How to Clean your pool deck on a budget

Having a pool is considered a great joy amongst other things, especially when it is running and operating correctly and smoothly. The key to a perfect pool, of course, is making sure to keep it maintained. Luckily there are professionals available to do all the hard work for you so you are left lounging on the sidelines. While your pool may be in tiptop shape, one thing that can easily get over looked is the actual pool deck itself. With sunscreen, pool cleaners, as well as the elements (if your pool is outdoors) your pool deck can easily start to get little stains that will grow and spread before you know it. Contrary to common belief, you don’t need to rent a pressure washer or spend hundreds of dollars on expensive cleaners to give your pool deck a face-lift. By using these few common household items you will be ready to get a squeaky-clean pool deck to match your sparkling manicured pool.

The first step in cleaning your pool deck is to make your cleaner. Start by gathering all of the materials you will need: a garden hose with a sprayer, scrub broom, warm water, large bucket, bleach, teaspoon, mop and finally soap with a non greasing agent. To make your in-home concrete deck cleaner, combine the warm water and bleach inside your clean bucket; we recommend using roughly a capful. If you want a more eco friendly option to replace the bleach, try using warm water mixed with a degreasing soap; 1 part soap to 10 parts water. Once you have chosen your cleanser, soak your mop in the cleaning agent for 10 minutes to ensure the mop is fully saturated. After the mop has completed its soak, begin to spread the cleanser across your pool, applying extra cleanser to any and all stained areas.

Once you have saturated the full deck, retrieve your scrub broom and start scrubbing the concrete. While the majority of your pool deck may only need a light scrub, other areas where mildew or stains may have built up could require a little more elbow grease. Continue scrubbing your deck (in some cases you may have to put a second layer of cleanser down and repeat the scrubbing process) until you are satisfied with the outcome. Once your scrubbing has been completed, grab the hose with a sprayer attachment (if you have one and would like to get a harder rinse, feel free to use a pressure washer) and spray the pool deck with clean water to rinse away any bleach remnants as well as debris that has been loosened from scrubbing. Once you’ve completed spraying, your deck should be left clean and completely free of any and all debris.

If you want to avoid a day of cleaning in the future, try purchasing a concrete sealer to help minimize the amount of scrubbing that will be needed during your next cleaning adventure. There are many different brands as well as types of concrete sealer, so look into the type of sealer that applies to your needs as well as your pool.

By taking a day every few months to scrub your pool deck you could save thousands on expensive cleaning agents and even extend the life of your pool deck by nearly a decade. While the cleaning of your deck may be easily completed from home, even on a budget, ensuring your pool is cleaned and maintained is what allows your pool area to truly sparkle.