HOW TO: Cleaning a Deck with Oxygen Bleach (NOT Chlorine Bleach!)
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- Опубликовано: 21 май 2022
- A bunch of years ago, I made a promotional video which vaguely illustrated how I clean a deck with oxygen bleach (a.k.a. sodium percarbonate / OxiClean / etc). It was never meant to be a "how to" but it sure lead to a lot of "how to" questions!
This video here is a basic HOW TO... sort of like "Deck Cleaning 101." As any professional exterior cleaner or deck restorer knows, much more can be said and done about cleaning a wood deck, but I hope this video answers the zillion basic questions I continue to get to this day, all based upon that silly promotion video from years ago.
For those wondering where to buy the chemicals used in this video, you can click the links below. Note that I earn a small commission if you purchase the products by these links:
Oxalic Acid powder:
amzn.to/3Syraxk
Sodium percarbonate:
amzn.to/43RQTpQ
If you're looking to order cleaning chemicals in bulk - www.outsidecleaners.com/pro-shop
Some safety equipment I use:
Respirator Mask: amzn.to/47e5vkq
Respirator Cartridges: amzn.to/3vgVDZO
Safety Gloves: amzn.to/41Evgcg
Pressure Washer Nozzle: amzn.to/3NMtyQy
Ladder Stabilizers/Standoffs: amzn.to/3GYdKX9
Bull Horn Bumpers: amzn.to/48gibZ3
Grunden Jacket amzn.to/3GXmk8j
Grundens Waterproof Bib Pants: amzn.to/48uKSRW
Safety Glasses: amzn.to/3S1aGiY
Neoprene Boots: amzn.to/3RZggTk
Gel Boot Inserts: amzn.to/3tor1Fi
If you want to do this by HAND (no power washer), here's a video on how to:
• HOW TO: Clean Decking ...
I clean exterior surfaces for a living here on beautiful Cape Cod. If you want to learn more about my services, please check out these links:
www.outsidecleaners.com/
/ outsidecleanersllc
outsideclea...
/ @outsidecleaners
Thanks for watching.
Well done video, short and sweet, complete with notes, mix ratios, before & after samples, clear speaking presentation, and...NO LOUD ROCK'N ROLL MUSIC drowning out the video. I have literally left comments telling other creators to "put down the camera".
You sir, are a true professional. Thank you.
Thanks for the feedback 👍🏼
Agreed. I power washed my fence days ago (before I found this great video) but yours was the clearest to follow and had the best pictures of the results for using oxi clean and oxalic to clean it. Glad they can be done on wet wood. Hopefully it gives me enough time for it to dry in a few days so I can paint and stain just before the next rain.
oh,, and they other 'creators' never listen to you? Sorry! :)
This is the internet version of a great neighbor. Gets right to it. No milking time for ad revenue and no pushing products with shadow sponsors
Thanks for your nice comment.
I watch hundreds of videos. Literally hundreds. But only of practical content. And make notes. So accurate grading is at hand.
And this presentation is most certainly in the top . Only TWO.
No bulldusting. No beating around wasting time. To-the-point. Perfectly executed. Very well done.
Thank you kindly.
Thanks for watching and for the nice feedback!
Most welcome!
Thank you for the concise informative video. No nonsense no rambling no self promoting. Perfect how to. Rare. Thank you.
Thanks for watching
I tried out these products & process on my cedar siding on my house. Pressure washing alone only got about 80% of the mildew. After washing with the Sodium percarbonate and Oxalic Acid it cleaned off the remaining crud and left the cedar looking new. Cedar is over 45 years old! Thanks for the video!!
Glad you got good results but I'd caution anyone against trying to clean wood with just water pressure. While you might achieve an apparent improvement in appearance, on a microscopic level you're doing far more harm than good by just jamming organic growth into the wood fibers. Wood which has been previously "cleaned" with water pressure alone is a nightmare to re-clean as time goes by, because mold and algae is now very deeply embedded into the wood fibers.
Absolute genius. I followed all of your instructions and my deck looks like it’s brand new. Yes, it was a bit of work, but the results were fantastic. Thank you for your video, it’s worth its weight in gold.
I'm telling my wife Leah that somebody said I'm a genius :) . Thanks for your comment and for watching.
@@OutsideCleaners I suspect she laughed, and in a way that left you wondering if she was in on the joke, or really felt that way. 🤔
Always so generous with fantastic knowledge. Been Powerwashing for years and always learn something from Nate at outside cleaners
Now thats a Quality Video..... Now that Im Older ~ I can tell people ( Its not that I can’t Understand ) ... I just don’t learn the way you Teach...Im gonna try that Acid stuff like U said ~ ive done 40 decks without it and I would love to see how it comes out .
Very clear and efficient video!
