How do you soap a deck or other wooden decking?
Sara IdenforsSoap a deck or other wooden decking by first scrubbing the deck clean of algae, lichen, and dirt using 10 l of warm water and 1 dl of deck soap (use a stiff brush if needed). Make sure no loose residue remains. Then mix 1 l of soap with 9 liters of cold water and apply the mixture with a scrubbing cloth/scrub brush over the entire surface until the deck wood is saturated, leaving a soft and smooth surface.
Which soap should you choose for the deck?
An overfatty soap is necessary if the purpose is to treat the deck. It contains extra fat that thoroughly saturates the wood and provides the best protection against dirt and moisture. Choose a natural, high-quality soap intended for outdoor use. Make sure it is labeled as overfatty for optimal results on deck wood.
Why should you soap the deck?
You should soap the deck because it is a gentle, effective, and environmentally friendly method for cleaning and impregnating the wood, giving it a light, smooth surface that protects it from dirt, moisture, and drying out. The soap saturates the wood, making it more resistant to stains and cracking. It also creates a natural, beautiful surface that ages gracefully over time. It is especially effective on untreated or previously soaped wood.
You can “fix” a lot by scrubbing with soap, but not absolutely everything. The result depends entirely on the starting condition and what you want to achieve. If you have a badly weathered deck affected by algae, lichen, and mold, it may be possible to save it as long as the wood has not rotted, but it will not look new even after scrubbing. Now that we have covered that, let’s look on the bright side: you will be surprised by what is actually possible!
Algae, lichen, and mold thrive in an acidic environment—soap is alkaline … something that algae and “their associates” detest. Thus, the soap will delay their regrowth. In the humid coastal region, algae often grow faster than they do in the drier inland areas.
Soap the deck step by step
1. When soaping the deck, start by scrubbing away algae, lichen, and dirt with HOT water and deck soap. You need a scrubbing brush/scrub brush. A lot of algae/lichen = stiff brush.
2. Wipe or rinse the surface; no loose dirt from scrubbing should remain on the surface.
3. Mix approximately 1 l of soap with 9 l of COLD water (one scrubbing bucket). Soak the scrub cloth in the soapy water, then place it over the scrubbing brush and go over the entire decking. The soapy water should soak into the wood. Repeating the process more times will produce a smoother surface. You will feel when the wood is saturated and you are satisfied with the result.
So what is the advantage of soaping the patio instead of oiling it?
The advantage of soaping the patio instead of oiling it is that the surface becomes smooth and matte, compared with the glossy finish you get from oiling. A soaped floor has the same surface as an old-fashioned scrubbed floor, if you have ever encountered one. The surface becomes smooth, soft, and warm, and after a couple of treatments it develops a waxed feel.
Because the surface becomes matte and smooth, it is easy to sweep clean of pollen, road dust, or other loose dirt. An oiled surface that gets dusty or covered in pollen is more difficult to clean because it becomes slightly sticky.
A soaped wood surface also retains its natural aged appearance, whereas it easily becomes much darker when oiled. Note that soaping does not automatically give you a gray surface. If you want new decking to turn gray immediately, soap alone will not work; pigment must be added. Ask your paint supplier.
- Want a matte, smooth surface = SOAP
- Want a glossy surface = OIL
Should you pressure-wash the patio?
No, you should not use a pressure washer, as you risk creating splinters and slivers that can be unpleasant to get in your feet. If the decking is affected by, for example, algae, it is better to use a coarser scrubbing brush and scrub with soap and water.
When should you soap the decking?
Soap the decking in spring before you start furnishing and decorating your outdoor space; it is much easier to reach the entire surface then, and you will remove what has accumulated and perhaps even started growing during autumn and winter.
You can also scrub in the autumn to keep the algae away, and if you want to improve the surface, you can certainly apply cold water and soap in midsummer as well.
So how do you soap the patio?
1. Scrub the decking clean with hot water and soap.
Wet the wooden decking in sections and then scrub it with hot water and soap. You wet the decking because undiluted soap applied directly to dry wood can cause greasy stains. BUT if you have badly worn decking where you are not too concerned about soap stains, then you can start scrubbing immediately. It is a good idea to scrub the entire deck this way. It is easier with a long-handled brush. As you do this, you will see whether certain areas need more thorough scrubbing. If necessary, scrub them more.
HOT water + soap = use this to clean. You may have heard or read someone say, “Only use cold water on wood.”
That is absolutely right, but it applies when the wood is clean. If the decking is not clean—for example, where the grill has stood or where a flowerpot has left stains—using only cold water will not work; you need hot water to clean it first. After that, you can use cold water and soap to treat the wood.
Rinse/wipe away loose dirt and anything that has been scrubbed loose. If the decking is clean, this is of course unnecessary. But if you have scrubbed loose moss, lichen, soil, and dirt, it must actually be removed.
