How To Clean A Composite Or Wood Deck

How To Clean Composite Decking

Bottom line, older TREX, TimberTech, and other wood content composites should be bleached and brightened. Please contact the manufacturer or read the literature that came with your decking if you have any doubts on power washing. A power washer can create serious damage to a composite deck if the pressure is too high, an inappropriate nozzle is used, and/or the nozzle is held too close to the surface. Always start in an inconspicuous area when power washing to test that it is not damaging the decking. The safest course will always be to hand wash your composite decking.

Decking & Railing Duos

We’re going to start with this product which you can buy at WashSafe.com. I then wised up and borrowed this Simpson Pressure Washer from a family member to see how well it would work on my composite deck. I checked with Trex, the manufacturer of my composite decking, to verify if a pressure washer was suitable to use for cleaning purposes before I started.

• This cleaner is specifically formulated for cleaning composite decking, including Trex.
• Like other wood deck varieties, composite decking is quite porous.
• It's best to use an oxygenated cleaner that will sink deep into the material to clean the lower layers as well as on the surface.
• All you need to make your natural composite deck cleaner is some soap, water, vinegar, and baking soda and a soft bristle brush to remove dirt, debris, and other grime.

The Composite Deck Cleaning Process

This may happen once or twice after the initial cleaning. Once that phase is over, keep your composite decking looking good with a necessary routine cleaning. This can be done by diluting 4 parts water with 1-part Spray & Clean and spraying your deck every 60 days or so during the season. You can also spray an hour or two before an oncoming rain storm which is a perfect way to rinse your deck naturally. We try not to play favorites with our products but there’s no denying that Spray & Clean is one of our stars.

Buyers Guide: The Best Deck Cleaners

There are a few situations when it may be okay to use a power washer in your deck. Decks made of ASA, which is essentially a high-end capstock, tend to be a little more forgiving when power washed. Wood and composite decks can also sometimes be cleaned with a power washer, but only if you have a professional doing it. It’s also a bad idea to use a power washer on a composite deck because the power washer can actually take chips out of the composite material.

Design & Price

I make no guarantees on Trex because even they now it will not be 100%. Fred, that’s odd, composite decks shouldn’t have this issue. Maybe try using our Composite Deck Cleaner and see if that takes it off. If you have a pressure washer, maybe give it a light rinsing after allowing the cleaner to set for minutes. To clean a composite deck, sweep it with a broom or leaf blower at least once a week to get rid of dirt and debris. If your deck is still dirty, hose it down, scrub with a brush and soap, then, rinse with a hose. For a faster cleaning option, try using a pressure washer.

Many of the composite companies use wood content in them as well. is referring to was the original TREX which was Red Oak which is a hard wood that leaves a dark black tannin. Anyone who has had to clean off oak leaf stains from concrete can attest to that.

Power Washing Wood Decks

If using a pressure washer, avoid using a maximum pressure setting, as too much force can damage the surface. If you prefer to pressure wash your Trex decking, that’s fine.