The use of bleach can cause the plastic to degrade.When cleaning your plastic deck, you must choose the right tools.
Step 1: If you're not certain, choose a cleaner that doesn't contain chlorine bleach.
You can use any of thousands of name brand variations of these.
Step 2: Pick a deck brush with natural or plastic bristles if you want to scrub the deck.
If you use a wire brush, it will scratch your plastic deck.It is difficult to clean scratches that trap dirt.A bucket and a supply of clean water are required.The deck brushes have a pole so you can scrub while standing.If you want, you can scrub the pole while kneeling.
Step 3: You can spray the deck with a pressure washer.
From time to time pressure washing is a good idea to remove dirt and debris.Don't use a 20-degree nozzle when using a pressure washer.
Step 4: If you are cleaning to remove mold, there may be more to consider.
Step 5: Clorox® Bleach has not been proven to be effective in killing or removing mold onporous surfaces such as deck boards, and this fact is stated on the label directions.
The materials are porous because they are full of water, air, and other particles.Some manufacturers claim that their product is non-porous and fully encapsulated.The porous nature of the composite is due to the fact that it doesn't absorb muchhumidity.If it becomes heavier when water is added, you can tell if it's porous.You can ask the manufacturer what their absorption rate is.
Step 7: Remove the deck and assemble your cleaning supplies now that you're ready to start.
Use a broom or deck brush to sweep the debris.
Step 8: Put the water and cleaning solution in your bucket.
Step 9: The deck was wet at one end by dipping the deck brush into the bucket and then sprinkling the water and cleaning solution onto it.
Step 10: The deck needs to be cleaned.
Push the deck brush back and forth, but not so much as to compress the bristles of the brush.The removal work is done by the tips of the bristles.If the sides of the bristles are sliding across the deck, then you are pushing too hard and the brushes will not scrub as well.
Step 11: Continue to scrub and wet the deck until the bucket is mostly empty.
Step 12: You can empty the solution onto the deck and fill the bucket with rinse water.
Remove the dirt from the area.
Step 13: There is a tip.
Many trips to rinse the deck could be avoided if a water-hose is available.If you have more than one bucket, you may have several buckets on stand-by.If you want your section to not dry, you need to work with one bucket of cleaning solution at a time.When the dirt hasn't dried back in place, rinsing works better than scrubbing.
Step 14: If you decide to use a pressure washer, the high pressure water stream will do the scrubbing and rinsing in one step.
Since streams of high pressure water can be harmful and cause personal injury, follow the safety instructions that come with the machine.Some good tips can be found in an article specific to pressure washing.If you want to get dirt out of scratches in your plastic deck, pressure washing may be better.It may be necessary to use a tooth brush for dirt that the deck-brush can't get.Dirt can be pulled out of scratches with a micro-fiber cloth.
Step 15: If your deck is dirty, you may want to seal it.
You can look up articles about using a heat gun to seal scratches in plastic.That is not included in the scope of this article.