How to remove grease stains from Trex decking

Composite wood is considered one of the most popular decking materials today due to its attractiveness and durability. As an added feature, it requires less maintenance than other types of decking materials, but it still requires care. The innovative composite decking material is Trex that was initially introduced in the mid-1990s. As a practical alternative to wood, it is comprised of 95% recycled materials including reclaimed wood, discarded plastic bags, and sawdust. Just like with other decking materials, a Trex deck requires proper care. Read further to learn ways on how to remove grease stains from Trex decking.

A close look on composite decks

Composite decks are prone to a variety of outdoor elements such as mold, mildew, plant sap, grease, black spots, food spills, oil, hard water, pet stains, grass, rust stains, and ground-in dirt. Due to this, you must be familiar with how to properly clean your Trex deck. 

Steps on how to remove grease stains from Trex decking

When grease is spilled on your Trex decking, you must clean it right away to prevent staining. Remember that the longer you wait to clean it up, the harder it will take for you to remove it. Let us take a look at the steps on how to remove grease stains from Trex decking.

• Wear rubber gloves. Wipe away as much grease using paper towels. 
• Hose down the deck at high speed to remove any lingering grease. 
• Prepare a solution by mixing warm water and liquid dish detergent in a basin or large bowl. Utilize a tablespoon of detergent for every gallon of water. 
• Moisten a nylon-bristled brush in the solution. Scrub it over the area to lift the grease off the decking. 
• Moisten a sponge in the foamy water. Wipe this over the area. In case the grease does not seem to lift away, add liquid dish detergent on the stain and leave in place for 15-30 minutes before brushing again using the sponge. 
• Blot the leftover grease and soap residue with paper towels. Hose down the deck to eliminate the foamy water and loosened grease. In case traces of the grease lingers, repeat the washing with the foamy water until all leftover residue are gone.

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How do you get oil stains out of Trex decking?

Once you decide to get composite decking such as Trex, it is vital to know that there are various cleaning methods that you can use. When it comes to oil stains, they can be hard to remove regardless of the type of surface they are on, but you can remove them with these steps.

• Gather the supplies that you need such as a brush, warm water in a basin or bucket, baking soda and vinegar.
• Sprinkle baking soda on the oil stain and leave it in place for several minutes. Baking soda is absorbent and works by soaking up any leftover oil that is sitting on your composite deck.
• Apply vinegar directly on the baking soda and scrub the site thoroughly. Steadily work in the water to allow the mixture to break down the oil. Scrub thoroughly. Vinegar will react with the baking soda to produce a foam that can effectively break down and lift away the oil.
• Dump a bucket of warm water to rinse the mixture away.
• Allow the Trex deck to dry. 

Can you use bleach on Trex decking?

When cleaning your Trex deck, avoid using a chlorine-based deck cleaner since it is tremendously corrosive and will ultimately discolor and end up damaged. 

Furthermore, it is hazardous to use if you have plants around and in areas where children and pets spend most of the time in. When a cleaning product includes sodium hypochlorite, it includes bleach.

Can you use Simple Green on Trex deck?

When cleaning your Trex deck, Simple Green products are recommended for both manual and pressure washing to effectively get rid of dirt and debris. 

Pressure washer application

If you are going to use a pressure washer to clean your Trex deck, avoid using the maximum setting since excess force can damage the surface. 

• Clear the surface and sweep thoroughly. Hose down the surface.
• Pour Simple Green into the onboard soap reservoir or place the siphon tube of the pressure washer into the container of Simple Green. 
• Using the lowest pressure setting, apply the cleaning product to an area that is small enough to be rinsed before it dries up.
• Leave the cleaner on the surface for 3-5 minutes but do not allow it to dry. Re-wet the area if needed. 
• Rinse at high pressure, maintaining the nozzle at least 2 feet from the surface and spray perpendicular to the surface.
• Allow the deck to dry. 

Manual application

• Clear the surface of your deck and thoroughly sweep. Hose down the surface. 
• Prepare a solution by mixing 1 measure of Simple Green with 20 measures of water in a bucket. 
• Clean in sections using a soft-bristled brush. Do not allow the cleaner to dry on the surface before rinsing. You must re-wet the area as needed.
• Rinse the area using a hose at high pressure.
• Move to a new section and repeat until the whole deck is thoroughly cleaned.
• Allow the deck to dry.

Final thoughts

If you have Trex decking at home, it requires proper care and maintenance especially when it comes to stains. With the methods discussed on how to remove grease stains from Trex decking, it will ensure that your deck is clean and free from stains.