Summer begins with a beautiful deck and outdoor space! Deck cleaning before the season starts ensures you’ll have fresh outdoor space all summer long! Composite and PVC decking from brands like TimberTech® and Deckorators® need significantly less annual maintenance than traditional lumber decks; say goodbye to sanding, staining, and sealing for good! However, a little bit of cleaning goes a long way in refreshing your deck after the winter months.
Deck Cleaning Basics
In general, it’s recommended that you do a basic cleanup of your deck twice per year: once at the beginning of the season and once at the end. This prevents stains from setting in and reduces dirt and debris buildup. It is best to clean your deck on a cooler, cloudy day or early in the morning to avoid direct sunlight. If you clean your deck in the heat of the day, the cleaning solution might dry before you can rinse it.
Basic deck maintenance can be done with common household cleaning tools:
Cleaning Tools:
- Broom
- Bucket of warm water
- Cleaner or soap
- Specialty cleaner – TimberTech Deck Cleaner
- Dish soap
- Don’t use bleach or industrial chemical cleaner
- Deck brush
- TimberTech Pro and Edge Decking – Medium to stiff nylon brush
- TimberTech Azek – Stiff, natural fiber brush
- Deckorators – Soft brush
- Garden hose
- Power washer (optional)
Composite Deck Cleaning Steps
1) Clear your deck of all furniture, pots, and decor
2) Sweep large dirt and debris from the surface of the deck.
3) Pre-rinse. Wet a small, workable section of the deck.
4) Brush. Dip the brush in the soapy water and start scrubbing the wet area. It’s ok to apply downward pressure to remove stubborn dirt and grime.
5) Rinse soapy area with hose (or power washer).
6) Move on to the next section of the deck and repeat.
A note on power washing. You can use a power washer, but always keep the nozzle at leads 8″ from the deck surface. Use the fan-tip nozzle on the lowest setting and avoid power washers with over 1500 psi.
Go Above & Beyond!
Beyond the deck surface, there are nooks and crannies around your deck that will collect dirt and debris over time. Use the tips below to give your deck a thorough cleaning.
- Use blower to clear out debris from between deck boards, especially debris in rim joists.
- Trim back bushes and trees at least 12″ away from the deck to increase airflow and reduce moisture accumulation and plant debris on your deck.
- Clean railing with a soft cloth or sponge.
- Clear debris from underneath your deck, around posts, footers, and surrounding beds.
- Wash sides of the deck, including fascia, posts, and deck enclosures.
For more information, consult the TimberTech and Deckorators Care and Cleaning Guides linked below. As always, we’re here to help with any questions you might have. Give us a call at 860-528-0495 or email us at connect@warehouse71diy.com!
Or…
If you currently have a wooden deck and can’t imagine sanding and staining one more time, it might be time for a deck upgrade.
Give us a call or shop online. We’ll help you redo your deck with premium decking at closeout prices!