Thanks for watching!
I put several scrubbers in my Home depot cart but was not sure which head size to buy, came back to your video (bookmarked before for reference) to get an idea of what you used, saw that you used the Quickie 12" scrub brush and that's what i am going to buy, you solved my indecison, also thank you for giving the mixing instructions , i want to follow instructions from a pro, you gave very clear step by step instructions
Good luck on your project
Love the disclaimer! Brilliant!
Thank you!
Nice video and thanks for using convectional chemicals you can buy relatively cheap.
There is a lot of deck washers out there that are very expensive but your buying a brand name instead
Cheers from Down Under
This industry is shameless when it comes to marking up chemicals.
Put the word “power wash” on a chemical, and the price seems to increase by 10 X.
There are better options.
Thanks for watching 🇦🇺
Best video I’ve watched so far. I’ve been trying to find the proper steps to prep a deck to be stained, most videos are controversial to others lol.
Thanks for watching
Excellent video. Well done!
Thanks for watching
Thanks so much for this valuable information!
Thanks for watching
I like it that OC doesn't say to wear a respirator, spiked shoes, rubber gloves, goggles, and don't try to plug a power washer with your finger. I call this "an instructional video for adults"! Thanks!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Thanks for watching. Please stay tuned.
Thanks for going straight to the point
Thanks for watching
Great video - well done
Thanks 👍🏼
That was perfect! Thanks!
Thanks for watching
Just started a small pressure washing business of my own. Used to work beside a self made millionaire who started with pressure washing and eventually moved on to epoxy and modified cement overlays. Just want to say that your technique for pressure is flawless. The "flicking" motion does wonders for preventing damage. Do you use your pressure washer to apply the chemical cleaner? Im assuming downstream and if so what chemical are you using? I used to get something called New Again for asphalt shingles and wood, but don't know what is was made of, can't find it, and have never used bleach directly on wood. Any tips? Great job. I'll be looking into oxalic acid as well. The product i mentioned worked phenomenally as well. You might be able to get it. Thanks
OK, another question. After completing this process on Pt wood, do you suggest putting some kind of sealer on the deck.
Great video mate
Thanks
Great video.
Thanks for the visit
I have a deck wash coming up how do you mix sodium pre carb? I herd it’s hard to dissolve and best to use warm water? Do you do this prior to arriving at the customer home? Also how do you apply, down stream, 12v ?
Yo.That is a very legit video.
Totally. Tell your friends. 👍🏼
Very helpful. Not allot of good information out there on how to clean wood properly. I’m cleaning a fence tomorrow and will be using sodium hydroxide and oxalic.
Sodium percarbonate seems more environmentally friendly but feels cost prohibitive at this stage of my business. Thanks for the upload
I’d make the same choice 👍🏼
Sodium hydroxide is stronger, and more dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. Sodium percarbonate is sort of the “Nerf“ tool in the cleaning toolbox.
@@OutsideCleaners What's your preferred percentage/ratio for sodium hydroxide and where should homeowners buy it? And if you guys use it I guess it doesn't destroy wood the way I've read bleach does? Or is that you apply, scrub and rinse it quick enough not to do damage to the wood?
That has to be a steady costumer now.
Does the brightener work on Teak? Great tip on the Pressure washer.
Awesome tips. Didn’t know that expensive ani-grey just is a spoon of cheap oxal-acid powder + 1.5 gallons / 5 liter water
brilliant! many thanks my man.
You're welcome!
Excellent video, every maintenance contractor should watch.
Thanks 👍🏼
What do you use on the wood afterwards to treat it in stopping it from getting dirty again.🇨🇦
Awesome video. Simple and straightforward. One question: do I really need a power washer in step 5? Meaning can’t I just use a garden hose nozzle on the jet setting to achieve that relatively low pressure? Let’s assume I’m putting out, like, 50psi at the end of the hose. Trying to avoid buying a power washer if possible. Thanks for great videos without all the fluff!
Answer: it depends!
A small-ish deck with minimal or mild algae upon it... sure. A large deck with years of thick algae baked on... probably not practical to try with a garden hose.
Here's the thing: the stronger the chems, the less rinsing pressure is needed. Oxygen bleach as shown here is a pretty mild cleaning chemical, so it generally requires some rinsing oomph.
If I was going to try to clean a deck with just a garden hose, I might consider use a stronger chemical to compensate for less rinsing volume/pressure.
Cleaning with a stronger chemical: ruclips.net/video/zs4RBy03-6s/видео.html
Hope that helps!
great info thx
Very informative video..are you applying your chemicals with a soft Wash setup or a downstream injector?..Thanks
Bulk tank & air diaphragm pump, but a bucket and mop works too.
Downstream injectors don't work will with oxygen bleach, as they necessarily dilute it too much.
