At the start of the gardening season, there is a lot to do outdoors: planting flower beds, scarifying the lawn and repairing bare spots, creating the kitchen garden. So that you can enjoy the results of your hard work in spring and summer, you should also clean the terrace. While pavers and tiles are fairly easy to maintain, wood can prove to be a real challenge. Gray film, moss and green deposits are difficult to remove. In today's article we will explain to you how you can clean and seal your wooden terrace - without chemicals, of course!
Cleaning a wooden terrace: How to remove moss with soda
Moss often occurs when the patio is in the shade or when it is built directly on lawn. If the terrace is not protected from rain, the surface can remain constantly damp. This is one of the most common conditions for the rapid spread of moss. In this case, frequent cleaning is an absolute must because moss keeps the wood moist and this moisture attacks the wood.
Soda has a disinfecting effect and is therefore perfect for removingMoosand green cover. At the same time, it is very gentle and does not attack the wooden surface. Soda also doesn't leave unsightly stains as long as you dissolve it in water. Proceed as follows: Dissolve 2 tablespoons of soda in 4 liters of water. It is best to use lime-free tap water. Don't take rainwater! Mix the whole thing very well until the soda dissolves completely. When cleaning, it is important that you use a suitable brush and only brush in the direction of the grain. If the moss is particularly stubborn, you can add a dab of dishwashing liquid to the water. At the end, simply rinse it off with the garden hose.
Remove grease stains on wood with washing powder or dishwashing liquid
Grease stains under the grill or outdoor dining table are not uncommon. In summer you clean the grill area regularly and think that this would be sufficient. But if grease still builds up in the wood, it goes unnoticed in autumn and winter due to the constant rain and snowfall.
To remove these, dissolve 1 tablespoon of washing powder for allergy sufferers (without odor and color) in 10 liters of warm water. You can also use dish soap, it will achieve a similar effect. Scrub the solution into the wood and allow the home remedy to work for a few minutes.Old grease stainscan rarely be removed the first time. If this is the case, it is best to leave the home remedy on for an hour the second time before rinsing it off.
Remove verdigris from wood with soft soap
If removing moss is already complicated, it can become even more complicated when algae are added to it. Green cover usually occurs primarily in shaded areas of the garden. By the way, the green covering is popularly called verdigris, but this name is incorrect. Verdigris actually refers to copper stains and these are rarely found in the garden.
The quickest way to remove green deposits is with soft soap. It is made from fats of plant or animal origin and potassium hydroxide. Thanks to its thick consistency, it can be easily applied to various surfaces and is considered a true all-rounder, at least when it comes to removing stains. The soft soap is used on the terrace to remove green deposits. The application is very simple: Take a brush and put some soft soap on it. Then rub the terrace with it until the verdigris is completely removed. Rinse with the garden hose and you're done!
Remove gray haze with a high-pressure cleaner
Gray haze reflects the natural weathering and patina that occurs over time. Some people love this old look, others find it annoying. Especially if a gray haze has only formed in certain areas and the rest of the wood shines in its original color, then the terrace looks unkempt and dirty. In this case, only one thing helps – the gray haze with oneRemove high-pressure cleaner from the terrace. Work very carefully so that you do not remove the wood coating.
Cleaning a wooden terrace and sealing it with conventional vegetable oil: Is that possible?
Vegetable oils (e.g. rapeseed oil and olive oil) are often recommended for sealing the wooden terrace. Actually, it is not recommended. These vegetable oils do not remain on the surface but penetrate the wood. The wood still feels greasy and there is a risk of slipping at any time of the year. Removing the oils is also very complicated. And if the wooden terrace is in the sun, the vegetable oils can spoil. Bad smells that you can't get rid of and a slippery surface are ultimately just annoying. So if you want to seal your wooden terrace, then it's better to use conventional water-based organic oils - these can easily be found in stores. And they were specifically made for the wooden terrace.
Also read:Clean the terrace in spring: Get ready for the new season!
