After a British winter, most decking is grey, green and slippery. The good news is that it usually cleans up far better than people expect.
1. Clear it and check it
Move furniture and pots, sweep off leaves and look for loose boards, raised screws or soft spots. It's much easier to fix these before cleaning.
2. Clean the grooves, not just the surface
Algae lives in the grooves of the boards, and that's what makes decking slippery. A proper deep clean gets right into them. On timber, the pressure has to be controlled so the wood isn't furred up; composite decking needs a gentler approach again.
3. Let it dry, then protect it
Once it's fully dry, a decking oil or stain brings the colour back and helps repel water, so algae struggles to take hold. Composite boards don't need oiling, but benefit from a clean every year.
- Clean once a year, ideally in spring
- Re-oil timber every one to two years
- Keep gaps between boards clear so water drains away