6 Simple Steps to a Refreshed Deck

Waking up a tired deck begins with an assessment of its current condition. First, examine plainly visible components for signs of loose fasteners, cracked members, and wood rot. Follow up by checking for those same red flags along the posts, joists, and beams on the underside of the deck. Inspect the stairs, if applicable, and, finally, take a look at the footings. Here, cracked or crumbling concrete, depending on severity, may mean trouble. When in doubt, call a pro.

Unleash the power of water to soften and disperse dirt, grime, and stubborn stains of all types. Just add a stiff brush and elbow grease. To make quicker work of things, get a power assist from a handy tool like the HYDE PivotPro Outdoor Cleaning Water Wand. Easy to use, the PivotPro attaches directly to your garden hose, enabling you to blast away the toughest muck.

Sometimes you need more than water to cut through all the crud. For particularly stubborn grime, use liquid deck cleaner, with or without mildew inhibitor. Once again, the HYDE PivotPro simplifies what might otherwise be a cumbersome, time-consuming chore. Simply add soap to the built-in reservoir and set your soap-to-water ratio, then point, shoot, and spray. Once you're ready to rinse off, toggle the lever and return the tool to clear-water mode.