How To Clean Composite Decking

Mistakes To Avoid When Cleaning Your Composite Deck

» Refer to to view general care and cleaning video for Transcend, Enhance and Select decking. All food spills should be removed as soon as possible.

Taking Care Of Composite Decking Home Guides Sf Gate

Solid decking helps reduce the risk of internal moisture build up and is generally stronger. If you are looking to purchase decking, read more about different types of composite decking including hollow and solid variations, to help make your choice. If you’re organised, you can get it all done in just a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon. Get it done during the summer, when your decking is at its driest and any water you add will evaporate quickly. For dull or weathered wood decks, choose a “brightening” or restorative cleaner.

Perhaps you’ve seen sap coating a freshly cleaned car that’s parked under a tree. The spots show up easily on the high-gloss surface of a car paint job, but are tough to detect on a flat finish such as your deck boards. A power washer can be used for RINSING ONLY with TimberTech Deck or Porch. Spray in the direction of the grain pattern, never across the grain, to avoid damaging the product.

How To Power Wash Composite Decking

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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.

How Long Do Composite Decks Last?

• A concentrated stream of high-pressure water can erode the wood fibers in the decking.
• A visit to the Trex website reveals they have a comprehensive cleaning guide that may help you.
• What’s more, never hold the pressure wand closer than 12 inches from the decking surface.
• They are quick to point out that a powerful pressure washer, one that delivers a pressure stream greater that 1,500 pounds per square inch , is to be avoided.
• Avoid this costly mistake and choose a non-toxic, sodium percarbonate based cleaner.

Create an oxygen bleach paste to spot clean your deck. If you don't need to do a full cleaning of your deck, but you see an excess buildup of algae or dirt, you can make a more concentrated paste with your bleach.

Allowing metal items such as furniture or planters to remain wet for long periods of time on your deck will cause rust stains to occur. If the stains penetrate the decking too deeply, they may prove nearly impossible to remove. Due to it’s ionic structure, Chlorine Bleach can only sit ON a surface. Mold remediation requires the need to clean and remove the mold BELOW and INTO a porous surface. Use your hose or power wash to remove as much of the surface mold as possible.

Infographic On Cleaning Composite Decking

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.

Composite decking is engineered to be durable and low maintenance, and it is easily cleaned using everyday household items. Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with deck cleaning best practices, download and save our Care & Cleaning Guide for future use. Working in one smaller area at a time, saturate with the diluted cleaner and allow it to stand on the surface for seconds. DO NOT allow the cleaner to dry or evaporate before scrubbing. A garden hose will work for spot cleaning, but regular power-washing will be necessary to cut through accumulated mold, mildew, and staining. A power washer can be used for rinsing only, with a water pressure not exceeding 1,500 psi. For more information, see the our Care & Cleaning Guide.