Your new PVC deck should be periodically cleaned. Dirt and oils from shoes, airborne dust, plant pollens, shingle particles, grill grease, tree sap, leaves, and other debris can all attribute to the uncleanliness of your deck. The number of times the deck needs to be cleaned will depend upon the exposure to this dirt and debris. PVC materials are not a source for mold and mildew to grow. However, if contaminants are left on the deck, under certain conditions (low light and moist areas), mold and mildew can use them as a food source to grow. This can simply be washed off the deck with a hose and scrub brush. If contaminants are left on the deck for long periods of time (several years), oxidation can begin to occur and cause the PVC surface to whiten and chalk. Your deck is considered “Low Maintenance”, meaning it does not need to be painted or stained, but it still needs to be cleaned periodically.

Clean your deck using dish soap or car soap, a hose, and a soft bristle brush. For stubborn stains like clay soils or grease, use Simple Green diluted by at least 50% (Do Not Use Full Strength). Scrub areas with a stiff natural fiber brush or towel. Always clean smaller, manageable areas and rinse often. Do not allow cleaner or soap residue to dry back to surface prior to thoroughly rinsing.

*Note: Composite deck cleaners such as Corte Clean, Thompson’s Water Seal-Oxy Action, Olympic Deck Cleaner, or other cleaners specified as composite deck cleaners, in powder or liquid form, should NOT be used with your PVC Capped Composite or Cellular PVC deck. These are made for wood/plastic composites that have not been capped with PVC.