Good tips, I've used oxylic acid to but be careful when rinsing as can kill grass, plants and fish in ponds nearby,😎
Interesting video..When you are applying the cleaning solution are you applying it with a soft Wash setup?..What would the mixture be if I was to apply the cleaner with a pressure washer and Xjet?..Thanks
RUclips.com/@hillshepardson9537 bulk tank & air diaphragm pump, but a bucket and mop works too.
Downstream injectors (XJets etc) don't work well with oxygen bleach, as they necessarily dilute it too much.
nice informative video.
Glad you liked it
I love this video
Thanks for watching 👍🏼
how do you clean the railings and spindles? I am 68 and have so many of them. is there any way to spray a solution and rinse without scrubbing each side?
Thanks so much for this video. Im trying to rejuvenate a soft cedar fence, when i pressure wash it gets really furry and kinda damages the wood. Do you never have this problem?
Cedar fencing is usually white cedar, which is very soft and prone to “furring.” The method I use to clean a hardwood deck in this video isn’t how I’d suggest approaching the cedar fence.
Thanks for this video. What do you do if cedar has already been pressure washed and other big box chems used on it to get rid of algae with no lasting results?
Dealing with the results of a cleaning job, which may be wasn’t done real well is one of the hardest things to do. Often times, mold, and LG will be coming from deep inside the wood if the proper chems weren’t used the first time.
This stuff will work if given enough time, and if the deck isn’t protected by an overhang. Follow the directions and don’t be afraid to treat it multiple times over the course of months.
amzn.to/43SPjF2
Note that this isn’t a product you can use to “ prep” the deck before staining it. It’s a passive cleaning product for a passive cleaning method which relies upon chemicals and a lot of time.
Nice I normally just hit it with chlorine. But this is something to think about for sure
Good tool for the toolbox
THANK YOU
Hi just wondering if the oxalic acid is an absolute must have or would I be alright to just use SH and rinse well after . Thanks great video
Oxalic acid doesn’t really do anything to clean… it just helps with aesthetics. So no, it’s not an absolute must. But, SH (sodium hypochlorite) doesn’t really do anything to clean wood either. .. it just makes wood brighter by burning the wood fibers. Please make sure you understand that this video is on using OXYGEN bleach (sodium percarbonate), not CHLORINE bleach (sodium hypochlorite…”SH”).
@@OutsideCleaners ok so it is ok to use SH without following up with oxalic acid? It will just have a different result ?
Nice video thank you 😊
Btw that house looks like Nantucket
Hi - Do you use your power washer or a garden pump sprayer to apply the diluted sodium percarbonate and oxalic acid?
No. Air diaphragm pump
ruclips.net/video/dSF740tX9yg/видео.html
First question, what did you use to apply the Sodium percarbonate was it downstream or a 12v? Second question, If the cedar shingles are painted can you still just saturate with water and they will be fine or it is better to cover?
First answer: air diaphragm pump from a mix tank
Second answer: yes, just saturate with water before and after and don’t let the percarbonate solution dry on painted surfaces. Just keep it wet and rinse it off.
Great video. How long are you letting the ox sit?
Just minutes. It does its thing pretty quickly.
Nice work mate. QUESTION: What do you then seal/oil the deck with to hold that lustre?
Answer: I don’t.
In my area, I encounter extraordinarily few homeowners who are willing to put in the annual (yes annual) maintenance required after sealing or oiling a deck. Doing it once and then leaving it is just pissing money away. So, I almost always advise that the best thing to do is just keep it clean and let it weather to a silver or gray appearance. Since that’s what everyone in my area seems to want their deck to look like, and that’s what they often even stain wood to appear like, that seems to be the best advice given the situation.
It seems to me that different areas of the country have different favorite products to seal or stain. If that’s the route that customers go. I do think that variations in weather and climate play a tremendous role in what works and what doesn’t. So, my best advice is to ask someone in your local area .
@@OutsideCleaners Thanks mate, understand only too well the lackadaisical approach people have towards deck maintenance.
When applying the cleaning solution and the oxalic acid, do you use a soft wash pump set up for that? Or how are you applying that?
I use an air diaphragm pump, but I’ve used most of what I describe here:
HOW TO: Pumps I've Used for Exterior Cleaning
ruclips.net/video/dSF740tX9yg/видео.html
Great video and thanks for sharing. What if deck is in great shape (2-3 years old) and stained with transparent stain? Same procedure or skip oxalic? I will not be sanding this deck but will be applying new coats of stain. Thanks in advance. 👊
I'd lightly clean instead with something like sodium metasilicate (Krud Kutter from the hardware). The type of stain matters; test on a small area before committing to the whole deck.
@@OutsideCleaners Thanks a bunch!
