Usually, a wash down with the garden hose is all a deck needs to be cleaned, but sometimes stains are so tough that a pressure washer is needed. A pressure washer can be rented from a home furnishing or hardware store. The homeowner should wear goggles and rubber gloves when using it, and if a bleach or very strong cleaner has to be used, the shrubs and plants around the deck should be covered with plastic drop cloths to protect them. The cleaning should begin in the middle of the deck and work outward, and the sprayer head should be from four to six inches from the surface of the deck.