How To Clean And Maintain Composite Decking

I sold both products at Lowes.The best solution for a pressure cleaner was our KRUD remover or Deck cleaner. There are a couple products out that will help as the multiple issues you have explained won’t be handled by just one. Bleach and other disinfectants are not suitable for consumption or injection under any circumstances. People should always read the label for proper usage instructions. Disinfecting surfaces with bleach and other disinfecting products is one of the ways to help stop the spread of COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It’s critical that everyone understands the facts in order to keep themselves safe and healthy.

We try not to play favorites with our products but there’s no denying that Spray & Clean is one of our stars. We’re going to start with this product which you can buy at WashSafe.com. Well intentioned composite decking manufacturers may not truly understand the best way to remove and prevent mold on the products they manufacture. Sure, using a Sodium Hypochlorite based cleaner will look good for a while, but the mold will always return, and most assuredly, with a vengeance. For composite decking, most manufacturers don’t recommend anything more powerful than dish soap and water. If you’re cleaning a wooden deck, you might need something a little more powerful.

Step 2: Spray With Soapy Water & Scrub

I cannot emphasize enough how important this is for composite decking! Any decking material exposed to the outdoors is susceptible to mold/mildew growth especially in climates with higher humidity levels.

How Long Do Composite Decks Last?

• Composite decking material is softer than natural wood and therefore can be “etched” more easily.
• Pressure washing too close or using too much pressure can be ruinous for your deck.
• Pressure washing is not usually recommended for composite decking.
• Once the material has been “opened up”, this can lead to a host of other issues including chipping, sun damage, and mold staining of the plastics inside the opening.

All exterior building materials require cleaning and a Trex deck is no different. For early-generation composite products (Trex Accents®, Trex Origins®, Trex Contours®, Trex Profiles® or Trex Brasilia®), we recommend a semi-annual cleaning with a composite deck cleaner. Simply scrub the solution into the decking one section at a time and rinse. The best part of composites is that, with the exception of food stains, you only have to clean your deck for aesthetic reasons.

How To Clean Composite Decking With Bleach

Simply saturate the wood decking evenly and let it dry on its own—no scrubbing or even mopping required. Mildewcide in the solution works to kill and remove any existing mold, while also helping to prevent future mold, moss, and mildew growth. If you live in an area where rain is frequent, mold and/or mildew can grow on your wood deck. Left untreated, these fungi will thrive and eventually destroy the wood’s cellular structure, leading to rot and decay. At the first sign of mold or mildew (grayish-white powdery-looking splotches) look for a cleaner containing mildewcide .

Top 5 Reasons Not To Pressure Wash Your Home With Bleach

Bleach is also a poor choice anyway for removing mold. This is because bleach is effective on non-porous surfaces , but does not perform well on porous surfaces such as uncapped composite decking. Composite decking is an alternative form of decking built out of composite materials – wood fibres, plastics, and inorganic filler materials. Composite decking can be manufactured to very convincingly imitate the smell, feel and look of wood, but the care, maintenance and cleaning it requires is very different. In most cases composite decks require a lot less effort to maintain than pure timber decks, and for many people not having to oil and stain the deck is one of the main selling points.

Decking Cleaning Tips & Tricks

We recommend staying a minimum of 6” away from the surface. This should be enough to remove any dirt without damaging the composite decking. Note that while Star Brite is manufactured as a deck cleaning product for boats, it’s gentle formulation makes it a great choice for residential decks as well. The premixed liquid can be applied to a wet deck either with a pump sprayer or a soft deck brush.

Specific steps best for cleaning wood, decking - The Columbus Dispatch

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What’s more, never hold the pressure wand closer than 12 inches from the decking surface. A concentrated stream of high-pressure water can erode the wood fibers in the decking. By far, one of the worst products you can use on your composite deck is Chlorine Bleach. 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. Trex Decks can last a lifetime and will maintain their quality but sometimes they show their age. 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. Another way of maintaining a clean composite deck is after the cleaning is complete to apply a water sealer made specifically for composite decking.