That wash the decking with soap is a tried and tested method in the Nordic countries. It is used both for to get away dirt and for to take hand whether the wood on a naturally way. With right type soap – to example linseed oil soap or Soapa – can you clean the patio effectively without to the wood dries out.

Soap dissolves dirt, pollen and organic residues at the same time that it leaves remaining a small amount grease that does the wooden surface more resistant. It does to the decking not just becomes clean without also easier to maintain after in the future.

Here goes we through how you goes to weigh when you soap a decking, which tools that is needed and what that differs linseed oil soap from pine tar soap.

Why wash the decking with soap?

Soap works different than many modern cleaning agents (by modern, we mean the synthetic surrogates that began to be developed on a large scale during and after the Second World War) . Soap breaks not down the wood’s structure without cleans more gently. Therefore has soap scrubbing for a long time been a common method for wooden surfaces in Scandinavia, known as scrubbed floors.

The benefits is several:

- cleans effectively without aggressive chemicals

- adds grease that helps the wood to retain its natural balance

- dissolves up dirt, pollen and grease

- suitable good for recurring maintenance

Linseed soap/Soapa is especially appreciated because it both cleans and contribute with natural oils to the wood. The result becomes often a more durable and easy to maintain surface.

So here soap you the decking – step for step

Prepare the decking

Start with to make the surface ready for cleaning.

- sweep away leaves, gravel and pine needles

- move furniture, pots and other objects

When loosened debris is away can the soap work directly against the wood surface.

The principle is simple:

* Hot water + less soap = CLEANS
* Cold water + plenty of superfatting soap = TREATS

For cleaning: Mix 1 dl of soap with 10 liters of hot water.

To treat: Mix 1 liter of soap with 9 liters of cold water.

1 liter of soap is enough for approximately 30 m²

Wood is a natural material, and conditions may vary. 

A rule of thumb is: 

Dry, porous, or older wood = more soap.
Newly pressure-treated decking, hardwoods = less soap.

1. 1 dl of soap to 10 L of hot 
water. Add more soap as needed, e.g. for heavy dirt.

2. Use a deck brush/scrub brush and scrub clean in the direction of the wood grain. Use a coarse brush for algae and heavy dirt. If large amounts of dirt come loose, you need to rinse or wipe it away. A scrubbing cloth is recommended.

3. Mix 1 L of soap with 9 L of cold water. 

4. Scrub/brush the decking with a deck brush/scrub brush/cloth. 
Let the mixture soak into the wood. Repeat as needed.

5. Let the decking dry

After the rinsing need the decking Let it dry. Allow it to rest until dry, depending on the weather; now you can see the result. For an additional treatment effect / more surface coverage, repeat steps 3–4, 

When the decking has dried get it a clean and natural surface.


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Questions and answers

 

1. Why should you wash the decking with soap?
Soapa cleans effectively while helping to preserve the wood's natural properties. It dissolves dirt, pollen, and organic deposits without drying out the wood, making the decking easier to maintain over time.

2. How do you soap a deck properly?
Start by sweeping away leaves, gravel, and other debris. Then clean the deck with a mixture of soap and warm water, scrubbing in the direction of the wood grain. If you want to treat the wood, follow with a stronger mixture of superfatting soap and cold water, allowing it to soak into the wood before the deck dries.

3. How much soap should I use for the deck?
For regular cleaning, approximately 1 dl of soap per 10 liters of warm water is recommended. To treat the wood, use a stronger mixture of approximately 1 liter of soap per 9 liters of cold water. Dry and porous wood species often need more soap than newly pressure-treated decking or harder wood species.

4. What tools do I need to soap-scrub a deck?
You need a scrubbing brush or deck brush to scrub the wood in the direction of the grain. For heavy dirt, a stiffer brush can be used, and a scrubbing cloth is useful for wiping up or rinsing away dirt that comes loose during cleaning.