How to Clean and Maintain Composite Decking

Composite decking is an attractive, practical, and long-lasting addition to just about any garden.

However, keeping it attractive and making sure it’s as long-lasting as it can be will require a little bit of maintenance now and again. This does not have to be difficult or hard work.

Cleaning Your Composite Deck

You can help keep your decking looking its best with a simple, regular clean. This can also delay the need for any kind of deeper, more serious clean. This can be as simple as using a stiff broom to sweep off loose dirt and debris. You can do this as little as once a week.

If there are any stains or smears of dirt that don’t seem to warrant any specialist treatment, you can probably tackle them with a gentle soap, water, and a little scrubbing from a stiff brush.

Specialist Composite Deck Cleaning

Like any kind of outdoor wood, composite decking is prone to fading and discolouration over time. Sunlight, water, and changing temperatures will all take their toll on the wood.

Dirt will slowly work its way into the grain where it will not be easily shifted without specialist treatment.

This is when a more powerful and more dedicated decking cleaner will become necessary.

Choose a composite decking cleaner that will penetrate the wood for a deep clean both on and inside the wood.

You might like to choose a product like Compoxell, which is usable straight from the bottle, is water-based and safe for the environment, and uses a gel formula to prevent the dripping and run-off associated with most cleaners.

You should use your cleaner according to the instructions on the bottle. Usually, this will involve applying to the decking with a brush, leaving it to work, and then rinsing it off with clean water.

Decking Care and Preservation

Even the best decking cleaner can’t undo all of the toll that weather and sunlight will take on your decking. Especially if it has heavy traffic or is in an exposed area.

More importantly, over time repeated exposure to water and changing temperatures can cause the wood to weaken and crack if it’s not properly protected.

Apply Composite Deck Stain

You can prevent this and also restore the wood’s appearance more effectively by using an appropriate composite decking care product.

A decking care treatment will help to protect your wood and seal it against the weather and will also help enhance, revive or restore the colour of the wood. Compoxell, for example, will provide a weatherproofing and stain-repellent finish in just one coat and is available in grey and brown.

Like Compo-Clean, it is a water-based formula that is safe for the environment. You can apply most composite decking care products straight from the tin.

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We hope you found this post on how to clean and maintain composite decking helpful. If you have any other advice or top tips, please feel free to leave them in the comments below. We love hearing from you!

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