Avoid using chlorine bleach products or bleach on your composite structure. Bleach will cause your composite deck to fade and chip. It is incredibly corrosive and will eventually discolour and damage your deck boards. Bleach and industrial cleaners contain harsh chemicals and should be avoided.
Don't use any harsh chemicals without checking to see if they're safe to use with Trex or your brand of composite decking. Doing so can lead to discoloration or damage. Avoid using products containing bleach or acid, as they will lighten the surface of your deck.
It's also generally safe to use mild soap, such as Wash Safe Spray and Clean Composite Deck Cleaner or Dawn dish soap and water.
STAR BRITE Home Biodegradable Composite Deck Cleaner - 1 Gallon (57000) - Concentrated Formula - Removes Dirt, Grease & Stubborn Stains from Wood and Composite - Plant & Lawn Safe.
Homemade Trex Deck Cleaner
You can make a simple homemade deck cleaner by combining powdered oxygen bleach, like OxiClean, with liquid dish soap and water. This cleaner is mild and environmentally friendlier than chlorine bleach cleaners.
Pressure washing is a risk to some extent on a composite deck, as it can rinse away the finish and hue on some of the board, depending on their quality. Pressure washers can push out water at high-speed rates optimal for walking paths, driveways, and sidewalks but can present a disaster if done improperly.
Staining
Unlike veneers and crowns made from zirconia or e. max, composite has a tendency to change colour overtime due to its porous structure. In fact composite is even more porous than natural enamel. Patients who drink a lot of wine, coffee and tea, as well as smokers, are especially prone to developing stains.
You can easily clean it with everyday household items you will surely have on hand. And you don't need to rent a pressure washer in order to do a good job! Before you begin cleaning your Trex or TimberTech composite deck, make sure you have the following available: A standard bottle of dish soap (Dawn is recommended)
Foods, drinks and habits that tend to stain the bonding include things such as turmeric, red wine, smoking, coffee. Of course, we cannot completely avoid a colourful diet but there are few things we can do so it can maintain its lustre and shine.
Although the surface looks solid, composite decking is actually quite porous. This leaves areas for mold to form when water sets in the groves for an extended period of time. The best method for cleaning mold is to use a non-toxic, sodium percarbonate(hydrogen peroxide) based cleaner.
Cleaning Instructions for Solid Surface Countertops
Cleaning of these countertops is relatively easy. Use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe down the surfaces. For dirty or stained areas, use mild dish soap and water. Also acceptable are ammonia-based cleaners such as most glass or general purpose cleaners.
Poor maintenance
Improper maintenance is a major cause of faded decking. The composite decking manufacturer at Trex offers low-maintenance composite decks, not maintenance-free — so you'll need to keep it clean and tidy, just like any other part of your home.
Simple Green Deck and Fence Cleaner is ideal for both manual and pressure washing your entire deck, lifting dirt, grease and sap from wood and composite surfaces. If using a pressure washer, avoid using a maximum pressure setting, as too much force can damage the wood fibers.
NOTE: Trex Escapes® can be effectively cleaned by using a hose and warm, soapy water with a soft bristle brush. Trex does not recommend the use of a pressure washer.
Supplies Needed for Cleaning Composite Decking
Hose it down to prep stuck on grime. Fill your bucket with warm soapy water. Follow the directions for how much soap to water ratio. We used Simple Green and used 2 cups per gallon of water.
Chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite) breaks down the lignin in wood causing excessive damage to wood cells. The natural pH of wood is slightly acidic, and bleach is a basic solution. As a result, use of bleach on wood shifts the pH from near neutral pH to a basic pH that will damage the cellular structure.
Common mold stains generally start out as black, oily looking, spots on composites when it appears. The below photo is what mold stains look like after mold spores (seeds) land on composites, receive moisture, grow and root into composites.
After a while, foot traffic on the deck wears off some of the plastic coating that surrounds and protects the wood particles in the composite material, exposing them to the environment. This is the cause of "white-spotting" as the sun fades the particles. It also gives mold and mildew an opening to root in the deck.
Cleaning Tips
To clean AZEK Deck/Porch, use all-purpose cleaner and dilute all cleaners by 50% (Do not use full strength), such as Chomp Gutter cleaner, Zep 505, Simple Green or Krud Kutter Cleaner/Degreaser with a stiff natural fiber brush. Do not use abrasive cleaners which can dull the surface of new deck boards.
Brighten and clean any wood or composite surface with the easy-to-use Deck and Fence Wash from Krud Kutter. Attach any standard garden hose to this deck and fence wash and watch as years of dirt, grime and mildew stains melt away. Capable of cleaning up to 1,000 square feet, the concentrated formula comes in a 32 fl.