If you don't have a build up of mold or mildew, my inclination would be to go straight to the oxalic and skip all the other steps. Back in the 90s oxalic acid was the active ingredient in Thompson's Deck Wash. When they changed formulas it stopped working.
Do you have a link for the sodium percarbonate that you use. I only see the oxalic acid. Thank you
amzn.to/43RQTpQ
With your chem mix i see you applying it with garden hose and chem pump i assume as opose to a pump sprayer. I have both a chem pump 10 gpm electric 90 psi and a pump sprayer. If you use a chem marine pump do you make the mixture you recomended then run it through proportioner without water just the streight mixter because its premixed. I also have 6 gpm marine pump chem pump and a pump sprayer.
No proportioners for this. I spray with an air diaphragm pump from individual tanks.
How are you spraying on the mix? When you say 1/2 cup per gallon, what's getting on the deck? Is that downstreamed so the ratio is much lower?
No, no downstream. Solution is applied at the ratio mentioned, applied from a tank with a pump.
Info on that here: ruclips.net/video/dSF740tX9yg/видео.html
Hey man I'm about to do a mahogany deck that has been water treated (no stain). Will this process work with the oil in the deck or does it have to be stripped
How did this end up going for you?
nice...2 questions: 1- other than brightening the wood, is oxalic acid really necessary? In the video, the wood had a nice red color prior to bleaching. 2- after this is all done and dried, do you suggest appying any protective coating, sealer, orange oil or the like? Thanks!
1) Oxalic acid "brightens" the wood by restoring its pH to something closer to its natural state. I'm told by folks in the painting industry that applying stains, paints, or sealants works best when a wood's pH is around neutral rather than way off to one side or another. While I can't personally back up that claim, I hear it consistently enough to think there's probably something to it. So, from that angle, applying oxalic acid may have a functional purpose.
2) Sealants, oils, and stains for wood decking pretty much all a come with a commitment to annual or semi-annual maintenance, which is something that *very* few homeowners seem interested in following through with. For that reason, and for that crowd, I say just clean it once and enjoy it. If you want your deck to look its best and are willing to commit to annual cleaning and touch-up, go for it.
@@OutsideCleaners totally agree on the second point. I do quite a bit of woodwork (restoration of old chairs, tables, etc) where I use Oxalic acid as a bleaching agent. It is gentler than chlorine bleach but typically removes stains, particularly those black/brown stains due to metal contact (rust). Anyhow, I will try your approach (probably minus the acid) on my deck which I never sealed and is looking a bit tired. As far as painting goes, pH neutral is best, so washing after acid treatment is important. Alkaline wood tends not to hold the paint as strong alkalis is the basis of most paint strippers.
It might be an obvious question but I wonder, was this deck stained? Why would it lose its brightness after drying?
Not stained. Not obvious. Thanks for your question.
The dull appearance of the decking after cleaning is due to various factors such as weathering, oxidation, and the removal of natural oils and resins from the wood surface. Cleaning removes algae, surface dirt and grime etc, but it doesn't necessarily restore the wood's original color and luster.
Oxalic acid revitalizes wood surfaces by chemically reacting with iron oxide (rust), tannins, and other stains that darken wood. By neutralizing these discolorations, oxalic acid restores the natural color and beauty of the wood.
I personally also think that wood cleaner generally darken wood due to their pH, while acids shift the pH back the other way, closer to the wood's natural state.
@@OutsideCleaners thank you! Do you use oxalic acid on stained decks as well? I've read online it might be harmful to vegetation and I have shrubs surrounding my deck, trying to understand how environmentally safe it is.
Hi great detailed video..quick question, would this method (Step 3,4 especially) remove some of existing stain also? Or should i be buying one of those stain/paint strippers and apply that for step 3,4 instead of the sodium bicarbonate solution? Thanks
Oxygen bleach generally isn’t a great choice for stripping old stain. Most chemical strippers use sodium hydroxide as the main event.
ruclips.net/video/zs4RBy03-6s/видео.html
Ok gotcha. Nice link for the NaOH video. Noticed you didn't scrub that deck after applying the cleaning solution and went straight to pressure wash? I guess one can scrub on the 2nd round if initial method isn't working?
@@nikbadshah like with washing your hands or a car or a carpet, the stronger the solution, the less scrubbing you need.
@@OutsideCleaners Makes sense. Thank you :)
It's sodium PERcarbonate, not sodium BIcarbonate. Sodium PERcarbonate is the main ingredient in Oxyclean and other "oxygen" type cleaners. I use the one from Dollar Tree which costs $1.25 for 15 ounces in Sept 2023. Sodium BIcarbonate is the active ingredient in baking soda.
I was wondering if you would paint the deck or put some other finishing treatment on it.. Thanks for the video?
