Decking Cleaning Tips & Tricks

Mistakes To Avoid When Cleaning Your Composite Deck

It’s best to work early or late in the day when the decking is in the shade. After the wait period, use a stiff scrub brush to clean the decking. You’ll be amazed at how clean and new the decking will look. Add to this the possibility that the wood fibers in the decking may not have any preservative added to them at the factory.

Taking Care Of Composite Decking Home Guides Sf Gate

Harsh chemicals, such as bleach, are NOT recommended on any composite surface! These chemicals can eat away at the composite structure and leave permanent discolorations and damage. While you won’t use your deck regularly during the winter season, you probably still want to clean pathways to your backyard and make it safe to walk. When power washing your deck, direct the spray to match the grain. This helps prevent accidentally scoring or marking the surface by going against the grain or by crossing over several boards. If a paper towel doesn’t clean the food or beverage stain from your deck, then the simple soap-and-water method from chapter 1 should remove it.

Simply add a little water to some oxygen bleach powder and mix the solution together with a spoon until it forms a thick paste. Apply the paste to the dirty areas of your deck with a nylon brush and let it sit for 15 minutes before thoroughly rinsing it off. Decks are a great addition to any house and enable a homeowner to enjoy and experience nature more often. Unfortunately, decks are often susceptible to dirt and algae because they're outside.

How To Power Wash Composite Decking

For dirty wood decks, choose an all-purpose wood deck cleaner. For superior cleaning results, be sure to choose a solution suited to your deck material. Keep reading to learn how to select the best deck cleaner for your needs, and to find out why we’ve chosen the below as top picks.

• One of the best ways to care for your deck is to clean it regularly - don’t let it get past the point of no return.
• If you are reading a product label, Chlorine Bleach is referred to as Sodium Hypochlorite.
• Trex Decks can last a lifetime and will maintain their quality but sometimes they show their age.
• Chlorine Bleach has been proven to kill bacteria and viruses on non-porous surfaces, but has not been proven effective in killing mold from porous surfaces, such as composite decking.
• Another way of maintaining a clean composite deck is after the cleaning is complete to apply a water sealer made specifically for composite decking.
• The misconception exists that Chlorine Bleach will “kill it all”, but when it comes to mold, nothing could be further from the truth.

Redwood and red cedar require a yearly cleaning and a coat of wood preservative every three to four years. Pressure-treated lumber is the most popular decking material sold today. According to a leading producer of wood preservatives, roughly 75% of all new decks are made with pressure-treated lumber. Composite decking has an advantage over wood because it is low-maintenance; no staining, refinishing, or sanding is required. The composite deck material is sold under several brand names including Trex®, TimberTech®, Cali Bamboo®, and MoistureShield®.

Can I Use A Pressure Washer On My Composite Decking?

If this happens, check with the deck manufacturer to see their approved list of stronger cleaners. When you are finished carefully scrubbing the composite decking, rinse away the remainder of the soap and any leftover dirt. Capped composite decking is usually referred to as simply “composite decking,” and we will be referring to the shortened version throughout this post. Capped composite decking is one of the most popular and most efficient decking available on the market. To clean a deck with bleach, start by spraying the deck with a hose to loosen any caked-on dirt or debris.

Then, working outside or in a well-ventilated area, mix 2 gallons of water and 2 cups of powdered oxygen bleach in a bucket. Once you've prepared the bleach solution, scrub the deck with it using a brush or sponge and let it sit for 5 minutes. Finally, rinse off the deck with a hose to remove all of the bleach residue.

Shovels with a metal cutting edge nick, cut, and damage the composite decking. While mildew and mold can infiltrate and ruin a wooden deck, it can’t damage a composite deck. They look unsightly on your deck, but it won’t harm or ruin the composite structure. If the stain or material is unusual, this cleaning method might not remove the stain.