How To Clean And Maintain Composite Decking

A beautiful deck area on your lawn can considerably enhance the overall appeal of your home’s outdoor space.

On that note, composite wood is the best material for lawn decking. Not only does it look good, but it is also pretty durable and easy to maintain.

That said, composite decking does require some minimal maintenance. After all, it is an outdoor fixture, and without the bare minimum upkeep, it can become dirty or damaged over time.

But how can you clean and maintain composite decking? This guide discusses this. So, if you want your deck to look pristine for a long time, keep reading!

What Is Composite Decking?

Before jumping into the primary discussion, let’s talk about what a composite deck is. You might find this information useful if you are not so well-versed in such things.

Decking is a flat outdoor space designed to resemble a floor. It is constructed at a slightly higher elevation than the ground and connected to the main house. Decking is usually made from plastic, wood, or composite materials, with the last one being the focus of this guide.

In simple terms, composite decking is a deck made of composite wood, as the name suggests. This composite wood blends natural wood fibres and recycled plastic. Thus, it is a hybrid of the other two deck materials, combining wood’s rustic appeal with plastic’s durability.

Why Does Your Composite Deck Need Cleaning And Maintenance?

As we have already said once before, decking is an outdoor structure. That makes it vulnerable to adverse weather elements like rain or snow. Besides, if you use it extensively, the deck surface will naturally accumulate dust, debris and mildew over time.

Therefore, if you want to prevent any issues with your deck, you need to clean it. And while you don’t need to look after it as extensively as pure wood or P.V.C. decking, it occasionally needs some maintenance.

Tools And Materials Needed To Clean Composite Decks

Before cleaning away, you must prepare and gather all the required supplies. First, you need to check the cleaning instructions with your decking material. That will prevent you from doing anything that might give rise to issues or void the warranty of your decking.

Afterwards, you must gather the materials and equipment to clean your composite deck. Below, we have listed what you’ll need to get started.

• A bucket
• Spraying nozzles
• A measuring cup
• Nylon brooms or deck brushes
• Leaf blower
• Pressure washer
• Cloth towels or sponges
• A bottle of mild dish soap or composite deck cleaner
• Warm water

Ensure that the broom or deck brush you use has medium stiffness. If you use a soft-bristled brush, it will not be able to clean the loose debris effectively. Conversely, if you use a broom with stiff bristles, it might damage the composite boards.

A pressure washer is optional since regular washing with warm, soapy water is enough to clean the dirt off the deck boards. You only need to power wash composite decking if there are stubborn surface stains and grime.

A Step-By-Step Process To Clean Composite Decking

Now that everything is in place, you can finally begin cleaning. For this purpose, you can follow the steps we have discussed below.

Step 1: Clear The Deck

The first thing you need to do is clear out the deck area. This preparatory step will allow you to complete the cleaning process without issues.

To accomplish this, you must remove any furniture and decor you have on the decking, such as chairs, tables, potted plants, etc. Likewise, make sure to cover up any nearby plants and furniture situated around the decking area.

Step 2: Sweep The Deck

Once the deck is cleared, you must blow away the dry leaves with a leaf blower and then sweep it with a brush or a broom. That will remove any loose dirt and debris from the surface. Since most of the dirt accumulates in these spaces, you must pay special attention to the gaps and crevices between the composite decking boards.

Step 3: Prepare The Cleaning Solution

Now, it’s time to prepare the solution for the process. You must use a warm, soapy water solution to clean composite decking. Mix the soap and water in the correct proportions in a bucket and stir it for a while.

Alternatively, you can use a specific composite deck cleaner as recommended in the manufacturer’s cleaning guidelines. Make sure to mix it properly in a bucket before proceeding further.

Step 4: Clean The Deck

Next, dunk your brush or broom in the cleaning solution and scrub the deck. Apply the proper pressure to remove all the dirt and grime efficiently. Keep scrubbing until you have covered the decking space, and let it sit for a while.

Step 5: Wash The Deck With Water

After completing the previous step, you must rinse the soap and dirty water. Before you finish, we recommend wiping the floor with a wet cloth or sponge to get a clean composite deck.

Useful Maintenance Tips For Your Composite Decking

Below are some handy maintenance tips that keep your deck looking new.

• Regularly sweep the surface to keep dust and debris away
• Avoid using pressure washing until necessary
• Keep your deck protected with a cover during other outdoor work or when not in use.
• Use spot cleaning to remove mud and footprints
• Clean any oil or food spills immediately with a paper towel

Avoiding Some Common Issues

Sometimes, you might observe mould and mildew growth on your composite deck. You can handle this problem by rinsing the affected area with water and scrubbing it with soap or a mild disinfectant. And if you want to prevent them from appearing in the future, you should keep your deck clean and dry and make sure it gets enough sunlight.

Similarly, if you see any tough stains on your deck, you can use vinegar or a suitable cleaning solution to remove them quickly. If the stains are caused by hard water, vinegar is the most feasible solution.

But if these stains result from food and oil spills, you can use cleaning agents to remove them. In this regard, you can avoid such stains if you follow the tip we mentioned.

Another common issue is the accumulation of snow and ice during winter, which can damage your deck. After it has snowed, you can use a plastic shovel to clear your decking.

Keep Your Composite Decking Clean!

There is a reason why composite decking is so popular. After all, who wouldn’t want to hang out on the lawn after a hard day’s work? Composite decking is much more sustainable than plastic decking material and has better structural integrity than regular wood.

That said, you need to clean your composite deck at proper intervals. Ideally, we recommend cleaning it twice yearly, but you can change that according to your preferences. The best time to perform this task is during the transition of seasons.

Of course, if you are unsure about doing it yourself, then no worries! Here at Final Touch Carpentry and Constructions, we have a team of experts who can help you in this regard, and that too at an affordable cost.