Deck Maintenance with Rustoleum Premium Deck Cleaner Pouch & Restore 12x

Last week we gave you tips on how to redo your backyard on a budget and this week we used the same tips to do ours. Our backyard is where we spend most of our time during the summer months and it was a mess after the winter.

Our Deck is Built With Love

Our deck holds a special place in my heart. When we first bought our home the deck was decaying and only a fraction of the size it is now. We actually managed to talk down the seller an extra 10K off of his selling price because the deck was legit that horrible. 

A few years ago in a pregnant fit of crazy I pulled out the chainsaw and told my husband that if he did not cut it down I would. He put on the goggles and had it demolished in an hour. I think he channeled his anger at his crazy, preggo wife while he worked away but I was so happy it was done. Than I realized we had no deck.

In stepped my dad, uncle and sister to build with us this massive extension of my house so that we can truly have a deck that matches our lives–big and busy. Also, a little bit (a lot) messy.

Deck Maintenance is Key

Just like every other thing you own, including yourself, your deck needs maintenance to stay is tip-top shape. Ours has really taken some abuse this winter and there was a horrible buildup of gunk on it. Waiting for the weather to warm up so we could finally clean it up was like waiting for paint to dry but finally we got some sun and lots of rain so we decided to use it to our advantage.

How to Clean Your Deck Using Rustoleum Premium Deck Cleaner Pouch

Cleaning your deck is fairly easy and depending on the size of it can be done with just one person although it is a lot easier with 2. We decided to use the new Rustoleum Premium Deck Cleaner Pouch on our deck. When the powder is mixed with water it becomes a deep cleaning foam that is oxygen activated. In 10 minutes it removes dirt, greyed surfaces, sealers and more. Plus it`s safe for the environment. Perfect!

What You Need:

• Rustoleum Premium Deck Cleaner Pouch
• Water
• Measuring Cup
• Stir Stick
• Paint Roller
• Extendible Paint Roller Stick
• Paint Tray
• Protective Gear
• Stiff Bristled Brush for Scrubbing Dirt Off
• Access to Fresh Water for Rinsing

Instructions:

1. Remove everything off of your deck. Sweep off any debris and for this particular product your deck needs to be wet. This is where the almost constant rain came to our benefit. You can use a hose if you are not blessed with random rain showers. Also, ensure that if you have any greenery around your deck you wet it as well.
2. Put on protective gear and using the measuring cups measure out water and Rustoleum Premium Deck Cleaner into a large bucket. The powder will be blue when you first start. Using the stir stick stir the liquid until it turns white and foamy. When it becomes white it is ready to use and has to be used within 6 hours. For easy use pour some of the liquid into a paint tray. 
3. Start in a corner and using a paint roller on the extendible paint roller stick start applying the product. Work your way through the whole deck. In order for the product to work you need to keep it wet so here is where a second person comes in handy although not necesarry. Person #2 can go over where you finished and continue to spread the product. In all honesty you can do it yourself and at this point the deck is a bit slippery and if you have the right shoes you can slide around easy. Wait 10 minutes. I know–QUICK.
   
   

   

   
   
4. After the 10 minutes is up use the stiff bristled brush to scrub the deck and lift up any stubborn dirt. This part is the workout but it is nice to see all of the stuff lift up off of the wood.
   
   

   

   
   
5. Now it is time to rinse off the yuck. Get a hose or pressure washer and start working on a corner and working your way around the deck. This is the satisfying part because all of your not-so-hard work will be rinsed away to reveal a clean, bright deck.

If you want to watch our video on the process and see how easy it is yourself please do!

Sealing Your Deck

Now that you have done the work to clean your deck and it is bright and beautiful you need to take some steps to protect it from dirt, water and humans. Sealing your deck is like the top coat of your nail polish, necessary if you want it to last and look good.

Rustoleum Restore 12X

After waiting (and waiting) for the rain to stop and the deck to dry we were finally ready to seal. Trying to time this so we had at least 24 hours before and at least 48 hours after of no rain was nerve wracking. We used Restore 12X because it provided a solid clear coat that is 12x stronger than regular sealers. It reminds me of Mod Podge. With four kids and a large dog it is exactly what we needed and the 1 coat application was ideal.

What we used:

• Restore 12X
• Paint Roller
• Extendible Paint Roller Stick
• Paint Tray
• Prayer that the rain would not come and ruin it

Instructions:

1. Clean off your deck. Make sure that there is no debris or muddy dog prints on your deck.
2. Open the Restore 12X and stir it until it is fully mixed.
3. Before you start make sure you have a plan that will have you finish in an area where you can escape. It would really suck to get to the end only to have no clear way to get off of the deck.
4. Pour Restore 12x in the paint tray and go to town sealing all wood surfaces. Be careful to do thin coats without any drips. You can easily clean it up while it is still wet with a wet cloth.
5. After 24 hours you can walk on the deck and after 48 hours you can put furniture back on it.

The Restore 12x forms a thick film coating instead of absorbing into the wood. This prevents graying wood and repels water better. Plus it resists algae and mildew so we can be sure our outdoors are safe for us to enjoy. Each gallon will cover 200 sq ft.

Final Thoughts

It has only been a few days since we finished sealing our deck. Our youngest son has already:

• spray painted my bench white while I was writing this post. I was able to wipe it off with acetone.
• coloured all over it in chalk.
• painted on it with freezie
• driven all over the deck with his ride-on toys at lightning speed

You know what? I’m not even mad or worried because it’s protected.

Check out Rustoleum’s whole line of products and get some inspiration for your next project on their website. You can also purchase the Rustoleum line at most major Canadian retailers: Home Depot, Home Hardware, Canadian Tire, Lowes, Rona, Wal-Mart.

Get Inspired

Aneta Alaei

Aneta is a Toronto-based mom of four that loves a good meal, great company, and learning something new. In her free time, you can find her trying to keep yet another plant alive.

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