How to Power Wash a Cedar Deck

A cedar deck is useful because it helps keeps bugs away, and will not become insect infested. You can damage a cedar deck if you clean it as you would any other wood. You should learn the proper way to power wash a cedar deck before you attempt to do it.

Supplies needed:

• Power washer


• 40 degree fan tip


• Oxalic acid

1. Make sure the cedar deck is not wet. If it has rained on it lately, you need to wait a few days for it to become completely dry before you start to power wash it. The cleaner you will be using will not work when placed on a wet surface.


2. Use a 40 degree fan tip on the power washer hose. If you don’t have this fan tip, you can purchase it anywhere you can buy or rent a power washer.


3. Purchase some oxalic acid at any home improvement store. This is a wood brightener to be used to clean a cedar deck. Ask the sales representative to help you find this if you can’t find it. Mix this together with water, following the manufacturer’s instructions on the oxalic bottle.


4. Put the power washer on the lowest setting to power wash a cedar deck. You do not want to use a high setting, as you can damage the cedar. The lowest setting is powerful enough to properly clean the cedar deck with no problems.


5. Hold the sprayer approximately 3 feet from the cedar and spray it left to right in a sweeping motion. Go over each area only one time.