Deck Cleaners : Are They All Made Alike
There are many products available to clean or restore a deck. While there isn’t a broad range chemically, deck cleaners are not created equal. Here are some basics to help you understand the differences.
Bleach based deck cleaners : These products are the least expensive. They use household bleach (sodium hypochlorite) to kill mold. These types of cleaners are very effective for quickly killing mold. There are downfalls though. On exposed wood bleach also attacks lignin which is the “glue” that holds wood fibers together. Bleach can also kill surrounding plants and grass.
Sodium percarbonate based deck cleaners : These deck cleaning products contain the same ingredient that makes OxyClean a good carpet and fabric cleaner. You may also hear sodium percarbonate cleaners called “oxygen bleach”. Deck cleaners made with this chemical are much more landscape friendly. They also actually clean the wood versus bleaching it to an unnatural whitish color.
Oxalic acid based deck cleaners : The last of the commonly sold deck cleaning agents contain oxalic acid. This type of product is not an effective cleaner by itself. It will not kill mold like the above two mentioned deck cleaners. These types of deck care products do have their place and are very effective as a final prep process for use after mold and dirt have been removed from a deck.
Tags: concrete cleaning, contractor, deck cleaners, deck cleaning, exterior cleaning, power washing, pressure washing
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