Mahogany can be stained or sealed if desired. But that’s a commitment to maintenance every year or two, and in 13 years of doing this on Cape Cod I’ve very few homeowners who are committed enough to keep up with the maintenance it takes. I’ve also been less and less impressed with the new “high tech” stains and sealants on the market these last several years. For these reasons, I suggest that rule #1 is to just keep the deck clean, if nothing else.
@@OutsideCleaners thank you so much for your time.. have a blessed day.
Good looking cleaning job. Does the oxalic acid replace using a brightener? Do you have a finished product video? Thanks! John
Oxalic acid *is* the brightener.
How do you mean by finished product video?
@@OutsideCleaners Well, I didn't know if you were going to apply a stain, or some other product? Thanks!
@@OutsideCleanersWhat cleaning solution do you recommend ? I also have powder coated steel doors around the deck , so need products that will not damage those . Thank you 😊
@@Johnny53kgb-nsasee other questions below video for answer 😉
quick question, when you apply your oxalic acid, are you using a pump up sprayer then rolling or brushing it out? Or do just spray it on, and before it dries, spraying it off with water? What method are you using to apply it to the deck? Ex jet? DSing? Pump up sprayer?
I spray but I suppose a roller, brush, or mop *could* work if that’s all that was available. Or a watering can.
Small jobs: pump sprayer.
Large jobs: air diaphragm pump.
@@OutsideCleaners Nice, thanks for the response. I just figured it would have to be rolled out for an even coating. I used some percarbonate on my own deck and although it looks clean its somewhat spotty if that makes sense.
I really wanna get this process down so when I give my price no one bat's an eye because I'm known as the guy to get it done properly with the best skill. Thanks again!
@@A-Aron118 like anything it takes some practice. And you don’t know what you’ve really done until you see everything done and dry. So it’s important to circle back and check up on your work.
What do you use for deck stripper along with the cleaning process?
If you’re trying to strip stain or paint, sodium hydroxide is the typical tool. That’s not what I illustrate here.
Ever clean Ipe wood? I was going to use precarbonate with hot water fan tip it then oxalic acid?
Yes. You can do fine with pie with the same process shown here.
Should you let your cleaning solution soak for a bit before scrubbing it and how long should you wait when doing step 6 before you being step 7?
I just start scrubbing right away, but it won’t hurt anything to let the solution sit for a few minutes before scrubbing and maybe it will even help.
Oxalic acid seems to work pretty instantly, so I just spray it on, see that things are brighter, and start rinsing it off. Again, it’s probably OK to let it sit for a few minutes, but you definitely don’t want to let oxalic acid dry in place; rinse it off before it dries.
Forget about the hot dogs and beer, come on over and I’ll have Crown Royal and steak ready for you!!
sounds good
You make a video like you work. Simple, clear, to the point. Good video. Good job on deck. Everything we would need to know to get your results. Thanks for your help. Jesus bless.
Good video but I would suggest that most folks not try the hand test with a pressure washer because too many of them will remove their skin, ouch.
Thanks for watching. I'm just not sure how else I could meaningfully describe the pressure I work with. Obviously, a gauge reading at the machine is a meaningless number without context... and most folks don't have a gauge anyway. If you have a better practical suggestion, definitely please share it here.
@@OutsideCleaners I hear you. Just a bit concerned because my homeowner machine (electric, basic) is 1800 psi and can't be adjusted down so I have to back it away from my PT pine. Maybe folks could test something like an apple, something that won't be destroyed if you hit it with the 500 to 600 psi suggested for soft wood/soft wash? :)
@@OutsideCleaners I've seen knuckles sliced open with pressure washers by accident. No one should use their hand to test the pressure.
Thank you, I've edited the video to remove mention of that.
Y'all got soft hands 🙌
Just curious, I had a dock built over a lake about 6 months ago. I don’t want to power wash it because the wood looks like new and I just want to prep it for stain. Any recommendations for a wood brighter that’s safe for lakes and won’t kill fish or aquatic life? I was hoping just to use a deck brightener in a sprayer then brush it and rinse,but not sure what would be safe. Oxygenated bleach? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance
You’ll probably get a different answer from everyone you ask. Here’s my answer: first of all, you’re kind of screwed because you’re really not supposed to get any cleaning solutions into a body of water (see “Clean Water Act”). Doesn’t sound to me like there’s a way of washing your dock without having everything get in the water underneath. Second, if it’s sat by the water for six months, there’s gonna be organic growth started, regardless of whether you can see it with your naked eye. so I definitely wouldn’t stain it without cleaning it, but I don’t know how you can clean it without violating the clean water act. Do not try to wash your wood deck using water alone, that’s like a kid “washing” their hands in the bathroom with just water and not soap. I’m not aware of any wood brightener that you can safely (or legally) get into a lake. Sorry to say, I just don’t have any magic wand for your situation.
