Can Bleach Be Used On Composite Deck

Mistakes To Avoid When Cleaning Your Composite Deck

Left that way, they can become old and weathered before their time. To keep your deck looking great, clean it annually—ideally, in spring or early summer—then follow up with a sealer to protect it. Be the first to know what's next at Clorox from offers to tips to products. Apply bleach solution using a brush or broom on horizontal surfaces, and a sponge or mop on vertical surfaces. We put together all the essentials for your decking care and maintenance.

Taking Care Of Composite Decking Home Guides Sf Gate

Next you can begin to scrub the deck with the grain using your stiff bristle brush to remove dirt, mildew, mold, stains etc. First, spritz the deck with water to soften the dried cellulose fibers. This 'pre-rinse' will also allow for the cleaning solution to be more easily dispersed throughout the deck.

Many websites also recommend using a 50/50 mixture of bleach and water to deal with mould. While bleach may be effective in dealing with the mould, it's a fairly strong substance and can also lighten the colour of your deck. Cleaning with bleach can see simple, but there are many precautions that have to be taken when using bleach. Many bleach-based cleaners require rinsing before the surface has dried.

How To Power Wash Composite Decking

Don't use power washers or chlorine bleach to wash your deck. Power washers can sometimes be too powerful and could damage the wood forever. Instead of using a power washer, use a pressurized adjustment on your hose or a lighter pressure spray machine.

How Long Do Composite Decks Last?

• Others may recommend doing the same, albeit with a purpose-designed composite deck cleaning agent.
• Care & Cleaning Guide Trex We recommend a basic cleaning with a composite deck cleaner or combination of Use of products containing bleach or acid will lighten the surface of Trex.
• Like other wood deck varieties, composite decking is quite porous.
• You'll get common surface dirt no matter what sort of decking you choose to install.
• In some cases, additional scrubbing with a deck brush may be required to remove stubborn stains.

To prevent this, keep the surface of your deck as clean and dry as possible. Make sure your deck has effective drainage around its perimeter and between the deck planks. However, if the soap-and-water cleaning doesn’t remove a particular stain, don’t default to a chemical cleaner. Depending on the stain or cleaning issue you have, you may be tempted to apply a chemical cleaner to the stain to clean your deck. To avoid this damage, make sure you use a shovel with a plastic or rubber edge. This removes the snow safely without scraping or harming the deck’s surface.

Maintain your deck with a cleaner tailored to its material composition, as well as to the type of dirt and gunk it tends to get. Ahead, read our top tips and recommendations for choosing the right solution.

Infographic On Cleaning Composite Decking

Make sure that all of the bleach solution is rinsed away before letting your deck air dry. Letting the suds sit on the deck will allow the oxygen bleach to absorb the dirt and algae on your deck. It's important that you don't let the solution thoroughly dry on the deck, or it can leave a film on the surface. Mix warm water and powdered oxygen bleach into a bucket. Pour 2 gallons (3.78 l) of warm water in a 5-gallon (18.92 l) bucket. Add 2 cups of powdered oxygen bleach and mix the solution together using the sponge or brush that you'll be using to scrub down your deck. Continue to mix the solution until the components are well incorporated.

Regularly cleaning your deck and dealing with spills as soon as they occur will help to prevent mould on your deck - as will reducing its exposure to constant damp. In manufacturing this is a great thing, because the materials can be easily shaped. Unfortunately, this pliability also makes this type of decking more susceptible to unwanted bending or buckling. Prolonged exposure to harsh sunlight, strong forces or high heat can cause the shape of the materials to change. This general cleaning doesn't have to be performed obsessively, but it's a good idea to give it a fairly regular clean. Regularly cleaning your deck will help to prevent staining and mould.