Care & Cleaning Guide
Maintain the Beauty
All exterior building materials require cleaning. We recommend a basic cleaning with a composite deck cleaner or combination of soap, hot water and a soft bristle brush. Ideal times to clean are just after installation and then on a semi-annual basis (typically spring or fall is most conducive with the weather). This will help to maintain the beauty of your Trex outdoor living space.
» Download Care & Cleaning Guide for Trex Transcend/Enhance
» Download Care & Cleaning Guide for Trex Reveal Railing
» Download Care & Cleaning Guide for other Trex products
» Download Mold Technical Bulletin
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Dirt and Debris | The affected area should be sprayed off with a hose to remove surface debris. Use warm, soapy water and a soft bristle brush to remove dirt and debris from the embossing pattern. |
| Chalk Lines | High permanence chalk lines may discolor the surface. Use only Irwin Strait-Line®* Dust-Off Marking Chalk (purple) available at www.Irwin.com. |
| Tannins Due to Debris | Remove all debris from deck using a hose or broom. Once the deck surface is dry, apply a "deck brightener" ** to the deck as directed by the manufacturer. Deck brighteners contain oxalic acid, which will remove tannins. |
| Ice and Snow | A plastic shovel may be used to remove snow from the deck. Use calcium chloride or rock salt to melt the snow and ice from the deck surface. |
| Oil/Grease/Food | All food spills should be removed as soon as possible. The surface must be cleaned within seven days to maintain the stain warranty. To remove, spray off with a hose and use warm, soapy water and a soft bristle brush to remove spills from embossing pattern. |
| Mold and Mildew | If debris, such as pollen and dirt, is allowed to remain on the deck surface, mold can feed on the biofilm. Using a hose and warm, soapy water with a soft bristle brush is recommended to remove the food source and mold. |
| Using a Pressure Washer | A 1500psi power washer may be used on Transcend shell surface to remove dirt and debris. Use a fan tip at least 4" (10.2 cm) away from the shell when using a power washer. |
| Maintaining Transcend Railing | NEVER use acetone or other solvents on Trex Transcend railing to maintain the beauty of the surface. For color transfer issues (from attachment of baluster spacer), use Mr. Clean®, Magic Eraser® Original*** or Magic Eraser® Extra Power to help remove this. For small surface scratches, marks or scuffs, use Dupli-Color Scratch Seal™ Clear Sealer Pen.**** |
| Concrete, Stucco Dust or Ground-In Construction Dirt | Scrub with a long-handled medium soft brush with soap and water. Then pressure wash using guidelines above. If pressure washer has soap attachment, use this. THOROUGHLY RINSE. If not rinsed properly, the water when allowed to dry will have residue and will need to be cleaned a second time. |
* Strait-Line is a registered trademark of Irwin Industrial Tool Company.
** Use of products containing bleach or acid will lighten the surface of Trex. Use in an inconspicuous area to determine whether you like the effect. Neither product will affect the structural integrity of Trex.
*** Magic Eraser is a registered trademark of The Procter and Gamble Company.
****Scratch Seal™ Clear Sealer Pen is a registered trademark of Dupli-Color Products Company.
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Dirt and Debris | Regular cleaning may minimize the effects of weathering and remove dirt, grime and other build-up. The best method of maintaining the appearance of your Reveal railing is to occasionally wash using a solution of warm water and a non-abrasive, ph neutral detergent solution. The railing surface should be thoroughly rinsed after cleaning to remove all residues. Use a soft white cloth, sponge or a soft bristle brush. |
| Maintaining Reveal Railing | The occasional wash is recommended for your Reveal railing. Over time, your railing may show signs of weathering as a result of exposure to the elements. Frequency of cleaning will depend on the environment and exposure to various types of elements. For installations where the atmosphere is influenced by bodies of salt water or other contaminant conditions, cleaning is required every 6 to 9 months. DO NOT clean Trex Reveal railing with solvents such as thinners or solutions containing chlorinated hydrocarbons, esters or ketenes. The following cleaners are recommended for cleaning Trex Reveal railing: Formula 409® Cleaner Degreaser/Disinfectant Spray Nine® Cleaner/Disinfectant Simple Green ® All-Purpose Cleaner Windex® Cleaner |
Formula 409® Cleaner Degreaser/Disinfectant is a trademark of Clorox Company
Spray Nine® All-Purpose Cleaner/Disinfectant is a trademark of Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Simple Green ® All-Purpose Cleaner is a trademark of Sunshine Makers Inc.