@@OutsideCleaners ok, we’ll I appreciate your input. I may just need to contact someone who specializes in cleaning boat docks and see what they use (or don’t use)
@@jasont7887 guarantee that somebody’s just going to clean it, rinse everything into the lake, and tell you that it’s OK they do it all the time. It’s one of those things that I’m aware people do it all the time, and nobody is supposed to do it, and the fines are tremendous but nobody gets fined…
Best wishes and again, sorry to not have magic advice
Does this process apply to already stained decks prior to restaining?
Shane, it really depends on the existing stain. Some deck stains, seem unaffected by this cleaning solution, whereas I have occasionally seen one or two wash right off from it. So, like they say, try a small test area first before committing to the whole deck.
If you’re trying to chemically strip off the old stain, I recommend this process:
ruclips.net/video/zs4RBy03-6s/видео.html
Hi! Could you tell me if I could clean my deck with some chlorine bleach and warm water and a good scrubbing brush ? Thanks!
I don’t recommend it. Here’s why:
Wood is porous and has fibers and so it’s sort of like our laundry, right? You use soap or detergent to clean your laundry, not chlorine bleach. You might use chlorine bleach to make white t-shirts brighter and maybe hide some stains. Chlorine bleach will give the illusion of things being clean for a little while, but chlorine bleach is not useful when it comes to ACTUALLY cleaning soft, porous, fibrous surfaces.
Try this instead:
ruclips.net/video/utQtQa79Hj8/видео.htmlsi=EyTN3OnP9v0EtXLT
@@OutsideCleaners thanks man! I JUST watched this video as well. Let's go with the oxygen bleach. That's crazy how internet is crowded of a ton of divers information and way to do things and opinion for a single task (cleaning deck!) lol
How did you apply the oxolic acid? Pump bottle sprayer?
Pump sprayers will work for small areas.
I usually an air diaphragm pump
HOW TO: Pumps I've Used for Exterior Cleaning
ruclips.net/video/dSF740tX9yg/видео.html
Do you soak the Oxalic Acid as you did with the Sodium Percarbonate? And is there dwell time or brushing? Sorry for the questions
Ox does its thing very quickly. Just spray or brush it on and then rinse it off. Don't let it dry before rinsing.
Random Question: Is there a good reason to not use a surface cleaner at low pressure on a deck? I've always wondered.
I've seen it done, but never been very impressed with the results.
Part of the problem is the circular rinsing pattern which a surface cleaner uses; that pattern is necessarily often not along the grain of the wood, but rather at an angle or sideways to it, and wood generally fares best when rinsed WITH (parallel to) the grain.
Also, with the slower board-by-board method I show here, the operator is able to give stubborn spots more rinsing attention as needed, whereas a surface cleaner treats everything the same.
Thanks for watching my video.
@@OutsideCleaners I appreciate the response. I have seen some guys say it's a no no to use one but never understood why. I figured it was because the tips were so close to the wood as opposed to a wand that can be 6-8 inches away. I am getting ready to clean an Ironwood deck soon with Percarbonate and Oxalic. The only question left was wand or SC? Ironwood is super dense so I figured it was going to be fine with tolerating some low pressure. I would probably not choose to use one on any softer woods though, I rather stick to advice from professionals who already do great wood restoration. I appreciate videos like yours with much detail to the method and I thank you.
@@OutsideCleaners The Karcher PS40 attachment is like a broom with wash nozzles. It avoids the circular rinse pattern but does require slightly more work in brushing the surface.
@@OutsideCleaners do you think an X-JET M5 fan spray would be better since it could cover more ground?
@@justinoneill2837 for application? I'm not a fan of the xJet for deck work but if it works for you, go for it!
could oxygen bleach remove paint or sensitive wood on wooden decks?
He used oxygen bleach. That's what sodium percarbonate is. "Could" it remove paint? Doubtful. I'm not sure what sensitive wood is, and why it would be on a deck.
Does a deck need to be brightened if it's going to be stained after being cleaned ?
Should be. The brightening is caused by a pH shift as the wood is brought back close to its original state.
Does this also apply to stripping paint from a deck?
No. Stripping paints and stains uses much more caustic chemicals - and require more precautions - than what I illustrate using here to remove mold and algae.
Do I have to use the acid if I'm staining the deck? Thanks
In my opinion, no, you don’t. Oxygen bleach is a pretty mild chemical and doesn’t shift the pH of the wood a great deal away from its natural state. However, if you use a much stronger cleaner (such as sodium hydroxide), I do think it would be important to apply the acid to get the pH closer to the wood’s natural state before applying a stain.
Hope that helps.
