How To Clean and Maintain Your Porch
If you’re curious about how to maintain your porch or how to clean your porch we have some tips and tricks for you!
1. Care for your floors:
Wood porch floors - The best way to clean a wood porch floor is by sweeping and vacuuming to prevent dirt from getting into the grain of the wood or scratching the surface of the floor. It’s relatively easy. Vacuum the floor to remove the dust and pollen. Damp mop with a mild solution of vinegar and water.
TimberTech Azek deck floors - The manufacturer’s recommended cleaning product for TimberTech Azek porch floor or decking is Timbertech Deckcleaner. Please consult the TimberTech website for complete instructions on cleaning. There are cleaners on the market that can damage the finish on this product.
Thermory Ash flooring on a screened porch
Reseal the floor when necessary. How often you reseal the floor is a matter of preference and concerns the amount of wear and tear your porch floor receives. Generally, resealing is necessary every 5 to 7 years. You will want to reseal with the same product that is already on the floor. Most of our cypress porch floors are sealed with PPG Flood 802 and our Thermory Ash floors are sealed with Cutek. Hot tip: read the label of your resealing agent carefully and follow the instructions.
2. Clean your porch screens: When cleaning your porch screens, we suggest, starting on the inside. Very gently wipe horizontally and vertically with a dry microfiber cloth or pad attached to an extension pole. Do not stretch or dent the screen. After loosening the dirt out of the screen, use a damp microfiber cloth or pad attached to an extension pole to gently wipe down each panel. Repeat the process for the outside. Hot tip: Rescreen only as necessary. You will find that birds flying into the screen can cause holes, pets may rip them and kids love to push on them. Most of our clients call us when it's time to rescreen. We can do it quickly and expertly.
Keep your screens clean for maximum visibility
3. Prevent and remove mold from your porch: Mold and mildew on ceilings and walls can form in damp and shady environments. You can remedy this with a solution of water and bleach. Start with a 1: 4 bleach to water ratio. Strengthen as needed. Hot tip: As you well know, bleach will discolor whatever it touches. Make sure you cover both the furniture and the floor.
4. Keep your fireplace clean: If you have a screened-in porch with a fireplace, specifically wood burning, have it cleaned regularly by a chimney sweep. Creosote builds up on the inside surface and can ignite, resulting in a chimney fire.
Wood burning fireplaces need to have the flue cleaned regularly by a certified chimney sweep.
5. Know what not to worry about: Posts of pressure-treated lumber will occasionally warp or “check” (a fissure develops down the post). This is normal due to the expansion and contraction of the wood. There is no need to be concerned, the post is still sound. Another common occurrence is sap bleeding from knotholes. Again, this is nothing to worry about and is typical of many types of wood. Hot tip: if you’re looking to dress up and protect your pressure-treated deck posts you can invest in sleeves from our sister company The Porch Store, learn more here.
We hope this porch maintenance how-to guide was helpful to you! We’re always here to help and welcome any questions you may have. If you’re ready for your own screened porch addition let The Porch Company design and build the perfect porch for you and yours! Call us at 615-662-2886 or visit our design studio. We would love to meet with you to discuss your porch needs!
A clean porch is a happy porch!
