The Removal of BBQ Grease From a Deck
Barbecue may be a culinary treasure for outdoor summertime cooks, but BBQ stains, especially food particles and grease, can cause discoloration to wooden decks. Whether you want to clean up one spill, or remove multiple grease stains, you always need to clean away grease before refinishing or restoring a wooden deck. With the proper solution and cleaning techniques you can remove the grease and revitalize your deck.
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Wipe up any food particles or clumps of BBQ sauce that you see on the deck.
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Apply a sodium percarbonate-based cleaner to a nylon brush. Sodium percarbonate, otherwise known as an oxygen bleach, is the type of cleaning solution that you want to use on a deck. While you might find deck cleaners that contain chlorine bleach, these cleaners can damage the deck's wood fibers during cleaning.
An oxygen-based bleach will remove common stains such as BBQ grease, in addition to mildew stains and the discoloration from UV degradation. Don't apply the solution directly to the wood. You want to only focus on the area of the deck that is stained, which is why you should apply the solution to the brush first.
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Scrub the grease spot vigorously until a foam forms.
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Rinse the area with a clean, wet towel or spray it away with a water hose. Clean again if necessary.
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Wash the area with a power washer if the chemical cleaner does not remove the grease. You can rent a power washer from a hardware store. Don't put the setting too high for the first wash and be cautious that too much pressure could damage the deck wood.
References
Warnings
- Do not scrub the deck with sandpaper or use a chemical stripper unless you will refinish the entire deck. Strippers and sandpaper will remove a layer of the deck surface, which you will then need to refinish in order to restore it to its original form.
Writer Bio
Jessica Jewell is a writer, photographer and communications consultant who began writing professionally in 2005. Her chapbook, "Slap Leather," is forthcoming from dancing girl press. Her recent work has appeared in "Nimrod," "Harpur Palate," "Copper Nickel," "Rhino," "wicked alice," "Poetry Midwest" and "Barn Owl Review." Jewell was recently nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She earned her Master of Fine Arts from Kent State University.
Photo Credits
- Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
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