Imagine a place on your property where you can sit back and relax after a long day of work while enjoying the sounds and beauty of nature. It’s an outdoor living area where friends and family can gather for special occasions or just to be together. Best of all, there’s little you must do to maintain this area to keep it looking beautiful for years to come.
With a vinyl deck installed by Elite Outdoor Expressions, your very own personal oasis from the world can exist. Not only does it provide a beautiful setting for all your favorite moments, but it’s sturdy and well-built. It can withstand the abuse from foot traffic, contact with patio furniture, and even those inevitable food or drink spills. Plus, learning how to clean vinyl decking is simple, and we’ll explain just how easy it is.
We’ve been helping people just like you create outdoor spaces that are practical and virtually maintenance-free for over a quarter of a century. Our team understands that your home is your palace, and you want to enjoy it as much as possible.
So, when you’re ready to start building your new deck or patio with high-quality vinyl flooring, get in touch with our experts! With our various types of vinyl decking, railings, furniture, and more, you’ll surely get the exact look you want for your home.
1. How Do You Maintain a Vinyl Deck?
If you’re thinking about adding vinyl decking to your home’s exterior, one thing you likely want to know is how much work you’re going to have to do to keep it looking spectacular year after year. The good news is that vinyl is a low-maintenance decking product that only needs a good yearly cleaning and inspection. We previously covered how to prepare your vinyl deck for the colder months, but let’s recap a few main points:
- After the leaves have fallen in the autumn, use a garden hose or pressure washer to rinse off leaves and organic matter. While vinyl is stain-resistant, if you leave dirt and debris on your vinyl deck through winter, it may deteriorate and leave a stain.
- In the winter, be sure to clear snow from your deck using a plastic shovel. Metal can damage your deck.
- When temperatures get above freezing in the spring, clean your deck and perform your annual inspection. Check the caulking around posts, pillars, corners, vents, and drains to ensure they’re intact and all your deck boards are still in good condition.
- Clean up food, drink, and any other spills promptly.
Wondering how to clean vinyl decking properly? Keep reading to find out!
2. Can You Pressure Wash a Vinyl Deck?
Yes, vinyl decking is a durable material that can withstand power washing. Just be careful at seams, railing attachments, and your house trim, as those areas are a bit more delicate and may not be able to handle the force.
Pressure washing can help loosen dirt and stains from organic matter, and your waterproof vinyl deck will not rot like wood decking or warp like composite deck membranes. Be sure to maintain the pressure at no more than 1,500 PSI, keep it at least 24 inches from the deck surface, and don’t use a pencil tip. Be sure to use a fan spray pattern and don’t let the pressure washer steam get too close to the vinyl decking because it could damage the finish.
3. Can You Teach Me How to Clean Vinyl Decking?
As experts in vinyl deck projects, we care about the quality of your decking and want to be sure you can use it for years to come. One way we do that is by teaching you how to clean vinyl decking so that you are certain your family has decades of enjoyment. Be sure not to use metal tools and keep your pressure washer at the recommended settings (no more than 1,500 PSI, at least 24 inches above the deck surface, and no pencil tips).
Just follow these four simple steps to clean your deck the right way:
- Get a bucket of warm water mixed with dish detergent and a stiff broom.
- Use soapy water to scrub in a circular motion to loosen dirt and debris.
- Spray with a power washer to get any ground-in dirt or stains.
- Use a hose to flush the deck with clean water.
4. Can I Use Household Cleaners on a Vinyl Deck?
Yes, the vinyl membrane can withstand some household cleaners for cleaning more stubborn stains. For example, you can use a Fantastik spray cleaner to clean up oil, coffee, permanent marker, and crayon. There are also specialized vinyl deck cleaners that you can purchase for cleaning your deck, but we recommend good old soap and water.
Be sure that you test it on an unseen portion of the deck no matter what cleaner you choose to ensure it doesn’t discolor it. In addition, don’t use powdered abrasives, steel wool, bleach, industrial cleaners, or any other abrasive, harsh chemicals when cleaning your vinyl.
5. How Long Do Vinyl Decks Last?
No matter what type of vinyl decking you have, you can expect it to last 20 to 30 years if you follow the maintenance procedures outlined here. Vinyl has the longest lifespan of all the decking materials available, including wood and composite. It’s a waterproof deck material that won’t rot like wood and only requires maintenance a few times a year to keep it looking sharp.
For All Your Vinyl Decking Needs, Choose Elite Outdoor Expressions!
Whether you want to add a screened-in porch to enjoy your vinyl deck all year round or just need a durable place to put some new comfortable chairs, Elite Outdoor Expressions can help you get the outdoor vinyl deck you deserve. You work hard and need a space where you can relax that doesn’t add many tasks to your to-do list.
Instead, vinyl decks provide a beautiful addition to your home that requires truly little yearly maintenance to stay looking brand new for longer. And since we’ve explained how to clean vinyl decking, you can confidently move forward that your deck will be the least of your worries and the place you want to be most. Get in touch with our expert team to get started!