If you have now scrubbed and noticed that dirt, lichen, algae, etc. have come loose, you should rinse/wipe away the dirt before starting with cold water and soap. Let it dry and inspect the result. HOT water + soap = use this to clean.
2. Cold water + soap = use this to treat the wood
Mix 1 l of concentrated decking soap with 9 l of cold water in a scrub bucket. Soak a cloth in the soapy water and “wipe”/“mop” the surface. You do not need to work very hard with the scrubbing brush at this stage. However, lightly scrubbing with a softer long-handled brush is beneficial. A cloth over the brush is perfect.
The principle here is that the surface should absorb the excess fat in the soap.
Repeat this until you are satisfied with the surface. With each application, the surface becomes more saturated, “waxed,” and smooth. The result will resemble a smooth, old-fashioned scrubbed floor.
Soaped decking will never be glossy like oiled decking. The result is a matte, pleasant surface to walk on barefoot. Another advantage is that the surface does not become sticky and therefore does not attract dust and pollen—in other words, it is easier to keep clean.
How many times should the treatment with cold water and soap be repeated?
The answer is that you repeat the process until you are satisfied. Porous types of wood that have dried out will need more soap. Hard types of wood and pressure-treated lumber need less soap.
How much soap should I add to the water to soap the deck?
How do you measure the amount?
We recommend that 1 liter should be enough for approximately 35 m², BUT this naturally depends on how many times you choose to repeat the process and on whether it is a porous pine floor or a solid, hard larch floor. You simply have to decide for yourself when you are satisfied.
What do I need to soap my deck?
– Superfatted deck soap
– Cloth
– Bucket
– A stiff scrub brush and a soft one.
Won’t deck soap make it slippery?
No, as long as the soap soaks into the wood, it won’t become slippery. If you notice that the soap no longer soaks in and that a lot of soap remains on the surface, the wood is saturated and finished. Wipe up the excess and enjoy your deck. It doesn’t really matter which cleaning product you use—if you use too much, it will become slippery. BUT dry wood is nevertheless much more common than oversaturated wood.
That’s why you shouldn’t use vinegar
It may be very tempting to use vinegar after seeing poorly substantiated advice online. DO NOT do it. Vinegar is acidic, and acids and wood are not a good combination. Wood needs grease, oil, wax, or soap—not acid. In addition, algae and lichens thrive much better in an acidic environment than in an alkaline one. Now, someone might point out that strong vinegar also kills algae and moss. That is true, but with the first rain it is diluted, and the environment once again becomes a perfect breeding ground for moss spores. Acid also dries out wood, and sooner or later cracks and splinters form in dried-out wood.
The only time you should use acid on wood is when you have difficult stains, water stains or other stains that do not come off when scrubbing with soap. In that case, you can use oxalic acid to remove the stains, but it is a good idea to re-grease and treat the surface after using oxalic acid. Keep in mind that oxalic acid (which can be purchased from a paint shop) is strong, so wear gloves and protect other nearby materials. Make sure that children and animals cannot access it.
Tip: Rhubarb naturally contains a lot of oxalic acid, and it may well work for removing the stains with rhubarb.
That is why you should avoid degreasers
You should also avoid degreasers for the same reason: cracks and splinters will eventually form when wood dries out. It is very tempting to give it a quick scrub with washing-up liquid or another degreaser, but that is a quick fix that is not very effective. Wood needs grease; it does not need to have it removed.
Next time you are in a well-stocked paint shop, take a look at the shelf for wood treatments. You will find various oils and waxes there, but nowhere will you find degreaser for wood or acid (apart from the oxalic acid we mentioned earlier). There is a reason for that—we promise.
__________________________________________________________________________
Questions and answers about soaping your patio
Why is soap a good alternative for treating a wooden deck or patio?
Soap is alkaline and discourages the growth of algae, lichen and mould, helping to keep the surface clean and protected.
When should you soap the patio or wooden deck?
The soaping should be carried out in spring, before you start using the patio, or in autumn to keep the surface clean and protected from algae and mould.
What type of soap should you use to treat a wooden deck?
You should use a superfatting soap to prevent the wood from drying out. Examples of superfatting soaps include Västerbottenssåpa and linseed oil soaps.
How should you dose the soap when treating a patio or wooden deck?
You should add soap until the water feels greasy. A common recommendation is to use 1 litre of soap for approximately 35 square metres, but this may vary depending on the type of wood and the desired result.
What should you avoid when treating a wooden deck or patio with soap?
You should avoid using vinegar or degreasers on a wooden deck, as these substances can dry out the wood and cause cracks and splinters over time. It is also important to avoid using a pressure washer to prevent damage to the wood.