Cleaning Wood and Trex Decks
Posted: Monday, March 27, 2006
by ray breitenbach
http://simplehomerepairs.com
With the approach of spring many homeowners look forward to spending time once again on their deck or patio. Unless you live in a mild climate you probably have some work to do before you will be ready to invite your family and friends over for a cookout. Regardless of whether your deck is a traditional wood surface or a composite material like Trex® the most common spring task is cleaning your deck.
Fall, Winter, and early Spring weather can produce a number of different stains on your deck. Mold, sap, fall leaves, and other debris will all leave a mark on your deck surface and may need to be cleaned in different manners. If this is the first time cleaning the surface make sure that you check before power washing or using a chemical agent to clean your deck AND test a small, out-of-the-way region to make sure there will be no ill effects. Here are some common ways to clean your deck.
Sweep it Up and Hose It Down - Use rake, blower, and/or broom to remove leaves, sticks, dirt and other loose debris from your deck. Once cleared, use you hose and spray down the deck - a surprising amount of the clean-up may be accomplished in this fashion.
Chemical Cleaners - Most home and garden stores will have a selection deck, patio, and wood cleaners for you to choose from as well as professionals to offer you suggestions on what is best for your deck. Many can be applied with a deck sprayer or sponge mop and if necessary scrubbed with (appropriately enough) a deck brush. Whatever cleaner you use, make sure to familiarize yourself with the cautions on the package (some can harm your landscaping if inappropriately applied) and apply it as directed.
More Power - If you still have dirt and stains, you may want to try using a power washer. This works particularly well when you are cleaning a hard and/or porous surface (i.e., cement or pavers) however you must take care not to damage the surface (high pressure water can do a surprising amount of damage if you are not careful). Special caution must be taken when using a power washer on wood, composite, painted, and/or stained surface as too much pressure applied at too close a range can mar the surface you are cleaning and remove even paint and stain. Use a wider angle spray and practice on out of the way areas until you get the hand of it.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)I have used an eco friendly cleaner on my Trex composite decking called Corte Clean after trying many other cleaners that contained clorine or other toxic chemicals. It was recommended on their web site. It works better than any other product I have tried without all the dangers or unhealthy smells, especially for mold spots and grease.Excellent - I will have to see who in my area stocks that or an equivalent (I am not a big fan of bleach products myself) With summer winding down I will have more time to dedicate to the site and I have meant to do a followup on cleaning decks and outside wood structures (I have a play area and shed too). I appreciate you taking the time to pass that on - I plan on adding a blog to this site in the near future (still testing it) to facillitate other homeowners helping each other out. Ray
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