The Best Deck Cleaner For Every Deck Material

For larger surfaces, work in small sections to ensure the area stays wet the entire time. Even if you don’t have a power washer, you can still use power washer soap for cleaning. Instead of loading the cleaner into the sprayer, you can apply it with a sponge or mop. Before you can stain a deck, you need to prep and sand the surface. Sweep and wash the deck’s surface to remove all dirt, wood fibers, grease, mold, and mildew. If the surface is dirty, the stain or sealant will not stick. This condition can be decreased greatly with the use of a product call ACL Staticide®.

This should be enough to remove any dirt without damaging the composite decking. If scrubbing by hand with a scrub brush, create a cleaner using 1/3 cup of laundry detergent and one gallon of water.

It’s crucial to make sure that you rinse the deck thoroughly; if any dirty water is left on the surface it will dry and create a film on the composite deck boards. Pressure washers are safe for composite deck boards as long as the pressure is no greater than 3100 psi and features a fan attachment and soap dispenser.

Cleaning Composite And Wood Decking

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

Choosing the correct cleaner can literally make or break your deck. When buying a cleaning product, always check the label and never use anything labeled as a Chlorine Bleach based “deck cleaner”. If the active ingredients include Sodium Hypochlorite, it contains Bleach. Chlorine bleach is very corrosive and will eat into any material it’s applied to. Eventually, it will lead to discoloration of your deck, damage the surface , and can exacerbate any mold/mildew issues that may occur. Avoid this costly mistake by choosing a non-toxic, sodium percarbonate based cleaner.

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.

• Pressure washing too close or using too much pressure can ruin your deck.
• In most cases, a garden hose should be sufficient for regular duty cleaning.
• Once mold has stained these plastics, it can be extremely hard to remove.
• If you must pressure wash, just remember to keep it at the lowest pressure possible and no closer than 8″ from the surface.

It also does not hurt pets if accidentally ingested. To remove snow and ice from your composite deck, you do want to make sure you use tools and products that won’t damage the deck surface. To clean oil and grease off composite decking, use the soap-and-water method. If done quickly, this removes the oil and grease without leaving a stain.

How To Treat Stains On Your Outdoor Deck

If your composite deck needs mold or mildew stains removed, you can mix a solution of two parts vinegar and one part water to apply directly to the problem area. Pre-rinsing your deck allows the cleaner to work better and helps soften up the fibers. Dip a soft-bristle brush into the bucket of cleaner and scrub your deck to remove any grime, dirt, and other debris.

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).

Products are non-toxic, non-flammable, non-staining , completely biodegradable and safe to use. Product is water-based and may require a second application after rain or other weather conditions. Over a period of time, the effect of static will dissipate naturally on the decking surface. Hard water is water with a high amount of mineral deposits like lime, silica and calcium.