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Clean the Deck with Liquid Detergent and Water
A composite deck typically needs just a good cleaning with soapy water and a scrub brush to remove most surface stains and layers of dirt that accumulate.
In a bucket, mix a gallon of warm water with 1/4-cup liquid dish detergent, such as Dawn, which is biodegradable, non-toxic for humans and animals and contains no phosphates. It’s gentle enough that it won’t damage the surrounding environment or your skin, yet strong enough to pull dirt from the textured grain of composite decking. You can even try out some Dawn powerwash spray for an effective Dawn alternative.
Dunk a long-handled or handheld brush into the bucket and scrub the boards. Scrub in the direction of the grain of the plank in small sections across the deck.
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Remove Oil and Grease Spots with Detergent
For grease and oil stains, apply a few drops of liquid dish detergent such as Dawn. This will power through the grease and lift it from the surface without damaging the composite decking.
Use a handheld scrub brush dipped in warm water to whisk away the oily stain. To prevent streaking, move quickly so the detergent dry on the surface and leave a film. Wash the dirty, soapy residue away with a few squirts of the garden hose.
“While the coating on composite decking will help keep many stains to just (on) the surface, it is always a good idea to clean up spills of any kind, as quickly as possible,” says Kevin Busch, vice president of operations at Mr. Handyman, a Neighborly company. “The longer they sit, the more likely they will seep into the decking and be tougher to remove.”
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Clean the Deck with a Pressure Washer
A pressure washer can remove embedded dirt without a cleaning product, but it’s not always advisable. If not used properly, the high water pressure can damage composite decking.
“Pressure washers can generally be used on composite decking but often they can be cleaned without one,” Busch says. “Combining warm soapy water a deck brush, and some old-fashioned elbow grease will usually do the trick and help you avoid potentially damaging your deck.”
A quick spray of the surface with the pressure washer fan tip will freshen a deck and remove a light layer of dirt. The fan tip lowers the pressure from the nozzle and lessens the chances of damage.
“In general, stay below 1,500 psi (pounds per square inch),” Busch says. “Keep the nozzle back from the deck boards by at least six inches for the same reasons. Be sure to move in broad, sweeping motions, moving with the grain of the board.”
For decks with thick layers of dirt and stubborn stains, fill the pressure washer soap dispenser with Dawn or a product specifically for a pressure washer. Read the manufacturer’s directions for best results. Give stubborn stains a good scrub with a stiff brush and work the cleaner into the corners.
Wash down the deck with plain water using the widest pressure washer nozzle. Make wide, sweeping motions with the nozzle about two feet above the surface of the deck.
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