How do I clean and treat my deck? This is a prevalent question amongst homeowners and the answer depends on the type of decking material used on your deck.
Chlorinated Bleach should not be used as a cleaning agent for any deck. The chemicals used in chlorinated bleach can be detrimental to plant life, corrosive to metals (whether painted or not), and poses a risk to environmental safety. Regular application of Chlorinated Bleach may compromise the integrity of fasteners, which are crucial for securing your deck to your house. While it may seem convenient to mix some bleach with water for cleaning purposes, the potential long-term consequences are significant and should be carefully considered.
Natural Wood Decks
Sodium Percarbonate is a good choice with excellent cleaning properties, safe for plants, humans, and the environment. Oxyclean is an example of this type of product, but the sodium percarbonate content is not great enough in some instances to properly clean a wooden deck. Sodium Percarbonate cleaners are available online-- Click Here or find one at a commercial paint supplier. Usually, the big box home stores do not carry this product. Unfortunately, they typically sell deck cleaners that have Chlorinated Bleach as one of the ingredients.
(photo courtesy of Timberline Patio Covers)
Synthetic Decks
We have submitted the metals used in our UnderCover Systems to a company called Corte Clean. This product is safe for fasteners and the environment. It does a good job of cleaning decks and had no negative effect on the test sample trials.
Visit corteclean.com for product information and purchase. When you tell them that UnderCover Systems referred you, they will be very familiar with our company and product.
(photo courtesy of MasterDecks)
Cleaning Your UnderCover System
Cleaning the Outside
The exposed metal ceiling surface rarely needs to be cleaned, but when it becomes dirty, simply spray with a water hose or low pressure, pressure washer to dampen and remove the debris. If additional cleaning is required, use dishwashing detergent and a sponge mop to remove any spots. Rinse after done and dry with towels or blow dry with a leaf blower.
Cleaning the Inside
Rain will usually keep debris washed out of the ceiling. If you notice a drop off of water exiting the downspouts during a rain, the front gutter may have a build-up. To check this, push the ceiling panel up that is directly over the downspout location and reach in to clear any debris. After the downspouts are cleared, place a hose in the center of the front gutter, between the ceiling and gutter, and allow water to flow and clear the rest of the gutter.
If you have any questions or require further instructions, please call your local dealer or email undercvr@bellsouth.net
