Deck Cleaning 101

A deck is a great investment. It's attractive and functional, creates more square footage for your home and increases its overall value. And with such an important investment, it's always a good idea to let a professional decking contractor get the job done right. But after they leave, it's up to you to maintain it. A bi-annual deck cleaning will help prolong the lifespan of your deck and keep it looking good for years to come.

Cleaning Basics
Besides using the leaf blower to get rid of leaves and dirt, a deck's surface needs to be cleaned to remove buildup that can harbor mildew and fungus. Even if your deck is made from composites, cleaning it bi-annually is a must because staining and fading can become a problem over time. But composites and wood decks must be cleaned differently. Here's the scoop:

Composites: For composites, use an acid/deck brush and a composite material cleaner. Duckback Products makes several different cleaning products. This can help keep composite decking (and siding) looking bright and clean without being too harsh on the material or being chemically caustic, like some wood decking cleaners can be to composite materials. Avoid any cleaners that use bleach to keep your composite decking looking brand new.

A pressure washer is suitable to clean away stubborn stains and debris from composite decking. However, keep the pressure down and use a wide spray nozzle to help prevent streaking and delamination that can sometimes occur with high-pressure sprays. A biodegradable soap solution will work best in combination with a pressure washing to help keep composites clean while being eco-friendly to your surrounding plants.

Wood: For wood decks, a deck brush like the Weiler 10" deck scrub brush and a mix of oxygenated bleach and water will remove mild stains and keep wood decking looking bright and clean for months. Heavier stains from leaves or puddled water can be removed using a spray-on deck bleach. These dangerous chemicals can be caustic so be careful.

A very common mistake when cleaning a wood deck is to use a pressure washer. This is a big no-no! The pressurized water enters into the wood grain, permanently damaging wood fibers. Mold and mildew can then easily penetrate the interior of the wood, quickly subjecting it to rot. Never use a pressure washer on a wood deck. Instead, always use a brush and an approved wood cleaner.