Oxalic acid doesn't just clean the rust, black spots well, it brings the wood's natural tannins to the surface just like new. Rinsing well is good, but one last spray with diluted baking soda will neutralize the acidity, so the stain looks its best.
Did you use a pump sprayer for the acid?
You can for small areas but I use an air diaphragm pump for decks
ruclips.net/video/dSF740tX9yg/видео.html
What is a reason to not start with power washing?
It's sort of like when children say they washed their hands in the bathroom, and an adult asks, "With soap?" Attempting to clean a wood deck without the use of oxygen bleach as shown or without a detergent in general is kind of the same thing.
The oxygen bleach used in this video will kill algae and mold, and will loosen these organics from the wood, making it all easier to rinse away. If you use JUST pressure alone:
1) You'll need greater pressure than you'll otherwise need
2) On a porous surface such as wood, you'll unavoidably drive some organics deeper into the fibers of the material.
3) It might "look clean" for a little bit... until the organics come back to the surface with a vengeance, and they'll be 10x hard to remove.
Power washing a wood deck without first applying something like I show here is a "rookie mistake" which I recommend avoiding.
why choose percarbonate vs peroxide vs bleach? i havent found too much on that, other than SH is frowned upon (even at 2%).
Awesome question and worth it's own video!
In the meantime:
Percarbonate is functionally the same as peroxide, so those two choices are really only one choice. They help clean wooden decking by loosening organic growth with the bubbling action which occurs when the solution contacts the organic growth, allowing it to be scrubbed or rinsed away with less force or pressure than would otherwise be needed.
Chlorine bleach ("SH") is great at making wood fibers bright but bright isn't the same a clean. Just like with our laundry, chlorine can be useful at hiding stains which remain after cleaning is done, but cleaning is done with detergents (or percarbonate solution), not with chlorine bleach. We don't clean our laundry with bleach, because bleach doesn't have actual cleaning properties, and the same is basically true with wooden decking.
Hope that helps a little.
@@OutsideCleaners Actually, that cleans it up in my mind. Thanks. Advice is invaluable.
How about cleaning a driveway? Maybe as a pre treatment before pressure washing?
Yes on concrete. No on asphalt/blacktop.
@@OutsideCleaners Thanks for the 411, guess I know what I'll be doing soon. Thanks again!
nice, c'mon over dude, we'll do the deck then have hot dogs and beer!!!
Can one clean a mangeris (hard wood) deck using this same process?
I'd never heard of mangeris so had to look it up. "Very dense" is what I'm reading. So, I wouldn't personally hesitate to use this process on that mangeris wood, as I often do this with good results on mahogany and ipe...
As always with cleaning anything new, test things out on a small section before committing to the whole thing.
@@OutsideCleaners that is encouraging to hear. I am brightening a Cedar home and we using precarb + Oxalic steps as well. On that note, what would you recommend as a clear laquer or clear stain to use for a Cedar home post wash and brightening? I really appreciate your response, thank you.
What minimum PSI so you use for pressure washer?
No idea. I don't use a gauge.
Can you use this on a log home?
I’m thrilled to report that I actually did clean a log home here on Cape October 2019. It’s the only log home I think I’ve ever seen on Cape Cod. And yes, I cleaned the log home with sodium percarbonate solution and pressure rinsed clean because the owner was wanting it prepped to get some sort of stain put up on it. I did not follow it up with oxalic acid. The homeowner was thrilled with how clean it got, but I do recall feeling like I needed to be very careful with pressure at the funky seams between logs.
Where do you get those cleaners
I linked to them in the description
this is what is happening with decks and other wooden things. the simple receipt - if you make a floor that is outdoors, don't make it with wood.
I’ll disagree with that. Can’t tell you how many homeowners I encounter who are thoroughly dissatisfied with their composite or PVC decking and railings. Rather than avoiding anything with wood, my view is that a little maintenance goes a very long way.
Which pressure washer did you use? will 2000 psi be enough ?
2000 psi is plenty, but you need high-volume. The typical homeowner things of 2 gallons a minute or so will take forever and you will unavoidably have a zillion lap lines. I use in an 8 gallon per minute machine.
@@OutsideCleaners AH this is good to know, the one I was looking at was a Sun Joe with "Powerful 14.5-amp/1800-Watt motor generates a maximum of 2030 PSI (at initial discharge per CSA internal pressure testing) and 1.76 GPM (with nozzle open at minimum pressure)", so it seems to be a bit lacking in that regard
@@theslack this is not a review on what type of pressure washer to use. I am always amazed at how many stupid questions there are on youtube.
