What is the best thing to clean composite decking with?
For most composite decking, warm water and a mild dish soap like Dawn, applied with a soft bristle brush, is the manufacturer-recommended standard and handles the vast majority of routine dirt, pollen, and light mildew. For tougher, more stubborn staining, a cleaner specifically labeled for composite decking outperforms general household soap, since it’s formulated to lift grime without damaging the surface’s protective coating. Avoid bleach, ammonia-based cleaners, and abrasive scrubbers like steel wool or wire brushes entirely, since these can strip color, dull the finish, or scratch the composite material. If a pressure washer is used at all, keep it under the manufacturer’s specified PSI limit, generally 1,500–3,100 depending on the product line, with a wide fan nozzle held well away from the surface.