Care And Cleaning
Maintain the beauty - All exterior building materials require cleaning. We recommend a basic cleaning with a composite deck cleaner or combination of soap, hot water and a soft bristle brush. Ideal times to clean are just after installation and then on a semi-annual basis (typically spring or autumn is most conducive with the weather). This will help to maintain the beauty of your Trex outdoor living space.
The affected area should be sprayed off with a hose to remove surface debris. Use warm, soapy water and a soft bristle brush to remove soil and debris from the embossing pattern.
High permanence chalk lines may discolor the surface. Use only Irwin Strait-Line®* Dust-Off Marking Chalk (purple) available at www.Irwin.com.
Remove all debris from deck using a hose or broom. Once the deck surface is dry, apply a "deck brightener" ** to the deck as directed by the manufacturer. Deck brighteners contain oxalic acid, which will remove tannins.
A plastic shovel may be used to remove snow from the deck. Use calcium chloride or rock salt to melt the snow and ice from the deck surface.
All food spills should be removed as soon as possible. The surface must be cleaned within seven days to maintain the stain warranty. To remove, spray off with a hose and use warm, soapy water and a soft bristle brush to remove spills from embossing pattern.
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.
A pressure washer with no greater than 3100 psi***** that has a fan attachment/adjustment and soap dispenser may be used to remove soil, concrete dust, or other types of construction soil. Spray deck with soap, then follow by gently scrubbing each deck board with a soft bristle brush. Spray/rinse each individual deck board using fan tip no closer than 8" from the decking surface. RINSE THOROUGHLY. If dirty water from cleaning is left to dry, this will cause a film to remain on the decking surface.
NEVER use acetone or other solvents on Trex Transcend and Contour railing to maintain the beauty of the surface. For color transfer issues (from attachment of baluster spacer), use Mr. Clean®, Magic Eraser® Original*** or Magic Eraser® Extra Power to help remove this. For small surface scratches, marks or scuffs, use Dupli-Color Scratch Seal™ Clear Sealer Pen.****
* Strait-Line is a registered trademark of Irwin Industrial Tool Company.
** Use of products containing bleach or acid will lighten the surface of Trex. Use in an inconspicuous area to determine whether you like the effect. Neither product will affect the structural integrity of Trex.
*** Magic Eraser is a registered trademark of The Procter and Gamble Company.
**** Scratch Seal™ Clear Sealer Pen is a registered trademark of Dupli-Color Products Company.
***** Use of a pressure washer greater than 3100 psi could damage the boards and void the warranty.