Windex® is a trademark of SC Johnson & Son Inc.
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Dirt and Debris | Clean deck to remove dirt and debris. Soap and water is all that is needed. |
| Chalk Lines | Most colored chalk lines are permanent. For Trex use either baby powder or Irwin Strait-Line®* Dust-Off Marking Chalk available at www.Irwin.com. |
| Visible Printing | The printing on the side of Trex decking boards is required by building codes. With careful installation, most printing can be hidden. Visible printings can be lightened with acetone. |
| Water Spots, Leaf Staining and Wood Tannins | Tannin leaching occurs naturally in Trex and all wood-based products. Allow for at least 12 weeks of normal weathering. This process may be hastened through the use of a product containing oxalic or phosphoric acid, commonly known as Deck Brightener. ** |
| Ice and Snow | Calcium chloride or rock salt, available in many home centers, will melt ice on Trex decking. Rinse off when first practical. Use caution when removing snow or ice with a snow shovel, and NEVER use a metal snow shovel on a Trex deck. A shovel may scratch the deck, which is not covered under warranty. |
| Scuffs and Abrasions | Scuffs and abrasions can fade or disappear naturally after 12-16 weeks of weathering. This can be accelerated with a product containing oxalic or phosphoric acid, also known as Deck Brightener. |
| Rust Stains, Ground-In Dirt and Grime and Pigment Staining | Use a cleaning product containing oxalic or phosphoric acid base, also known as Deck Brightener, to lighten or remove the rust or dirt. Product may need to sit on stain 10-15 minutes before rinsing. ** |
| Oil/Grease/Food | Rinse the stain with hot water as soon as possible. Use Pour-N-Restore® ***(www.pour-n-restore.com) as directed for any remaining stain. (Test in a small area first as Pour-N-Restore may remove some of the colorant from the decking surface). |
| Mold and Mildew | Semi-annual (spring and fall) cleaning of your deck is important to prevent the build-up of pollen and other debris that can support the growth of mold. Use conventional deck washes or cleaners that contain sodium hypochlorite (bleach) and detergent (refer to the Mold Technical Bulletin for specific recommendations). ** NOTE: Trex Escapes® can be effectively cleaned by using a hose and warm, soapy water with a soft bristle brush. |
| Using a Pressure Washer | Trex does not recommend the use of a pressure washer. The use of a pressure washer on deck surface could damage the decking surface and will void the warranty with respect to any condition caused by the pressure washing. |
| Sanding | Trex does not recommend sanding. Sanding will change the appearance of the surface of Trex material and will void the warranty with respect to any condition caused by such sanding. |
| Disposal | Trex decking and railing products should be disposed with normal construction debris or household waste. DO NOT burn Trex products. |
* Strait-Line is a registered trademark of Irwin Industrial Tool Company.
** Use of products containing bleach or acid will lighten the surface of Trex. Use in an inconspicuous area to determine whether you like the effect. Neither product will affect the structural integrity of Trex.
*** Pour-N-Restore is a registered trademark of Edgewater Industries.
Note: Trex does not recommend the placement of rubber of vinyl materials such as those found in grill mats, rubber-backed welcome mats, vinyl or PVC potted containers, etc., on the surface of Trex Escapes® for extended periods of time. Over time, additives in the rubber and PVC products have a tendency to migrate from these materials to Trex Escapes, resulting in discoloration of the surface.
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