Maintaining a composite deck is essential to preserve its beauty and durability. If you're looking for effective but gentle methods to clean your outdoor space, baking soda and detergent can be valuable allies.
Understanding Composite for Better Maintenance
Composite decking, fencing, and cladding boards are generally manufactured from a mixture of recycled polymer materials and wood fibers. This combination gives the material unique characteristics, such as:
- Weather resistance
- UV resistance
- Mold resistance
- Low maintenance requirements compared to natural wood
The Benefits of Baking Soda and Detergent for Maintenance
- Non-toxicity: Environmentally friendly and safe for use around children, pets, and plants.
- Gentle cleaning: Gentle but effective cleaning solution that doesn't damage the surface of your composite deck.
- Affordability: Economical products that are easy to find in most households.
Maintenance Techniques with Baking Soda and Detergent
- Solution Preparation: Mix baking soda and detergent in a bucket of warm water.
- Application: Apply the solution with a soft-bristled brush or scrub broom.
- Scrubbing and Soaking: Scrub gently and let soak for stubborn stains.
- Rinsing: Rinse thoroughly with clear water.
- Drying: Let air dry or use a clean cloth.
Additional Tips for Optimal Maintenance
- Avoid sharp objects
- Clean spills quickly
- Use protectors under furniture
- Inspect the deck regularly
Specific Maintenance for Silvadec Products
To preserve the beauty of your Silvadec deck, annual maintenance is essential, preferably in spring. Silvadec composite boards from the Elegance or Emotion range are mainly composed of wood and may stain depending on the environment. These stains are superficial and most can be easily removed.
For specific needs, consult the maintenance sheet FE05 - Elegance and Emotion.
The composite boards from Silvadec's Atmosphere range are designed using an advanced coextrusion technique, offering greater resistance to dirt. Covered with a thin protective polymer layer, Atmosphere boards are easy to clean - usually a simple wipe with a sponge is sufficient.
For specific needs, consult the maintenance sheet FE06 - Atmosphere
Our Tip
Sprinkle baking soda-based powder detergent (like Le Chat Expert®) on the boards, moisten the cleaning tool with hot water, scrub well, let sit for a few moments, then rinse thoroughly with clear water.
In case of difficult stains, particularly grease stains, on Elegance and Emotion boards, we recommend Silvawash, a 100% mineral product very effective against food stains (barbecue, oil, ice cream, etc.)
What to Absolutely Avoid
- Do not use a pressure washer
- Do not use solvents
- Do not apply stain oil, paint, or protective/revitalizing/renovation products
