How do I clean a picnic table?
Articles · Picnic tables
MaintenanceHow do I clean a picnic table?
With less than you think: a brush, lukewarm water and mild soap. What you should above all not use is a pressure washer — we explain why.
- A brush + lukewarm soapy water is enough
- Always scrub with the grain
- Never use a pressure washer on wood
Four steps, one afternoon
Choose a dry day with a bit of wind — then the table will be dry again by the evening.
1 · Sweep
Sweep leaves, cobwebs and loose dirt off the top, the benches and the underside. Don't forget the corners where the legs meet the top — that is where dirt builds up longest.
2 · Scrub
A bucket of lukewarm water, a splash of mild soap (washing-up liquid is fine), a stiff brush. Always scrub in the direction of the grain — scrubbing across it leaves scratches that hold on to dirt.
3 · Rinse
Rinse with clean water from a watering can or bucket until no soap residue is left. Soap that stays behind attracts new dirt.
4 · Dry
Let the table dry completely before you put anything on it or treat it. Fold up the benches if you can, so the underside dries quickly too.
The jet knocks the soft springwood out of the grain. What remains is a rough, fibrous surface that holds on to moisture and dirt — your table looks clean for a while, but then ages faster. The brush is slower, and that is exactly why it is better.
In pictures · Four steps, one afternoon
Schematic drawing.
Stains and green algae
Green algae almost always sits on the surface only and comes off with a second scrub. If that doesn't quite work, repeat a day later rather than reaching for aggressive products — chlorine and strong cleaners attack the wood itself too.
Grease stains from the barbecue: dab first, don't rub. Sprinkle a little salt or cornflour on fresh stains to absorb the grease, then scrub with soapy water. An old stain that won't shift usually disappears anyway at the next sanding and oiling.
- Green algae
- brush + soapy water, a second go if needed
- Fresh grease stain
- dab, salt or cornflour, then soapy water
- Grey haze
- not dirt but greying — oil helps
- Chlorine or degreaser
- don't: it attacks the wood
From cleaning to maintenance
Cleaning opens up the wood surface — the perfect moment to seal it again straight away. One coat of wood oil after drying protects against moisture and keeps the warm colour. That makes the same afternoon twice as useful.
One thorough clean a year in spring is enough, with a quick sweep in between after peaks of dust or pollen. Why that rhythm makes such a difference, you can read in how long does a picnic table last.
Frequently asked questions about cleaning
Can I clean a wooden picnic table with a pressure washer?
Better not. The hard jet of water knocks the soft springwood out of the grain, leaving the surface rough and fibrous so it holds on to dirt and moisture more quickly. A brush with lukewarm soapy water does the same job without damage.
How do I get green algae off my picnic table?
Green algae usually sits on the surface only. Scrub with a stiff brush and lukewarm water with mild soap in the direction of the grain, rinse and let the table dry well. For stubborn growth, a second go helps more than harsher products.
What do I do after cleaning?
Let the table rest for one or two dry days and then give it a coat of wood oil. Cleaning opens up the surface; the oil seals it again and protects against moisture and greying. That way, cleaning becomes maintenance straight away.
More about picnic tables
We deliver our tables ourselves, with our own vans — this is how it works.
Unsure about a stain or a treatment? Feel free to send us a photo — we'll take a look.