Depending on where you live, whether or not your deck is covered, and what type of weather patterns your decking is exposed to, there are a few methods to choose from in order to get your Trex decking looking brand new.
Another thing to consider is the type of paint and finish that you have on your decking, because that can be a good indicator of how abrasive your cleaning equipment can be. These are some of the best ways to clean your Trex decking, and how the dirt or staining can determine the cleaning products needed.
Cleaning Product Depends On The Dirt
Firstly, it is worth considering that the recommended cleaning products to use on your Trex decking are determined by the different types of dirt you are looking to remove.
Without causing additional damage to the wood underneath, you could consider whether the staining is oil or grease based. This will require more scrubbing, whereas general mud will not need as much attention.
Mold
If you haven’t had the opportunity to use a high quality stain to seal your decking, then it might be more prone to mold. This happens during damper weather patterns, and can develop in any area of the deck as long as it is warm and damp. While there are preventatives to avoid this, it is important to remove any mold from your decking.
Pay close attention and ensure that you have cleaned off all of it in order to prevent it from regrowing once the weather patterns allow it. The same approach applies to the development of moss on your decking.
While it is less invasive and can cause less of a structural issue compared with mold, it can be an indicator that the weather conditions are ideal for mold. If you see moss developing on the deck, then it could be a sign to take a closer look for molding.
Food
Another common thing that can cause more severe issues if it is not removed from your decking is food. If your family enjoy eating out on the deck during the warmer months, you should carefully clean your deck when you can. This can help prevent mold from developing, and deter unwanted guests such as insects, and rodents.
Another thing worth considering is the fact that a lot of foods enjoyed during the summer can be a little more greasy. Grease and oily stains are considerably harder to clean than other materials, which is why they will often need a little more vigorous scrubbing.
Mud
This is probably the easiest thing to remove, unless there is a clay base in the mud of your local area. Dry mud can be swept away using a coarse broom, whereas wet mud is often easy to wash away with warm water.
This can be something to pay a little extra attention to when you are considering cleaning your decking, because a lot of mud is purely surface level. This means that it is less likely to cause structural damage to your decking, because it is a lot easier to wash away.
Chalk
While most chalk will wash off in the rain, you might want to give your deck a more thorough scrubbing if your kids have been decorating it with colored chalk.
It can begin to flake off during dryer climates, which is one of the reasons why there are particular cleaning products for removing chalk without causing damage to the decking underneath.
How To Clean
In order to get the best results, it is important to thoroughly sweep your Trex decking ahead of time after removing all the furniture and other items. This can allow you to tackle deeper stains without worrying about sending things from the surface flying.
The following section will help you decide which method would be best for you and your decking.
Power Wash
Now that we’ve covered the different types of messes and stains that you might want to focus on, it is worth considering whether you should tackle them with the power wash or try something more gentle.
Power washing can be a great tool when it comes to thoroughly removing mold, chalk, and mud.
Warm Soapy Water
Some stains might not budge with power washing alone, which is why you should go in with a soft bristly brush and a bucket of warm water that has dish soap added to it. This can allow you to get a more thorough scrub and ensure that any residue has been removed. It can also ensure that the decking does not risk damage that can be caused by power washing.
In order to tackle grease left by food, you could try to pour baking soda onto it, before pouring vinegar on top. The fizzing reaction is great for removing grease without compromising the quality of the decking. Trex recommends that you thoroughly wash your decking less than seven days after the stain has emerged using warm soapy water. This can allow you to preserve the quality of the deck without keeping stains on it.
In addition to this, it could be beneficial to invest in deck scrubbing products that have been specifically designed for the use on Trex decking. Greasy food stains would be much easier to scrub away using Simple Green Oxy Solve Fence and Deck Cleaner. It can be added to your power washer, or soapy water solution, and is tough on more stubborn stains.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Household Cleaning Products Can I Use On My Decking?
While Trex don’t recommend using bleach because it can compromise the staining effect, any ammonia-free dish soap can be combined with warm water to make a highly effective cleaning solution.
In addition to this, you could try powdered oxygen laundry detergent or vinegar on mold spores.
What’s The Best Homemade Deck Cleaning Solution?
Dish detergent, vinegar, and water is a very useful combination once mixed well. You can use this on more stubborn stains on your decking. Scrub this all over using a brush if you have one before thoroughly rinsing off with a hose.
How Often Can I Pressure Wash My Deck?
Trex do not recommend using a power washer on their products because it can increase the risk of more severe damage being done. However, as long as you are careful and only power wash once or twice a year, there is very little risk to the decking.
Summary
In summary, there are a lot of things that need to be considered when thinking about how you want to clean your Trex decking. These include the type of stain, what equipment you have on hand, and what products you want to use.
Try to avoid using a power washer too often because it can cause damage to the decking with regular use.
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