Types Of Deck Washes And Cleaners

Step 2: Spray With Soapy Water & Scrub

Was wondering if a Kilz coat would cover the spots and then it could be painted or stained. I installed a trex deck last year and had the black spots appear within a couple of months. So I went out and bought the corte clean that trex recommends but decided to do a precleaning with some Simple Green Heavy Duty I had laying around. Even with a very diluted mixture the deck came out like new with light scrubing. I will be returning the expensive Corte Clean because I dont believe that it could get much cleaner. Just an FYI though, my deck is less than a year old so Im not sure how well this stuff will work on a deck that has gone longer without cleaning. Just thought Id share my experience with all the other frustrated owners of trex out there.

Premixed Vs Concentrated Deck Cleaners

I bought my Trex deck because of its environmentally friendly reputation. Corte Clean did not corrode my fasteners or kill my plants like the chlorine bleach based products. Courtesy of AmazonTSP, or trisodium phosphate, is a powder-based cleaner that is one of the best at killing mold and mildew.

Can I Seal Composite Decking?

It's better to maintain the deck more often, including sweeping, rather than leaving it so that it has to be treated with something strong like trisodium phosphate. Mix vinegar, soap, and water in a bucket, apply to one section of mildew-infested decking, and scrub with a brush until you see results. This method may have to be repeated for a thorough job. When beginning a DIY composite patio cleaning, start off by spattering the ground with a hose and water to get free of the current residue on the surface. Composite decking in recent years has been the best choice of material for outdoor decks. This is because outdoor decks and patios are exposed to constant elements and cleaning it daily can make your environment look great.

• Be very careful so that you use only ammonia free dish soap.
• Liquid dish soap (ammonia-free) is safe for use on cleaning your natural wood deck when mixed with a little warm water.
• Otherwise, if ammonia is mixed with bleach, it can create toxic fumes.
• 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.

Next, pour the solution on mold which is found on the surface of the composite deck. After scrubbing the surface of your composite deck for some time, rinse your deck using clean water. This step is very important because if the dirty water used in scrubbing is left to dry, a thin film may form on the surface of the deck. Vinegar – This is safe for both wood and composite decks. Just mix half a cup of apple cider vinegar or white vinegar to a gallon of water and ¼ cup of baking soda. Warm water – This can be used alone to clean and wash a composite deck. Don’t rely on semi-annual cleanings to remove grease stains from your Trex decking.

Ways To Damage Your Composite Deck

front deck in Canberra is cedar and I am so sick of scrubbing, brightening lightning, cleaning, oiling and sanding! I put composite in the back and I've been a little better." Use oxalic acid on rust stains and other stubborn spots. Deck brightener products will also work on these tougher stains. Sweep the deck and apply the product directly to the stain. Saturate the area and allow it to sit on the stain for about 15 minutes.

For plastic, a mixture of baking soda and warm water works. Just place the baking soda and water mixture in a spray bottle and apply on target surface.

Removing Stains

As for me--after getting a complete runaround from Trex --my plan this fall is to rip the damn stuff up and start over. Chlorine Bleach or Sodium Hypochlorite based deck cleaners that the uneducated recommend may appear to quickly remove mildew and mold fungus from Trex and other Composite Decking. We purchased a $20,000 "maintenance free" deck and within the first year, black mold spots began to appear.

If you’re not sure about how to clean a particular stain, test the cleaner out on a part of the deck that is not visible. Use a plastic shovel.When shoveling snow on your composite decking, make sure that your shovel has a plastic blade, which will minimize the chance of scratching the surface of your deck. However, even some shovels made of plastic, especially ones with a hard metal blade on the edge, can cause damage to the protective shell found on certain composites and will void your warranty. 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.

How To Clean A Roof Safely, Effectively And Without Bleach

Also sweeping and keeping the surface of the deck as dry as possible frequently can keep the life of the material which was used in making it. You probably love your Trex decking because it’s durable and low-maintenance. But you still have to clean it occasionally to keep it looking great. Semi-annual cleanings in the spring and fall will also help prevent mold growth.