Green Shoots Blog
If all other cleaning techniques fail to clean or remove stains from your composite deck, you may try sanding or having a professional powerwash the deck.
General Cleaning and Preventative Tips
- Sweep your deck on a regular basis to prevent the buildup of dirt.
- To reduce the chances of tannins forming on your deck, don’t allow damp leaves to remain on your deck; these may discolor the boards. Generally, a broom or a blower will work better than a hose for removing scattered foliage.
- Allow for proper water drainage; standing water can cause discoloration.
- Dislodge accumulated dirt and debris between planks with a broom.
- If food or drink is spilled, clean the deck immediately with Defy Composite Deck Cleaner.
- Install a splash guard mat under your grill to help protect your deck from grease stains.
- Mix pool solutions away from the deck. Be careful not to spill undiluted chlorine or pool salt directly on the boards.
- While normal day to day activities will not scratch your BamDeck® 3G decking, like timber or any other surface, excessive activities will damage the surface. For example, skateboarding or dragging heavy furniture may cause the exterior to scratch, abrade or chip.
Removing Dirt, Grime and Water Stains
To clean your deck, use Defy Composite Deck Cleaner. Defy Composite Deck Cleaner is a safe, biodegradable and environmentally friendly cleaner that’s effective in removing dirt, grime, mildew, and water stains.
How to use Defy Composite Deck Cleaner:
- For each 100 square feet of deck, mix ¾ cup of Defy Composite Deck Cleaner with one gallon of luke-warm water (a 2.25 lb. container of Defy Composite Deck Cleaner makes five gallons of solution and will clean approximately 500-1,000 total square feet).
- Apply with a mop, deck brush, or a pump-up garden sprayer.
- If using a garden sprayer, pour solution through a mesh cheese-cloth to filter out any undissolved granules to prevent the sprayer nozzle from clogging.
- Once solution is applied to deck, allow it to set for 15-20 minutes, then scrub with a stiff-bristle brush and rinse completely.
- A pressure washer can be used instead of a scrub brush if desired. Use extreme caution when using a pressure washer and follow the tips below.
Removing Oil and Grease Stains
Precautions should be taken to avoid spilling oily and greasy products on your deck. Install a splash guard mat under your grill to help protect your deck from grease stains.
If greasy or oily products do interact with your deck, speedy clean-up with Defy deck cleaner is best! However, for tough grease stains, we recommend using Pumice-Powdered Lava Bar Soap. Fill a bucket with lukewarm water, wet the Lava Bar Soap and scrub the bar directly on the deck. Dip a non-metal scrub brush (such as a car wash type brush) into the bucket of water and continue to scrub the affective areas until the grease spot begins to dissipate. Wash thoroughly with lukewarm water until there is no soap residue left.
Sanding
We do not recommend sanding unless absolutely necessary as it may change the appearance of the surface of the material. However, in the instance that a stain cannot be removed, you may try lightly sanding the affected area using sandpaper with a fine grit/grade.
Pressure Washing
If used incorrectly, pressure-washing can cause damage and wear to your composite deck. Skilled professionals may use a pressure washer with wide fan tips, at low pressures under 1,500 psi and at safe distances, 12” above deck. In the wrong hands, your composite deck can be damaged. Exercise extreme caution.
Sealing your Deck
Fortunately, sealing your BamDeck® 3G composite decking is not necessary! By keeping a regular maintenance schedule and following the recommend tips described above you can protect your deck from permanent staining and damage.
We don’t recommend sealing BamDeck® 3G as many sealants can alter the natural color of your deck. However, if you do wish to seal the deck we suggest contacting the manufacturer of your desired sealant and testing in an inconspicuous spot before applying to the entire deck. Waterborne, penetrating sealants are not recommended.
Ice and Snow
To remove ice and snow, a plastic shovel may be used. To avoid unnecessary damage to your deck, never use a metal shovel or sharp-edged tools to remove snow and ice. Do not use calcium chloride or rock salt to break down ice and snow.
