Rhino Hide® 5 Mistakes To Avoid When Cleaning Your Composite Deck

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.

Make sure to get down in the crevices and corners thoroughly. Remember - composite materials clean easier and better than the traditional wood deck, and using the soap-and-water method in chapter 1 removes most of the dirt and stains. The best way to get rid of pollen completely from composite decking is to power wash your deck. For the best practices on power washing your deck, see chapter 3 below. In this article, we cover everything you need to know and do to clean your composite deck and porch safely. Feel free to read through the article, or simply click the chapter relating to your cleaning question. Add borax to your deck cleaning mixture to remove mildew.

Step 2: Spray With Soapy Water & Scrub

Both are effective in greatly reducing static electricity on Trex decking surfaces. Apply full strength using a mop on a dry decking surface, and allow to dry; no rinsing or diluting needed. Products are non-toxic, non-flammable, non-staining , completely biodegradable and safe to use.

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.
• In most cases, a garden hose should be sufficient for regular duty cleaning.
• 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.

Painted wood decks, often coordinated to match the trim on a home, come with special cleaning issues. Harsh cleaners can damage the painted surface, weakening it and leading to cracking and peeling. A gentle all-purpose deck cleaner that does not contain ammonia is usually the best choice for a painted wood deck. The label should specify the cleaner is safe for painted surfaces. The product may also contain surfactants to help stave off staining.

How To Clean Composite Decking With Bleach

Oxygen bleach or powdered oxygen laundry cleaner is safe for use on wood decks and useful in removing mold or spores. To clean a composite deck, sweep it with a broom or leaf blower at least once a week to get rid of dirt and debris. If your deck is still dirty, hose it down, scrub with a brush and soap, then, rinse with a hose. For a faster cleaning option, try using a pressure washer. 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. Over time, your composite decking or porch will probably need to be cleaned from common problems such as mold, dirt, food and beverage stains, etc.

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

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. Like other wood deck varieties, composite decking is quite porous. 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. For how to clean composite decking DIY, start by spraying the deck off with a hose and water to remove any surface debris. Composite decks on the other hand, offer a lower level of all-around maintenance – they won’t splinter and you don’t need to worry about periodic staining, painting or sealing projects. Often, the only maintenance composite decking requires is an occasional power washing.

Deep Cleaning

Buyers Guide: The Best Deck Cleaners

However, its water content is left behind to seep into the pores of the composite material. The Chlorine never actually reaches the internal mold to remove it. This is why a few days later you will notice the regrowth of mold, sometimes even darker and more aggressive. The more times Bleach is used, the more difficult it will become to remove the mold stains and keep the composite deck clean. Mold can occur on any deck and choosing the right cleaning product can literally make or break your deck.