slight angle also washes away dirt and grime, rather than having it merely splash backward!
- Not all detergents kill living contaminants, such as mold, mildew, moss, and algae. A standard soap might clean away some surface spores and growth, but to truly wash away anything living, be sure you opt for a cleanser that kills spores and roots!
- Never aim the spray of a pressure washer toward your property's lawn, thinking that the grass will absorb that water. The detergents used for power washing are not always safe for grass and vegetation, and the soil does not readily absorb the amount of water used for this washing. You might wind up with a muddy, unsightly mess instead!
- Even a slight bit of pressure from a power washer can create pushback that might knock you off a ladder or other uneven surface. If you must use a ladder or platform for power washing your property, start with the lowest pressure available and ensure you have at least one other person holding the ladder steady.
How to Choose a Deck Cleaning Company
Never go online and search for "pool cleaning service near me" and then opt for the cheapest company you find or assume a general contractor with a power washer will suffice. Quality property washing requires skill and expertise, as a power washing professional will need to know the various detergents to use for different surfaces, how to scrub a pool deck properly, and the like.
When choosing a pool cleaning company, opt for one with a long history of professional service, and it's also good to choose a company that only offers power washing! If a company also provides interior cleaning, property repairs, and other such services, they may not have the experience in power washing needed to ensure a job gets done right.
A professional power washing company, such as ProClean Pressure Washing of St. Petersburg, should also take the time to inspect your property before work begins. A pressure washer might not reach certain areas, or the cleaning professional might recommend a soft wash for various trouble spots or delicate and fragile surfaces. If a cleaning company promises a fast finish on your property, this might not be a good sign!
Related Questions
How often should you clean a pool deck?
Your property's exterior typically needs cleaning every year; however, stormy weather can deposit layers of sand and grit on a pool deck. Water splashing out of the pool also brings corrosive chlorine and chemicals with it, so have the deck cleaned more often if your pool is in use always.
Will pressure washing damage concrete paint?
Improper use of a high-pressure washer might strip concrete paint, but pool deck cleaning by an experienced professional will remove the corrosive residue that damages concrete paint. Proper cleaning can even restore the color of concrete paint or stain.