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Hi. There was rust on our bbq and it dripped down on the new composite decking and stained it. I looked at the Defy product but it doesn’t mention rust specifically so curious about your cleaning ideas. Thank you very much.
Hi Robin,
Here are a few things you can try:
1. Use warm soapy water mixed with mild dishwashing detergent and a soft non-metal scrub brush or a sponge/rag. Thoroughly rinse off with a garden hose when complete.
2. If that doesn’t do it, we recommend trying lava soap. With this, use about a quarter size of the soap and dissolve it into hot water. Use a Nylon Bristle brush to stroke the plank and put the solution on. You can also use a microfiber cloth to clean the decking as well with the solution. Just make sure there is no dirt on the plank before you scrub. You can then try the Defy Cleaner afterward, to remove any buildup.
3. Lastly, we recommend trying a vinegar solution. This shouldn’t be done more than once a year and it is only recommended for the toughest stains. Spray the area with water mixed with 5-10% vinegar and let it sit for about 5 minutes. Thoroughly rinse off with a garden hose when complete, and let it dry naturally. Once the board is completely dry, brush the area with a stiff plastic brush in a vertical direction (against the wood grain).
Let us know how it goes!
We want to protect our deck when we use the grill and empty our wood stove ashes. Can we use a fire resistant mat on our Calibamboo deck? What materials should we look for or avoid for the mat? Thanks!
Hi Kay,
We haven’t had any issues with any certain types of rugs, so go ahead and choose one that will suit your needs. It is probably a good idea to peek under the rug every month or so just to make sure nothing funky is going on under there.
Best,
My balcony is not covered. How does this tiles hold up when it rains? Also can the tiles be waterproofed?
Hi Kay, the deck tiles are waterproof and will hold up just fine to sun and rain.
We have the Copper Infinity Grooved Edge Boards on our deck. We live in George where the pollen in very bad. What do you suggest is the best way to remove the pollen? Should we use a cleaner, such as Simply Green?
Hi Steve,
Simple Green is probably fine, we recommend a very small amount of dish soap diluted in warm water, here’s how.
We love our new Bamdeck decking! We used the Defy Composite Cleaner, and it works great. I’m wondering if Simple Green cleaner is safe to use on my Bamdeck surface? I have used it in the past to wash all of my patio furniture (with a weatherproof extruded polyethylene resinweave fabric) and other areas outside. I’m wondering if it will be okay to continue washing them using Simple Green, and then use it at the same time to wash off the deck and hose it down. If not, what would you recommend as an alternative for cleaning my patio furniture that would be safe for the Bamdeck? Thanks!
Hi Rick,
I like Simple Green cleaner too. I think it is mild enough not to do any damage to the BamDeck but before you go crazy spraying the patio furniture, I recommend spraying it on the deck in an inconspicuous area to see if it has any adverse effects. Let it sit for a few days and then hose it off. We just haven’t tried simple green on it and we haven’t heard of anyone using it. Let us know how it goes!
Best,
I have two big golden retriever, how will it hold up to scratching from their nails?
Hi Steve,
I would go with something wrapped like our BamDeck Pro360™, GreenClaimed® or TruOrganics™ lines.
One of your gallery pictures looks like the decking has a high gloss finish on it. Is it possible to apply such finishes on Bamdeck?
We don’t recommend putting any finishes on any of our decking. Here they are in order of least to most glossy:
Original BamDeck Composite
TruOrganics Composite
We live on a hill, so our bamdeck, which we love is starting to see some green algae grow on it. What can I use or apply to get this off? I know bleach would work but probably do not know the strength at which I should apply it etc….
Thanks for any help you can provide and we love our bamdeck!
Hi Bruce,
Glad to hear you’re enjoying your new deck. Our customer service department is raving about DEFY Composite Decking Cleaner.
If you need any additional help email our Customer Service Department and they’d be happy to provide any additional support.
Can you provide me with technical information on the ingredients and performance of the decking material?
Sure thing Jeff. Here the BamDeck MSDS sheet and our ASTM test results. If you need anything else, let us know!