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If the mold caused stains, use oxygen bleach to treat the stains. If you use oxygen bleach, follow up with a deck brightener solution as this returns the pH levels of the wood to a stable level. Trex Decks can last a lifetime and will maintain their quality but sometimes they show their age. One of the best ways to care for your deck is to clean it regularly - don’t let it get past the point of no return.

When the water dries, deposits are left behind, leaving unsightly spots on surfaces. This is not a defect of Trex products but an issue with the water itself. Generally these deposits can be cleaned with white vinegar on decking surfaces or use of Magic Eraser® on railing surfaces.

Composite decks on the other hand, offer a lower level of all-around maintenance – they won’t splinter and you don’t need to worry about periodic staining, painting or sealing projects. Often, the only maintenance composite decking requires is an occasional power washing. Simple Green Oxy Solve Deck and Fence Cleaner is ideal for both manual and pressure washing to lift and remove dirt and debris from the deck surface. The fast-acting foaming formula eliminates stains from mold and mildew, tree sap, pollen, oxidation, weathering and other grime. It utilizes the power of peroxide to provide high-performance cleaning without toxic or abrasive chemicals. Decks created from earlier-generation Trex products should not be pressure washed, because doing so may damage the decking materials. Instead, clean with warm, soapy water as noted above.

Cleaning Composite And Wood Decking

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How to Clean Wood Deck

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

Another way of maintaining a clean composite deck is after the cleaning is complete to apply a water sealer made specifically for composite decking. Soap and water is always the recommended stain remover for composite decking. Dish soap is a great and affordable way to clean your deck. Likewise, dish detergent and water gets hard to remove stains off of composite decks. Mold, tree sap and mildew are the biggest culprits for stains on composite deck boards. These debris form a biofilm and are tough to remove.

Pressure Washing Your Composite Decking

Keep a safe distance between the power washer and the deck surface. We recommend staying a minimum of 6” away from the surface.

• All-purpose wood deck cleaners contain detergents to dissolve surface dirt, spills, and grime.
• Rusty streaks can also appear around screw heads or along the wood’s grain.
• These cleaners are usually sprayed on, worked into the grain with a deck brush for even coverage, and then rinsed off with a garden hose.
• The cleaners are typically applied to the decking with a sprayer or deck brush, spread evenly with a mop, and then rinsed off with a garden hose.
• Even if they’ve been sealed, wood decks, especially cedar and redwood, eventually begin to dull and take on a weathered, gray appearance.

Simply scrub the solution into the decking one section at a time and rinse. The best part of composites is that, with the exception of food stains, you only have to clean your deck for aesthetic reasons. For wood decks, not cleaning often enough can lead to more costly maintenance. All you need to make your natural composite deck cleaner is some soap, water, vinegar, and baking soda and a soft bristle brush to remove dirt, debris, and other grime.

I let it dry and sometimes have to repeat; then I rinse thoroughly. All I can say is that I have not found any commercial solution that will remove mildew from Trex in my Southern highlands/high humidity climate. I have used Corte Clean Environmentally Friendly Composite Deck Cleaner on my Trex wood plastic deck. It removed most common house hold staining issues including ground in dirt, mold, mildew, grease, barbecue stains, etc.

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).

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Like other wood deck varieties, composite decking is quite porous. It's best to use an oxygenated cleaner that will sink deep into the material to clean the lower layers as well as on the surface. Pressure washing is not usually recommended for composite decking. Pressure washing too close or using too much pressure can be ruinous for your deck. Composite decking material is softer than natural wood and therefore can be “etched” more easily. Once the material has been “opened up”, this can lead to a host of other issues including chipping, sun damage, and mold staining of the plastics inside the opening. Once mold has stained these plastics, it can be extremely hard to remove.