How often should you clean your deck? The complete yearly plan

How often should you clean your deck? The complete yearly plan

Your deck is the outdoor floor of your home. It is walked on, used, spilled on, grilled on, exposed to rain and often forgotten – until spring arrives and the entire surface suddenly looks tired.

The good news is that deck care does not need to be complicated. With a simple yearly plan and an overfatted deck soap, you can keep your deck in excellent condition with relatively little effort.

Below, we explain how often you should clean and recondition your deck, what to do each time and how to adapt maintenance to the way your deck is actually used.

The core principle – regular and gentle beats rare and aggressive

Wood responds best to consistent, mild care. It is better to:

  • Clean regularly with overfatted deck soap
  • Avoid pressure washing and harsh chemicals
  • Recondition the surface routinely

Than to attempt everything at once every few years with heavy equipment.

For a typical Nordic deck, the following rhythm works well:

  • One thorough treatment in spring
  • Light maintenance during summer
  • A final cleaning in autumn

If you want the full method with tools, mixing ratios and technique, you’ll find it here: How to clean and recondition your deck – step by step.

Spring – the main event

The goal in spring is to revive the deck after winter and set the foundation for the entire season.

Step 1: Spring cleaning

Once snow and ice are gone:

  • Sweep thoroughly
  • Soak the deck completely
  • Clean with a normal-strength soap mixture (approx. 100 ml per 10 liters of warm water)
  • Brush along the grain and rinse thoroughly

This removes winter dirt, pollen residue and surface buildup.

Step 2: Main treatment

Once the deck is fully dry after cleaning, perform the most important step:

  • Mix approx. 1 liter of overfatted soap with 10 liters of cold water
  • Apply generously with a soft brush or cloth along the grain
  • Allow it to dry in – do not rinse

This saturates the surface, reduces brittleness and gives the soft, matte appearance characteristic of soaped decking.

Recommendation:
One full spring treatment per year is a good minimum. Heavily exposed decks may benefit from an additional light treatment later in spring.

Summer – light maintenance

The goal during summer is to keep the surface fresh without restarting the entire process.

Often it is enough to:

  • Sweep regularly
  • Remove leaves, soil and spills promptly
  • Perform a light soap wash when needed

Light maintenance wash

Use this when:

  • Pollen has accumulated
  • The area around the grill feels dirty
  • You want to refresh the deck mid-season

Use a weaker mixture:

  • Approx. 50 ml overfatted soap per 10 liters of water
  • Quick brushing and rinsing

Small interventions prevent the deck from deteriorating significantly between seasons.

Autumn – close the season properly

The goal in autumn is to prepare the deck for winter in the best possible condition.

Before frost arrives:

  • Sweep away leaves and debris
  • Clean with a normal-strength soap mixture
  • Rinse and allow the surface to dry

This helps prevent dirt from being trapped under snow and reduces algae growth.

A full main treatment in autumn is usually unnecessary if done in spring, but may be beneficial on heavily exposed decks.

Winter – minimal but important

Winter care is about preventing damage, not cleaning or treating.

  • Avoid metal tools that can scratch the surface
  • Do not chip ice directly from the wood – allow it to melt naturally

During winter, the deck is best left undisturbed.

How often depending on usage

Typical family deck

  • Spring: cleaning + main treatment
  • Summer: light maintenance as needed
  • Autumn: simple cleaning

Heavily used deck

  • Spring: cleaning + main treatment
  • Summer: 1–2 light maintenance washes
  • Autumn: cleaning and possibly a mild reconditioning

Shaded deck prone to algae

  • Spring: cleaning + main treatment
  • Summer: extra light cleaning on exposed areas
  • Autumn: thorough cleaning with slightly stronger mixture where needed

How do you know it’s time?

Clear signals that your deck needs attention:

  • The surface feels dry or dull
  • Dirt adheres more easily
  • The deck looks uneven after rain
  • Algae appear as green or dark patches

If you notice these signs and it has been over a year, it is time for a new spring-level treatment.

Summary – a simple plan for many years

Can you do more? Yes.
Do you need to? Usually not.

For most decks, it is enough to:

  • Perform one thorough spring treatment
  • Handle small issues during summer
  • Clean before winter

With this rhythm, your deck will:

  • Crack less
  • Be easier to keep clean
  • Age more evenly
  • Feel better underfoot

Good deck care is more about rhythm than effort.