Lowe's Composite Deck Cleaning

If your Lowe's composite deck is looking a little worse for wear, clean it.

If your composite deck from Lowe's is looking a little dingy, you can give it a good scrub and clean it off. Since the composite in composite deck boards is partially of wood, cleaning products which should not be used on wood should not be used on composite decking. After installation, leave your deck alone for at least 12 weeks to give the decking boards time to weather naturally before stains are removed.

Things You'll Need

• Broom
• Putty knife or scraper
• Sheet plastic
• Duct tape or painter's tape
• Dishwashing detergent
• Stiff-bristled push broom
• Deck wash
• Pump sprayer
• Deck brightener with oxalic acid

Instructions

1. Remove all items from the deck, including patio furniture, plants and the grill.

2. Use a broom to remove all dirt and debris from the surface of the deck.

3. Take a putty knife or scraper and scrape away any dirt or mud wedged in between the composite boards. Sweep the deck off again with the broom.

4. Cover any items that can't be removed, such as any railing which is not composite, a connected stone patio or built-in elements, with plastic. Use an adhesive tape, like duct tape or painter's tape, to hold the plastic in place.

5. Water the plants around the deck thoroughlybefore cleaning to dilute any chemicals which may reach the plants. Water until the ground is moist,

6. Use dishwashing liquid mixed with water to wash your deck, if the stains on the deck's surface are grease or oil stains. Scrub the surface of the deck with a stiff-bristled push broom or scrub brush. Let the deck dry. If dishwashing liquid does not remove the stains, spray a deck wash which contains bleach onto the surface using a pump sprayer and repeat the scrubbing process. Allow the composite decking to dry.

7. Apply a deck brightener with oxalic acid to the deck if the surface of the composite boards still seems too dark. Follow the manufacturer's instruction regarding application. Too much deck brightener can make your deck too light.

Tips & Warnings

• If you use a deck wash containing bleach to clean your deck, wear gloves and protective eye wear, such as goggles, while cleaning your deck.

References

• Lowe's Deck Treatment Buying Guide
• Build Direct: Friends for Life: Maintaining Your Cedar or Composite Decking
• Corte-Clean: Deck Cleaning Video
• Choice Dek: Deck Care: General Cleaning and Maintenance Instructions