How To Clean Your Deck Or Patio With Vinegar And Baking Soda, Environmentally And Pet Safe

Step 2: Spray With Soapy Water & Scrub

For a deeper clean, always use a soft bristle scrub brush, never use a wire brush. Again, if you are using the right cleaner, only a small amount of scrubbing will be required. For snow or ice removal, always choose a plastic shovel instead of metal. Pressure washing is typically not recommended for composite decking. If done incorrectly, it can be a big mistake and cause damage.

Premixed Vs Concentrated Deck Cleaners

If the ingredients include Sodium Hypochlorite, it contains Bleach. Make sure you choose a non-toxic, sodium percarbonate based cleaner. Use a broom to remove snow from your composite decking. Just like remembering your gaps and proper cleaners, the same advice applies here.

Can I Seal Composite Decking?

Do not cut any product and always remove job site dust, clay, dirt, mud, and other construction products from an TimberTech Deck, Rail, and Porch quickly. Do not allow construction dirt and debris to sit on the TimberTech Deck, Rail, or Porch surface. Do not cut metal objects such as railing on the deck surface, the hot debris from the cut may become embedded in the deck surface resulting in staining and damage. A power washer can be used for RINSING ONLY with TimberTech products. Spray in the direction of the grain pattern, never across the grain or width of the board, to avoid damaging the product. Use caution not to damage the material and always take proper safety precautions when operating a power washer. Using the incorrect brush can make cleaning more difficult or even damage the deck board.

• It will make the problem worse and harder to remove the next time the composite surface becomes unsightly.
• In some cases, additional scrubbing with a deck brush may be required to remove stubborn stains.
• The reason for this is that Chlorine Bleach does not remove or kill the roots of the fungus, but actually waters them.
• Composite decking has become an extremely popular material for outdoor decks.

If this happens, check with the deck manufacturer to see their approved list of stronger cleaners. When you are finished carefully scrubbing the composite decking, rinse away the remainder of the soap and any leftover dirt. Capped composite decking is usually referred to as simply “composite decking,” and we will be referring to the shortened version throughout this post. Capped composite decking is one of the most popular and most efficient decking available on the market. Once a year, when your deck looks like it requires a good cleaning, whip up a batch of this homemade deck cleaner. Never use this cleaner for routine cleaning as it is on the harsh side, so much it can handle rust stains on concrete. It is vital to remove all oxygen bleach residue from your wood deck, so you may need to rinse several times.

Clean stains.The debris and furniture may have left stains behind, which you will want to remove. Clean these stains using whichever cleaner is most appropriate for your decking.

Use a deck brightener than contains oxalic acid on tannin stains. Water spots, also known as tannin stains, are normal occurrences on wood. Over time, you will likely start to notice some on your deck. Make sure the surface is completely dry and then apply a deck brightener product that contains oxalic acid on the surface of your deck.

Removing Stains

Next you can begin to scrub the deck with the grain using your stiff bristle brush to remove dirt, mildew, mold, stains etc. Vinegar is powerful and safe for both composite and wood decking, mix a half-cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar to ¼ a cup of baking soda with 1 gallon of water. Warm water can be used on its own to wash a wood or composite deck. Designing and building a deck suited to your wants and needs can be fun and exciting. But when it comes time for care and maintenance, it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into beforehand. Examine the pros and cons of composite or wood decking -- specifically when it comes to how to clean your decking. And in addition to routine cleaning, you should also be aware of other maintenance work you may need to do from time to time on your deck.

Liberally saturate the deck by dipping the brush into the homemade cleaning solution and sloshing it over the planks. Starting at one end and working your way to the other, scrub with the brush to work up a light lather, rewetting the brush’s bristles as needed. Give the solution 15 minutes of dwell time to allow the oxygen bleach to work. I did the oxyclean and vinegar with hot water it works well especially when accompanied by a stiff brush and power water.

For the best practices on power washing your deck, see chapter 3 below. While mildew and mold can infiltrate and ruin a wooden deck, it can’t damage a composite deck. They look unsightly on your deck, but it won’t harm or ruin the composite structure. In this article, we cover everything you need to know and do to clean your composite deck and porch safely. Feel free to read through the article, or simply click the chapter relating to your cleaning question. Gently brush the whole deck, applying more pressure where you notice stubborn stains or grime build-up.