How To Clean And Restore A Composite Deck

Step 2: Spray With Soapy Water & Scrub

For a deeper clean, always use a soft bristle scrub brush, never use a wire brush. Again, if you are using the right cleaner, only a small amount of scrubbing will be required. For snow or ice removal, always choose a plastic shovel instead of metal. Pressure washing is typically not recommended for composite decking. If done incorrectly, it can be a big mistake and cause damage.

Premixed Vs Concentrated Deck Cleaners

I bought my Trex deck because of its environmentally friendly reputation. Corte Clean did not corrode my fasteners or kill my plants like the chlorine bleach based products. Courtesy of AmazonTSP, or trisodium phosphate, is a powder-based cleaner that is one of the best at killing mold and mildew.

Can I Seal Composite Decking?

Pour yourself a tall cup of coffee, put on some tunes and get started. Luckily for us all— advancements in deck building have made affording, installing and maintaining a deck easier than ever before! Preserving your composite deck is easy as long as you make an effort to clean it semi-annually and use the proper cleaning tools to do so. Proper cleaning tools are crucial in maintaining a gorgeous deck; your deck is an investment that deserves to be protected.

• Instead, clean with warm, soapy water as noted above.
• Decks created from earlier-generation Trex products should not be pressure washed, because doing so may damage the decking materials.
• Often, the only maintenance composite decking requires is an occasional power washing.
• The fast-acting foaming formula eliminates stains from mold and mildew, tree sap, pollen, oxidation, weathering and other grime.
• It utilizes the power of peroxide to provide high-performance cleaning without toxic or abrasive chemicals.
• Simple Green Oxy Solve Deck and Fence Cleaner is ideal for both manual and pressure washing to lift and remove dirt and debris from the deck surface.

Always read and follow the product manufacturers’ specific instructions before using any cleaning product on your deck or porch. It is also a good idea to test any product on a scrap piece or inconspicuous area of the deck or porch to make sure it does not harm the surface.

Ways To Damage Your Composite Deck

However, TSP is not considered an especially environmental choice and has all kinds of precautions on the back of its box. But if the deck has not been cleaned in a long time and algae is visible, it may have to occasionally be used, with care and caution.

I didn't want to use bleach because I was concerned about the plants around the deck and the harshness of the beach. For the most part we are very happy with our deck -- it is much better than the wood deck we used to have. We had a Trex deck built in Oct. 2006 and it's horrible. I have same problems everyone else seems to have with the spotting. I cleaned it with a bleach solution a couple of years ago and it only slightly lightened the "saddle" color and did nothing to the spots.

Next you can begin to scrub the deck with the grain using your stiff bristle brush to remove dirt, mildew, mold, stains etc. Vinegar is powerful and safe for both composite and wood decking, mix a half-cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar to ¼ a cup of baking soda with 1 gallon of water. Warm water can be used on its own to wash a wood or composite deck. Designing and building a deck suited to your wants and needs can be fun and exciting. But when it comes time for care and maintenance, it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into beforehand. Examine the pros and cons of composite or wood decking -- specifically when it comes to how to clean your decking. And in addition to routine cleaning, you should also be aware of other maintenance work you may need to do from time to time on your deck.

This isn’t more effective than scrubbing by hand, but it’s much faster. If you have a large deck, you may prefer this approach. Use a pressure washer with no greater than 3100 psi and make sure it has a fan attachment and soap dispenser.

How To Clean A Roof Safely, Effectively And Without Bleach

It is crucial to know how to properly care for a composite deck and taking the right steps will make all the difference. Shovels with a metal cutting edge nick, cut, and damage the composite decking.