Maintenance

Can I Use Bleach To Clean My Composite Decking?

Adding uPVC decking to your holiday home can truly transform your outdoor space and add value to your static caravan area. While our decking is low maintenance, it is important to regularly clean your decking to combat the effects of regular use and weathering. Here are some of our top tips on giving your uPVC decking a great spring clean along with some of the best cleaning products for your uPVC decking. Do you have composite decking in your back garden that's due a clean? Cleaning your composite decking is simple, just grab the bits of the equipment listed below & follow a few simple steps. Here you can see our infographic and a transcript of the information provided.

Whilst you do not need to stain your deck on a yearly basis, like timber, we recommend giving it a clean once or twice a year depending on the location and how much ‘weather’ the decking gets. If debris, such as pollen and soil, is allowed to remain on the deck surface, mould 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 mould. You can prevent this and also restore the wood’s appearance more effectively by using an appropriate composite decking care product.

The first step is to wash away any large areas of dirt with a hose. Secondly, we recommend using a decking cleaning substance to scrub away any built up areas of mold and mildew. It is important to wash the substance away once you have finished. Once dried, we recommend applying a deck revitaliser to help restore your decking to its original state and to offer further protection to your decking. Apply cleaning solution to the deck, working in 5 metre sections at a time, use a stiff brush to remove noticeable dirt and grime.

Section 1: Best Decking Cleaner Products

Composite products will outlive traditional timber alternatives - keep your composite products looking good by following our helpful guidance. DeckMAX’s plant-based Revitaliser offers advanced UV protection and can maximise the beauty of your outdoor space. This Revitaliser is also available from our After Care shop, save today with our DeckMAX Bundle special offer. If your deck has turned grey from UV exposure, no amount of detergent will help restore its original colour. You will need to look at either acid washing the boards or sanding the surface & restoring your deck.

General & Spot Cleaning

CD-50 is a highly concentrated and powerful cleaner which will remove dirt, grime, algae, mould and other contaminants from composite materials. CD-50 Composite Decking Cleaner is concentrated meaning one bottle will make up to 55L of product!

How Do I Clean Composite Decking?

It also lasts longer and has a very similar look and feel, without the maintenance problems that can occur. Clean your Ecoscape deck at least twice a year, preferably in the spring and in the autumn before stains appear, re-appear or before mould and mildew set in. However when our decking receives frequent moisture, i.e. rain, frost, ice, snow and humidity it will be prone to “mould spores”, as well as decking that is under a tree or actively used. His tips include removing any excess oil straight away before the stain has chance to set in, then apply some concentrate dishwashing liquid directly to the affected area. “The idea is to break down the structure of the oil so it can then be rinsed away by the water.” Brush with a stiff decking brush in line with the wood grain. The corrosive bleach and direct sunlight together can lead to the premature breakdown of the high-density polyethene plastic and reclaimed wood fibre boards. Frequent exposure will damage your decking and also corrode the fixtures holding your design together.

Ultra-Decking offers little or no maintenance compared to regular wood or timber decking. You still need to take care of your composite deck from Ultra Decking, but nothing compared to maintaining regular wood decking.

A key benefit of our products is their low maintenance requirements, so looking after composite decking is very simple. Here at SAiGE, we stock products that combine the beauty of authentic wood with the benefits of composite materials – which includes resistance to mould, rotting and warping. If using a composite decking cleaner, carefully follow mixing instructions. However, most composite deck boards can be cleaned with a simple soapy water solution. Most of the time, a simple brush-down with decking detergent will remove any offending stains.

Dirtbusters Patio Cleaner Decking Fence Drive Mould Mildew Moss Algae Remover

If you choose to use a composite cleaner and have furniture or anything that’s not made of composite material, it needs to be removed. First, use a broom or electric leaf blower to remove any excess leaves & debris from the surface. You should also use a hard-bristle brush or scraper to remove any accumulations of moss or algae; leaving you with a completely clear surface to work with. We’ve compared it with ordinary soap-and-water treatment and there really is no comparison. See our guide in Section 3 for information on how to use your deck cleaner.

Cleaning composite decking is easy with Tough Decking, even if they look like they are ready for the bin. Our composite decking can be easily cleaned to a brand new condition with simply Fairy Liquid, a brush and and a hose pipe. All our experts agreed that of the different products we’ve used over the years, this one is the best decking cleaner we’ve come across. We always use it before re-staining our decking and it seems to make it last so much longer. One of the main reasons our customers opt for Hyperion composite decking, is for its low maintenance.

Have you tried just about every possible deck cleaning product and option but just can't seem to get the deck any cleaner? A pressure washer can also be used to clean the surface of the composite deck. Please take care when doing so, if you place the lance too close to the deck boards you could damage or alter the look of the decking. Always test a small area of the deck first, preferably in the least conspicuous spot.

• Composite decking is made with recycled plastics and wood fibres with dirt & dust easily absorbed into the boards after rain or snow.
• Don’t let liquid spillage sit on traditional first-generation composite decking.
• Once applied use a soft-bristle brush to scrub the surface of the decking area.
• Using a garden hose or apply a bucket of warm water to clean the surface area of your decking.
• Then prepare a bucket of warm light soapy water and apply, leave to stand for several minutes, then simply wash down with a garden hose or bucket of clean water and leave to dry.

This can be as simple as using a stiff broom to sweep off loose dirt and debris. Solid decking helps reduce the risk of internal moisture build up and is generally stronger. If you are looking to purchase decking, read more about different types of composite decking including hollow and solid variations, to help make your choice. If you’re organised, you can get it all done in just a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon. Get it done during the summer, when your decking is at its driest and any water you add will evaporate quickly. With that said, you’ll want to work in small sections if you’re working in direct sunlight, to prevent dirty water and suds from drying onto the surface before you have a chance to wash them away. Variable wood grain patterns and PermaTech coatings provide a highly realistic alternative to timber.

When applied, Chlorine bleach is extremely corrosive to any surface or material and will literally eat away at any material it meets. It will also discolour the deck, damage the surface and enhance mould and mildew build up. To avoid these issues chose a non-toxic, sodium bicarbonate based cleaner. Compoiste Decking is low maintenance so requires very little to maintain its beautiful appearance. However to ensure its always looking good as new we recommend cleaning it twice a year to ensure there is no build up of mould or debris on the decking. A basic clean with our composite decking cleaner or you can use hot soapy water and a bristle brush. Restore your Composite Decking back to its former glory with CD-50 Composite Decking Cleaner.