To maintain the beauty of your composite decking, a little care and cleaning goes a long way. Learn how to clean your composite deck with our tips.
To maintain the beauty of Trex composite decks, a little care and cleaning will go a long way. All exterior building materials require cleaning and a composite deck is no different. For early-generation composite products (Trex Accents®, Trex Origins®, Trex Contours®, Trex Profiles® or Trex Brasilia®), we recommend a semi-annual cleaning with a composite deck cleaner.
If your deck is one of the high-performance product lines (Trex Transcend®, Trex Enhance® or Trex Select®), soap-and-water cleaning or a gentle pressure washing will do the trick.
Learn how to clean and care for your composite decking by reading the information that applies to your decking product and get ready to enjoy maximum outdoor living with minimal maintenance.
COMPOSITE DECK CARE & CLEANING GUIDE
- DIRT AND DEBRIS
The affected area should be sprayed off with a hose to remove surface debris. Use warm, soapy water and a soft bristle brush to remove dirt and debris from the embossing pattern. - CHALK LINES
Most colored chalks are permanent and may discolor the surface. Use only Irwin Strait-Line®* Dust-Off Marking Chalk (purple) available at www.Irwin.com. - TANNINS DUE TO DEBRIS
Remove all debris from your decking using a hose or broom. Once the deck surface is dry, apply a “brightener” ** to the deck as directed by the manufacturer. Deck brighteners contain oxalic acid, which will remove tannins. - ICE AND SNOW
A plastic shovel may be used to remove snow from the deck. Use calcium chloride or rock salt to melt the snow and ice from the deck surface. - OIL/GREASE/FOOD
All food spills should be removed as soon as possible. The surface must be cleaned within seven days to maintain the stain warranty. To remove, spray off with a hose and use warm, soapy water and a soft bristle brush to remove spills from embossing pattern. - MOLD AND MILDEW
If debris, such as pollen and dirt, is allowed to remain on the deck surface, mold can feed on the biofilm. Using a hose and warm, soapy water with a soft bristle brush is recommended to remove the food source and mold. - USING A PRESSURE WASHER
Use a pressure washer with no greater than 3100 psi*** that has a fan attachment/adjustment and soap dispenser may be used to remove dirt, concrete dust, or other types of construction dirt. Spray deck with soap, then follow by gently scrubbing each deck board with a soft bristle brush. Spray/rinse each individual deck board using a fan tip no closer than 8″ from the decking surface. RINSE THOROUGHLY. If dirty water from cleaning is left to dry, this will cause a film to remain on the decking surface. - MAINTAINING TRANSCEND AND SELECT RAILING
Never use any acetone or other solvents on deck railing to maintain the beauty of the surface. For color transfer issues (from the attachment of baluster spacer), use Mr. Clean®, Magic Eraser® Original or Magic Eraser® Extra Power to help remove this. **** For small surface scratches, marks or scuffs, use Dupli-Color Scratch Seal™ Clear Sealer Pen.***** - JOB SITE STORAGE
Store decking on a flat level surface and always use proper supports (dunnage), do not store directly on the ground. When stacking decking bundles, supports (dunnage) should start approximately 8″ (0.20m) from each end and be spaced approximately 2′ (0.61) on center. In addition supports (dunnage) should line up vertically/perpendicular to the decking product. Adjust support blocks (dunnage) accordingly if bundles are loose. For Select decking, 1″ x 12″ and 1″ x 8″ products, the maximum stack height is 12 bundles. For all other decking products, maximum stack height is 14 bundles (IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT PROPER DUNNAGE SPACING MUST BE IN PLACE FOR THESE HEIGHTS). When stacking multiple bundles, ensure that dunnage lines up vertically down through each stack. Always cover decking products on site until ready to be installed.
Download the Trex Decking Care and Cleaning Guide <<
* Strait-Line® is a registered trademark of Irwin Industrial Tool Company.
** Use of products containing bleach or acid will lighten the surface of Trex. Use in an inconspicuous area to determine whether you like the effect. Neither product will affect the structural integrity of Trex.
*** Use of a pressure washer greater than 3100 psi could damage the boards and void the warranty.
**** Mr. Clean® and Magic Eraser® are the registered trademarks of The Procter & Gamble Company.
***** Scratch Seal™ Clear Sealer Pen is a registered trademark of Dupli-Color® Products Company.
