How to Clean Composite Deck Material
Wood fibers are combined with plastic to create composite decking boards. Composite decking has a longer lifespan and requires less maintenance than wood. The product is easy to care for and comes in a variety of colors. Composite decking is generally more costly than wood, and newer materials don't have the problems that older composite decks had with mold, mildew and stains. Regular maintenance and occasional cleaning with either a commercial product or a homemade detergent are the only care a composite deck needs. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Broom
- Leaf blower
- Pressure washer
- Putty knife
- Commercial cleaners
- TSP
- Laundry detergent
- Bleach
- Scrub brush
Instructions
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Use a leaf blower or a broom to regularly clean off the deck. Don't let leaves accumulate.
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2
Hose the deck down after sweeping or blowing it. Sweep water away from any areas with poor drainage. Standing water might damage or stain the deck material.
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3
Clean up organic material that has adhered to the deck with a pressure washer. Don't overdo the pressure washing because excessively high pressure can harm the surface.
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4
Scrape the spaces between boards with a knife or similarly shaped tool to keep the gaps from becoming clogged and moldy from trapped material. Decks with spaces between boards that are greater than 3/16 of an inch probably won't need this.
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5
Use a commercial deck cleaner. Test before you use it on an inconspicuous part of the deck. Some may stain. Follow the manufacturer's directions for using the cleaner.
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6
Create your own deck cleaner by combining 2/3 cup tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) with 1/3 cup powdered laundry detergent in 3 quarts of water. Add 1 quart of bleach. Use a soft brush to scrub the mixture in the direction of the grain and rinse thoroughly.
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Tips & Warnings
TSP is available at hardware and home improvement stores.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit LeBlanc Construction/Flickr.com