@@61spindrift No shit Chad, his advice in the video was sound and MUCH appreciated. However, the TOOLS you use to perform the job are also important and I have ZERO expertise in this field so I figured I would ask him about which washer he used. Also, did you actually read his perfectly friendly and helpful response? Would you have known that info if you didn't ask? It always amazes me how many trolls and complete idiots there are on RUclips wasting their's and others' time by replying with such negative and nonsensical comments.
@@theslack You could be right in your response. I did and have before jumped to conclusions when I read these. MY apologies. I try to make myself a better person every day...sometimes it works and sometimes I fail at it.
How did you apply the oxalic acid?
Air diaphragm pump
ruclips.net/video/dSF740tX9yg/видео.html
scrubbing those railings are going to be the pain for this older lady :(
merci
vous êtes les bienvenus
Where do you get the acid?
The link is in the video description. Here: amzn.to/3Syraxk
Others are using chlorine bleach to clean outdoor fences, is that bad?
You'll get a different opinion from everyone you ask. My $0.02: that's fine to quickly brighten an older or cheap-ish fence, but it's not a good method if the fence is really high quality wood or if it's going to be stained/painted. Like which our laundry, chlorine ("bleach") makes things temporarily appear brighter but just doesn't clean soft, fibrous materials. To really clean, you want an appropriate detergent along with appropriate rinsing/scrubbing.
@@OutsideCleaners That makes sense. I have uses for both - one is a high end University Tennis deck made of Teak Wood. I think I'l skip the clorine bleach and use many that Oci Clean, scrub and light sanding, then boiled Linseed Oil Thanks so much for the good advice
Are decks safe if they’ve never been maintained
Neglected decks tend to get slippery due to algae buildup. Slippery decks can be dangerous, so I'd say lack of maintenance can affect a deck's safety.
Your title includes "oxygen bleach," but I didn't hear you mention it in the video...??
Yikes… Thanks for pointing that out! I explained it in the video description but really should have articulated it in the video…
“Oxygen Bleach” is an informal nickname for sodium percarbonate, the chemical I use in this video. In the exterior cleaning industry, the terms are often used interchangeably….
sorry for causing confusion!
Nate! NATE!!!!! Make longer videos my man!!!! You clearly have knowledge and you want to share maybe you feel like no one wants to watch longer videos well guess what we do. Educate us and bring us along the ride! Maybe put a go pro on your head and give us a POV of an average job. Anyways great job on the videos I am looking to start this my self up in Vermont so thank you for the video and keep making them!
Thanks for watching and for your encouragement. Stay tuned 👍🏼
Great tips! So once you see bone, you know the pressure was too much.
Thanks for watching, Bob. Yeah, you're right. I've taken lots of flak over sharing how I make sure the pressure is low enough. I'll change the video, make something up about another way to do it.
Hi, thank you, I've edited the video to remove the method I myself use to make sure the pressure is low enough.
Few questions:
1. Do you just use cold water? I saw someone else say to use heated water.
2. Do you leave the solution sitting at all either before or after scrubbing?
3. Do you use any other treatment to keep the algae/mold etc from growing back? I’m thinking of the ones that kill mold spores (I think the chemical is sodium hypochlorite). Would you recommend or not and if so, at what point in the process would you put that on?
Thanks for the helpful video!
1. In the industry, I often see guys pushing “hot water” cleaning in situations where it really isn’t needed. I think they’re just looking for an upsell. In my experience, cold (“tap”) water is fine for power rinsing wood decks unless you’re either cleaning a frozen deck or trying to remove something like a grease or oil stain, in which case hot water is helpful for rinsing.
2. Really depends on the situation. I typically start renting as soon as I’m done scrubbing, but if I find it’s not cleaning up as well as I want, I’ll soak it and with more solution and let it sit for a bit more before power rinsing.
3. Sodium hypochlorite is chlorine bleach aka bleach. When used on a porous surface such as a wood deck (or clothing in our laundry), it’s only real utility is as a brightner rather than a cleaner. Many try to use it to clean wood decks, and though it gives the appearance of cleanliness because everything is brighter, on a molecular level it’s not great at cleaning porous surfaces. So, I don’t recommend it as a tool to clean wood decks. If your deck has been cleaned and you want to keep it that way, it’s worth a periodic application of one of the mildew/algae inhibitors such as Wet and Forget or Concrobium Mold Control. In my experience these won’t clean a dirty deck but they are worth a biannual application to keep a clean deck clean.
@@OutsideCleaners This is just my slmost-worst nightmare. I put dilute chlorine bleach on a badly stained redwood deck thinking it would brighten. and the wood started to turn WHITE. Scared the cr*p out of me. I barely saved it by applying dilute hydrochloric acid to that area, which I was really lucky to have on hand. After that no more alchemy for me, I've since done all by the specialty product instructions precisely.
1. You should use warm water when mixing sodium percarbonate. If that's what you were meaning with your first question.