For those whose homes have balconies, planter boxes or patios, decking is highly recommended. Outdoor decking provides an exotic feel as well as a sense of luxury, simulating a personal resort style space.
Composite deckings (wood plastic or timber) are low maintenance, and therefore requires very little to maintain its beautiful appearance. But to ensure it's always looking good as new you would want to clean it once or twice a year to mitigate the build up of mould or debris on the decking. So, what do you need for a basic clean?
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- Water Bucket or Hose
- Bristle Brush
- Warm Water
- Deck Cleaner or Soapy Water
The first thing to do is spray off the composite decking with a hose or simply washing buckets of water will remove the surface debris. When the surface is clear from debris, apply deck cleaner or hot soapy water directly to the decking or make up as per the manufacturer’s instructions on the bottle. Once applied, use a hard bristle brush and gently scrub the surface of the decking. Surface debris such as mould and grime should start to clear as you brush it away. You may need to do this process a couple of times for decking which is not in the sun or particularly dirty.
Can you pressure wash composite decking? Composite decking is softer than natural wood and can be damaged easily, so it’s best to use low pressure when cleaning with a hose. Spray about 8" from the decking surface.
Leave the Deck Cleaner mixture or hot soapy water on the surface for several minutes before rinsing the boards.
Important: Rinse thoroughly to ensure dirty water from cleaning is NOT left to dry as it will cause a film to remain on the decking surface. Please note that if any cleaning product is left on the boards they may become slippery.
Enjoy your nice clean decking area! Cleaning it once or twice a year will ensure it looks its best.