Hello! I'm seeking advice on care for our grey ipe deck. My biggest concerns are how to keep it clean from sea gull poop and general dirt/dust buildup and what, if any, measures I should take to maintain it for long-term enjoyment.

Last summer we bought a house with a large amount (1200+ SF) of ipe decking and fencing that was installed 6-7 years ago. We decided not to keep the ipe oiled/stained because (1) we are daunted by the cost of maintaining it that way and (2) we don't mind the grey look. The house is in Southern California so it doesn't get much rain, but there's a lot of ambient moisture because we're about .5 miles from the ocean. Some parts of the deck get sun all day, while others are shaded for most of the day.

Last November we had an outdoor wood restoration company clean and brighten all of the decking, which had gone really dark grey in spots from dirt and/or mildew. The deck looked fantastic afterwards and if I could afford it, I would ask them to come back every year. I'm not sure what product they used for the brightening, but my husband thinks the initial cleaning was done using brushes/push brooms and a Simple Green solution. The last step of the process was a pressure wash, which I know some (including experts on this forum) recommend against doing. Luckily, there is no visible damage from the pressure washer and I walk on it shoeless all the time without noticing any whiskers/feathering/splinters underfoot.

Since last year's professional cleaning, the only "maintenance" the deck has had is weekly removal of the bamboo leaves that fall on it. One day I tried dealing with the bird poop by popping off the dried bits and going at the stains with a solution of Simple Green and water (maybe 1:10? I can't recall) and a nylon brush, but that just left lighter spots where I had scrubbed. My guess is that's because the surrounding areas have a layer of dirt/dust that also needs to be removed.

The bird poop is really getting to me and in a fit of trying to do something about it, I went and ordered an 1800 psi electric pressure washer, which is on its way. I know better than to use it on the deck without instruction and practice and have asked my contact at the aforementioned restoration company what he would charge to provide me with a tutorial. Understandably, he side-stepped the question and I am now considering using the pressure washer just to clean concrete and my stinky garbage cans.

If anyone can give me guidance on how to keep this grey ipe deck clean and well cared for, I would really appreciate it! Please be as specific as you can re what to use (equipment and cleaning products), how often, where to get it, what not to use, etc. Bear in mind that (as much as we like the "wet" look) we do not plan to oil/stain. Many thanks for your help!

This post was edited by homeeconomist on Thu, Aug 22, 13 at 12:39