Guide: How to Soap-Treat Your Deck / Balcony

Do this:

1. Scrub away algae, lichen, and dirt using HOT water and fatty soap. The deck soap from Västerbottenssåpa is superfatted and is therefore a good choice. The hot water together with the soap loosens algae, lichen, stains, and marks in the wood. 

Use a stiff brush. If the surface is large, a levang is useful to have. A levang is a scrubbing brush that can be attached to a handle. You can find the handle at your nearest hardware store. 

2. Wipe or rinse the surface. There should be no loose dirt from scrubbing left on the surface when it is time to start treating it. If the decking is new and clean, however, you do not need to rinse or wipe it; start directly with step three. 

3. Mix approximately 1 l of soap with 10 l of COLD water (in a scrubbing bucket). Soak a cleaning cloth in the soapy water, then place it over the levang and go over the entire deck. The soapy water should soak into the wood. You can also work the cold soap mixture into the wood using the soft levang. 

More repetitions produce a smoother surface. You will feel when the wood is saturated and you are satisfied with the result.

Repeat step 3 for an even smoother, more saturated surface. 

 

 

1. Should you clean with hot or cold water?
Answer: Clean with hot water.

 

2. Do you need to wait between cleaning and treating with soap?
Answer: No

 

3. Can you treat the wood with soap even when it is cold?
Answer: Yes, as long as the water does not freeze, it is fine.

 

4. Do you use the same soap for cleaning and treating?
Answer: Yes, you use the same soap. The difference is that you use hot water for cleaning and cold water for treating. 

Here you will find more guides and tips on how to use the soap outdoors; click here!

Order natural cleaning products here: Västerbottenssåpa