The UK's bestDecking Cleaners2022 Review

You might be dreading your annual decking clean because it’s always such a mammoth task. I get it – there’s often a lot of scrubbing and rinsing involved if you haven’t got the right products.

If you want to save as much time and effort as possible, you might like the Pro-Kleen 5 Litre Decking Cleaner. It’s one of the simplest products to use as it requires no rinsing or scrubbing!

All that’s required is to dilute 1 part cleaner to 4 parts water and then apply it with a garden sprayer or watering can. Once that’s done, you can sit down with a cuppa whilst the solution gets to work!

Within a few days, any moss or algae should be dead, which you can sweep away when it’s sufficiently loosened. Your deck should remain clean and slip-free for the next few months.

As well as working on moss and algae, this product can also reduce some species of weeds.

This deck cleaner can be used on any wooden surface including fences and sheds, as well as hard surfaces such as patios, driveways and walls. It won’t damage the paint on garden decking or fences. It can also clean uPVC windows, conservatories, boats and caravans.

Although diluting the product is recommended, this cleaner is highly effective on stubborn mould and algae when it’s used neat.

However, if you have particularly grimy decking, you might have to use a jet washer to get it perfect, as this cleaner is more effective at removing moss and algae than clearing dirt.

One pack of this product will produce 25L when diluted, providing plenty of cleaning product to get lots of your outdoor surfaces algae-free.

This product is non-acidic, bleach-free and biodegradable. Nevertheless, it’s recommended to keep pets and children away from the area until it’s dry.

Make sure you apply this product when dry weather is forecasted, as rainfall can dilute it further or wash it away, reducing its effectiveness.

This product’s large bottle might be a little cumbersome for some to handle, so it should be handled with care to avoid spillages. This deck cleaner as it can cause burns and eye damage if used haphazardly. This is the same with all these products – so, as always, use with care!

This next one’s the best decking cleaner in terms of value. It makes a minimum of 25L which can clean 200m² – ideal if you have a vast amount of wooden decking or fencing to clean.

It’s the Ultima-Plus XP Decking Cleaner. This is a super-concentrated mould and algae remover, with a highly-powerful, yet eco-friendly, formula.

To use, mix 1 part of the solution with 4 parts water and apply with a spray or watering can. For less problematic areas, you can dilute the product with up to 9 parts water.

You should see a huge reduction in mould, moss and algae within 2-3 days. At this point it should be dead, brown and loosened, so you can brush it away.

While this product is slightly more expensive than others on my list, it has such a high dilution ratio that a little goes a long way. Plus, it prevents the regrowth of mould and algae for 6 months, which is a longer amount of time than what other products promise.

Even if you only have small infestations of algae, this product can be diluted into a mild solution, so you can keep on top of these smaller breakouts.

This cleaner is suitable for all wooden surfaces as well as patios, brick, drives, tarmac, terracotta pots, statues, stone and uPVC windows.

Containing no acid or bleach, this cleaner is not only non-caustic but it’s also biodegradable. Even so, it’s advised to keep children and pets away until the area is dry.

Like most decking cleaners, this one should be applied when there’s no rain forecasted for a few days.

Customers report varying levels of success, depending on the seriousness of their mould problem. If you have black spot, a notoriously stubborn strain of mould, you might be better off buying a specifically designed solution to tackle those problem areas.

Be careful during application to avoid spraying nearby plants. A big drawback of cleaning products like this is that they can be so powerful that they can harm plants in your garden if they’re accidentally sprayed.

If every surface in your garden seems to be plagued by moss, lichen, algae and general grime, you might benefit from a multi-purpose product that can clean a variety of outdoor materials.

This Jarder 5 Litre Concentrate Decking Cleaner is one such product! It can be used on a wide variety of surfaces including wooden decking, fences, stonework, gravel, driveways, roofs, greenhouses, garden furniture, terracotta and uPVC.

One pack makes a minimum of 30L of solution – enough to clean 240m². These numbers indicate excellent value, so this is probably the second best deck cleaner for value on my list.

It can be applied neat or diluted to different strengths, depending on the severity of the algae growth on your garden materials.

To use, simply dilute and spray on using a watering can. Leave it to get to work and within a few days, you’ll be able to sweep or brush away any dead moss.

For best results, you might have to use a jet washer alongside this product or use a stronger mixture. Furthermore, dry weather will ensure the best results as rain can wash the product away.

This product provides a barrier to prevent regrowth for up to six months, keeping decks slip-free and clean. This is a competitive length of time compared to other products on the market.

Free from acid and bleach, this cleaner is non-caustic and biodegradable. Once dry, the treated area is safe for children and pets.

Like all decking cleaners, this must be used with care around surfaces you don’t intend to clean, as it could stain them if they’re not listed as suitable surfaces.

For example, this product has been known to stain sandstone, so maybe steer clear of this one if that’s what you intend to clean.

This next product is slightly different from the others on my list as it’s designed to be used before the application of decking treatments such as oils or wood preservers. It’s the Ronseal DC Decking Cleaner.

The other key difference with this product is that you don’t need to dilute it. However, this does make it less cost effective if you’re wanting to clean a large area. One pack cleans a deck of around 24m².

This Ronseal Decking Cleaner cleans algae, mildew, dirt and stains. It also opens the pores of the wooden decking to allow decking treatments to more easily penetrate the wood.

The product can be applied with a garden sprayer, watering can or broom. It then should be scrubbed and rinsed later. After these steps, you can apply your chosen wood treatment.

Customer results seem to vary, reporting that a lot of rinsing is required due to excess residue.

This cleaner takes a little more work than other spray-and-leave products, but it’s the best decking cleaner if you’re planning to use wood treatments afterwards. It’s designed to help any decking treatments like decking oil and wood stain last longer.

Unlike other decking cleaners, this one can be used on wet and dry surfaces, so you don’t need to wait for dry weather to begin cleaning. A pressure washer will give superior results, whilst other decking cleaners do not require this.

Be sure to avoid contact with your skin and eyes.

It’s a valid concern if you’re eco-minded that strong chemicals aren’t great for the environment. Fortunately, this Dirtbusters 5 Litre Patio Decking Cleaner is free from acids and bleach, so it won’t harm nearby wildlife.

It’s a spray-and-leave product that provides enough to clean up to 200m² of wooden decking or fencing. It can also be used on patios, paths, sheds, drives, garden furniture and uPVC.

Simply dilute 1 part solution with 4 parts water and apply with a hand pressure sprayer or watering can. Make sure to use the product when there’s no rain forecast as this can wash away the product.

This cleaner works quickly to kill algae in a few days and thick moss in about a week. It will also reduce regrowth for several months after application.

As with all cleaning products, be careful to avoid contact with skin and eyes, perhaps with the use of protective clothing and glasses. It contains no acids or bleach, but still make sure pets and children are kept away until the area is dry.

Results do seem to vary, indicating that the product may not be so effective on the black spot strain of mould, or oily stains.