Best way to de-slime timber sleepers in the garden?

[pimpin gimp]

We've got a load of reclaimed timber sleepers forming a stepping stone pathway through the back garden, when they're wet they're ridiculously slippery and i tend to slip a few times through the winter, any idea on the best way to clean them?

I had some detergent that was used in a pressure washer last year but it didn't seem to help much. Not sure if it's worth giving them a good clean and then painting them in a grit paint sort of thing.

Any reccomendations on decent detergent that will de-slime them a bit?

[Simpo Two]

No, and whatever you do it will grow back later, but on landing stages they often use chicken wire to give grip - is that an idea?

[anonymous-user]

Grip tape?

[zcacogp]

Soak them in jeyes fluid. It will stink, but keep the slime at bay for a while. (Note - only a while. As Simpo2 says, it will always come back.)


Oli.

[jeff m]

Wood Bleach, followed by pressure washer.
That will clean them, but you have to deal with the reason they get slimey.
Sitting too low, you could raise them a few inches.
Lack of sunlight, prune back trees or bushes.

Maybe it might be better to relegate the sleepers to; surrounding a flower bed or veg garden, perhaps build a composter with them.
Then lay a new path of pavers or similar.

[CO2000]

It might look a touch Industrial but what about the anti slip material that screws onto surfaces (steps etc) You must get it flat as well as for steps (folded edge)I would have thought.

[pimpin gimp]

Cheers for all the advice, Not really lookig to screw anything to them, even my sggestion of grit paint is unlikely yo get the go ahead from Mrs PG.

I'll just have to take to using jeyes regularly or something. With a stiffer brush than I used last time!

[andyc.]

Jet washer.

[CO2000]

How about a small router (no, not going wireless with the Sleepers - the woodworking kind!) & cut a criss cross pattern in them ?

[RichB]

Throw sand on them, whatever you do they will only get slippery again.

[Toffer]

On camp sites, we always use chicken wire on slippery wood surfaces. Pull the wire as tight as possible and use staples to fix in place. The quickest way is with an industrial staple gun. Definitely no more slipping and it will last years!

[pimpin gimp]

I appreciate that chicken wire will work, but this is my garden and not a camp site, so as much as I like them not to be slippery, I also want them to look nice! Sorry.

[dickbastardly]

The chicken wire is ok but looks horrid!! and if you do slip you end up with chicken wire up your arse!!!
just a thought could you get some clear wood varnish paint the sleepers and throw some sand on it while its still wet? that way it should still look like a sleeper but should not be as slippery?
It may not work!! just a suggestion.
Andy

[Rotor]

Good idea above or sand and PVA mix ?

[pimpin gimp]

dickbdly said:

The chicken wire is ok but looks horrid!! and if you do slip you end up with chicken wire up your arse!!!
just a thought could you get some clear wood varnish paint the sleepers and throw some sand on it while its still wet? that way it should still look like a sleeper but should not be as slippery?
It may not work!! just a suggestion.
Andy

Might be a job for when the rains go away!