How To Clean A Composite Deck

Using a ratio of one cup of Borax to one gallon of water, address small areas of your deck at a time, scrubbing with a brush to remove algae and mildew. Some experts recommend that homeowners should clean their decks at least twice a year—preferably in the spring and fall. The safest, most environmental way to clean a deck is to not clean it at all, eliminating the chance of toxic chemicals being introduced into the environment and water.

Clean the entire deck with a deck wash containing detergent and sodium hypochlorite, commonly known as bleach. This deck wash will lighten the wood on the surface of Trex in addition to removing the mold. To minimize lightening of darker Trex colors,dilute deck wash with 50% water. Like baking soda and vinegar, borate is an all-purpose natural cleaner that is versatile around the house and yard.

In fact, there are some mistakes that can actually increase the regular care required to maintain a composite deck. Here are a few tips to avoid the extra work and get the most out of your deck. While you may be tempted to wait until your next routine cleaning to remove the food, it should be done immediately or else staining might result. Thankfully, composite decking is easily cleaned with the soap-and-water method or basic power washing. Calcium-chloride ice melts are usually safe for composite decking and our recommended solution. This compound is highly effective at melting ice without damaging the composite surface.

Cleaning Composite And Wood Decking

Removing Mold, Tree Sap And Mildew Stains On Composite Deck Railings

Composite deck cleaners are typically sprayed on, brushed with a soft deck brush, and then rinsed off with a garden hose. The previous posts about it and oxalic acid are accurate. You will create a worse problem than you had and possibly ruin your expensive deck. There are also treatments to help protect the deck from mold and other stains (dont use a coating/paint or you will be in for a lot of work every couple years). We love a product called resist mist for composite decks (). Works for several years and recommended by some big deck manufacturers. I hate to be a naysayer, but I have found nothing that satisfactorily removes mildew stains from Trex (and I've tried four different commercial cleaning products).

Pressure Washing Your Composite Decking

In most cases, a garden hose is sufficient for regular cleaning. If you have to pressure wash your composite deck, remember to keep it at the lowest pressure possible and no closer than eight inches from the deck surface.

• Choosing the correct cleaner can literally make or break your deck.
• Once mold has stained has occurred, it can be extremely hard to remove.
• If you have to pressure wash your composite deck, remember to keep it at the lowest pressure possible and no closer than eight inches from the deck surface.
• In most cases, a garden hose is sufficient for regular cleaning.

Just let the machine scrub the deck while it sprays out water and soap. Then, use its water function to wash away the soap and fan function to dry the deck.

I let it dry and sometimes have to repeat; then I rinse thoroughly. All I can say is that I have not found any commercial solution that will remove mildew from Trex in my Southern highlands/high humidity climate. I have used Corte Clean Environmentally Friendly Composite Deck Cleaner on my Trex wood plastic deck. It removed most common house hold staining issues including ground in dirt, mold, mildew, grease, barbecue stains, etc.

Are Pressure Washers Safe For Composite Deck Railings?

But the only solution to the problem of deck mildew IÂve found is to clean the deck well with a scrub brush and a dilute mixture of TSP (1/4 cup per gallon) or even a non-phosphate detergent. After it is rinsed and dried, I wait for a sunny hot day and then use a garden sprayer to cover the deck surface with a dilute solution of bleach (I use 1/4 cup per gallon).

Like other wood deck varieties, composite decking is quite porous. It's best to use an oxygenated cleaner that will sink deep into the material to clean the lower layers as well as on the surface. Pressure washing is not usually recommended for composite decking. Pressure washing too close or using too much pressure can be ruinous for your deck. Composite decking material is softer than natural wood and therefore can be “etched” more easily. 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. Once mold has stained these plastics, it can be extremely hard to remove.