Care & Cleaning Of Decking Products

If you apply too much sealer to the wood , wipe off the excess. We don’t think twice about wiping off excess stain when we are staining interior wood. My advice is to do the same if you over-apply sealer on exterior composite lumber. When you apply too much deck sealer and it puddles on the surface and dries, it looks bad. Second, over time those spots are likely to flake and peel.

Ensure all cleaning fluid, soap and debris have been successfully removed from the boards before leaving to dry. Please note if any cleaning produt is left on the boards they may become slippery. That said, if you follow the recommended instructions for cleaning your composite deck, you can expect it to stay looking great for years. It's generally suggested that you use a power washer to clean a composite deck. Be sure to check with your deck's manufacturer or installer to determine the recommended tip to and pressure setting to use. I have a twenty year old deck and would like to bring it to life again.

Cleaning Composite Decking Of Common Stains & Problems

Liquid dish soap (ammonia-free) is safe for use on cleaning your natural wood deck when mixed with a little warm water. Simply mix 1 gallon of water, 2 tablespoons of ammonia-free dish soap (such as Murphy’s), 1 pint of rubbing alcohol, and 1 quart of oxygen bleach. Be very careful so that you use only ammonia free dish soap. Otherwise, if ammonia is mixed with bleach, it can create toxic fumes. Once you’ve blended your mixture, swab it on your deck and rinse it clean with water. You'll get common surface dirt no matter what sort of decking you choose to install. Others may recommend doing the same, albeit with a purpose-designed composite deck cleaning agent.

Timbertech Azek, Timbertech Pro, Timbertech Edge Cleaning Tips

The first product we bought will not work because our deck does not absorb water when sprayed. Fred, that’s odd, composite decks shouldn’t have this issue. Maybe try using our Composite Deck Cleaner and see if that takes it off. If you have a pressure washer, maybe give it a light rinsing after allowing the cleaner to set for minutes. Kathy, most of the issues with mold growth were on older Trex decks built in the early 2000s.

How To Clean Mold And Mildew From Composite Decking

Once the cleaner has been on the boards for the period the manufacturer recommends, spray the deck clean with the power washer. You should then allow at least 24 hours before applying any further treatments or stains to the deck, in order to ensure that it's completely dry. Pre-rinsing your deck allows the cleaner to work better and helps soften up the fibers. Dip a soft-bristle brush into the bucket of cleaner and scrub your deck to remove any grime, dirt, and other debris. After washing each board, rinse decking thoroughly with fresh water. For how to clean composite decking DIY, start by spraying the deck off with a hose and water to remove any surface debris.

Thankfully, composite decking is easily cleaned with the soap-and-water method or basic power washing. To remove snow and ice from your composite deck, you do want to make sure you use tools and products that won’t damage the deck surface. The best way to clean mildew and mold from composite decking is by using the soap-and-water method mentioned in the previous chapter. When you are finished carefully scrubbing the composite decking, rinse away the remainder of the soap and any leftover dirt. Rinse with Clean WaterOnce the deck has been scrubbed, rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove any leftover debris or dirt. Make your deck shine with these tips from Mr. Handyman. These are general cleaning tips, and every deck isn’t the same.

Soap can leave a film on composite decking that could damage it over time. Also, never use a harsh detergent or acetone solution; instead opt for mild soap and use a high-water dilution ratio. A pressure washer can be used on capped composite decking, but it is not advised and not recommended on uncapped decking boards at all. This is partly due to the materials often being softer than standard wood and therefore more prone to damage.

You don’t have to seal the surface once it’s been cleaned, but I suggest you do. By properly sealing or staining composite decking, you could get several years of use out of it before you need to clean it again.

Decks created from earlier-generation Trex products should not be pressure washed, because doing so may damage the decking materials. Instead, clean with warm, soapy water as noted above. If you spill food, grease or oil on your deck, immediately clean the area with hot water. Any remaining stains should be cleaned with Pour-N-Restore, a commercial cleaner. No matter what type of cleaning treatment you are applying for deck cleaning but it should clean the mold and dirt from the joint of the composite decking. When deciding the best means for making your deck less slippery, choose calcium chloride-based "ice melt" or rock salt to remove snow and ice from your composite decking. Ice melt is the ideal choice, since sand is naturally abrasive and could easily damage the surface of the deck boards.

Common Instructions For Cleaning:

This of course will help your deck boards last even longer and help safeguard against any potential issues in the future. Once power washing is done, you'll want to apply a degreaser/stain remover, or a professional grade deck cleaning solution. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for mixing.

• For wood decks, not cleaning often enough can lead to more costly maintenance.
• To clean a Trex deck, start by mixing equal amounts of composite decking cleaner and water and using it to scrub down the deck twice a year.
• Simply scrub the solution into the decking one section at a time and rinse.
• For stains, first rinse the area with water to get rid of grease or oil on the surface.
• The best part of composites is that, with the exception of food stains, you only have to clean your deck for aesthetic reasons.

Composite lumber is made up of a combination of both plastics and wood fiber/flour. But the fix is pretty easy if you just follow a few steps. In the end, apply the deck cleaner on the surface throughout and evenly.