Step Aside Old Broom: There's An Easier Way To Clean The Deck With A Drill Attachment

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Just because your deck isn't inside your house doesn't mean you can forgo cleaning it. Even if it gets rained on from time to time, dirt, animal droppings, and moss accumulate, turning what was once a nice place to enjoy your morning coffee into an eyesore. Scrubbing the boards with a long-handled push broom probably isn't something you look forward to as a homeowner, no matter how needed it might be. There is a way to make the job easier, without all the elbow grease involved in basically swabbing the deck like a sailor: A rotary scrub brush attachment.

The common household drill can save the day in this situation, proving it does a lot more than just make holes. A rotary scrub brush is a handy attachment that fits into the chuck of most standard drills and comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. As you press the trigger, the bristles rotate and do all the scrubbing for you, loosening all that yucky stuff with considerably less effort than an old broom. Simply pass the drill back and forth over the boards and you're already halfway done. Grab one the next time you're at the home improvement store, or throw something like the 6-piece Holikme drill brush set into your Amazon shopping cart. Your back will thank you.

There are plenty of rotary brush drill attachment options in stores and online, depending on what you're looking for. Lowe's has a RotoScrub two-brush kit for $15.98, which includes a flat brush for covering larger areas and a round, extended-reach brush that can get into corners and other tight spaces.

Don't throw out the broom just yet. You can use it to sweep up leaves and debris before you scrub (a leaf blower works too). Some manufacturers recommend warm, soapy water to clean composite decking, but this could vary based on the material, so do your research. If you have finished wood, look specifically for deck cleaners that won't harm stain so you don't damage the surface while scrubbing. In fact, because the brush and drill combo emphasize power over grace, marking and gouging soft veneers can be a concern. Pay attention to your drill's torque and the stiffness of the attachment's bristles. Test the attachment and cleaning solution in a small area of your deck first.

Rinse the area and pour some of the cleaner onto the deck, starting with the drill at a low speed until you get a feel for how it handles. Move the brush along the grain of the boards and increase the speed and pressure for any pesky spots. Rinse each section and inspect for leftover grime, giving your deck a second pass if needed. If green patches remain, you may need a different method to clean mold and mildew from wood decks, since a basic cleaning solution may not do the trick. An extended reach brush can be used for hard-to-get-to places or under grills and storage closets, and narrower detailing brushes can tackle small crevices or outdoor furniture.