Homemade Composite Deck Cleaner (Eco-Friendly)
Learn how to easily clean your composite deck with our homemade cleaner. I am always skeptical of homemade cleaners, but this sure did the trick on our deck.

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Our Deck
Our gray composite deck tends to show a lot of dirt and mildew. I was hesitant to do this DIY cleaning project, but I am so happy that I did it. It was super easy and the results will show for themselves without using harmful chemicals.
Ways To Clean Composite Decking
- Use a pressure washer
- Specific deck and house cleaners
- Bought Eco-friendly cleaners
- Soapy water with a brush
- Create your own DIY deck cleaner using ingredients you probably already have
We have seen DIY deck cleaner recipes that add Oxi Clean to the above mixture to help clean wood decks. But is this the best deck cleaner? Why buy a harmful deck cleaner when a more natural solution can be one of the best composite deck cleaners?

Why We Chose To Use Homemade Cleaner
When power washing, the stream can damage the deck surface if it is too strong. Other cleaners are not always as eco-friendly. Making your own composite cleaner is cheaper than buying it, and we were shocked at how easily it took care of stubborn stains. We think it is your best option, and it involves very basic steps.
Picking A Deck Cleaning Brush

One of the most important parts of cleaning your composite decking is having the right brush. Look for a brush with soft enough bristles. The one we ended up finding that works the best is meant for cleaning cars and has a hose attachment.
I did not want to scrape my deck and thought of trying a soft brush first. The deck brush we used was the Libman 6.5 ft. Flow-Thru Wash Brush.
Similar deck brushes
Before You Begin
Any time you use something new to clean, we recommend that you test it in a small area to ensure that the colors don’t change or that the Trex deck doesn’t get damaged.

IMPORTANT! Don’t put this mixture in your power washer when pressure washing. It will ruin your machine and is not a good idea.
Recommended Supplies
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- Deck cleaning brush
- Hose with sprayer
- A bucket filled with 1 Gallon of water

According to Live Science, the vinegar acid “ breaks down the baking soda, releasing carbon dioxide that can help lift dirt from the surface” and is effective because it is on opposite ends of the PH scale. Just make sure that you don’t use these in a 1:1 ratio. You need to make your mixture either more acidic or basic based on your cleaning needs.
Using The Cleaner
Step 1: The first step is to sweep or brush off loose dirt, leaves, etc.

Step 2: Make the DIY composite deck cleaner by adding 1 cup of white vinegar to a gallon of warm water. Dump in 1/4 cup of baking soda. Make sure you are using a large enough bucket because your vinegar and baking soda will fizz.

Step 3: Spray the surface of the deck with a garden hose first.

Step 4: Dip the soft bristle brush in homemade deck cleaner and sweep it on. We were shocked at how it naturally broke down the mildew.

Step 5: Work in small sections and spray off each area as you finish.

Step 6: Enjoy your beautiful and clean deck.

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Tips
- Do not try to clean the entire deck at once. Work in small sections spraying composite material as you go.
- Do not let any mixture sit for too long on a sunny day (whether wood decking or composite).
- Rinse your deck’s surface completely with clean water for a thorough cleaning
- Tough stains may require a little more elbow grease and a small deck brush
More DIY Cleaning Ideas
- FOR SIDING: Use Similar Supplies To Clean Your Vinyl Siding
- STICKER REMOVAL: Find The Best DIY Method To Remove Sticker Residue
- EASY: How To Remove Spray Paint From Glass
Now you can say goodbye to mildew on your deck with this easy eco-friendly deck cleaning solution!
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Homemade Composite Deck Cleaner (Eco-Friendly)

Equipment
- Bucket
Supplies
- 1 cup White Vinegar
- 1/4 Cup Baking Soda
- 1 Gal Warm Water
Instructions
- The first step is to sweep or brush off loose dirt, leaves, etc.
- Make DIY composite deck cleaner by adding 1 cup of white vinegar to a gallon of warm water. Dump in 1/4 cup of baking soda. Make sure you are using a large enough bucket because your vinegar and baking soda will fizz.
- Spray the surface of the deck with a garden hose first.
- Dip soft bristle brush in homemade deck cleaner and sweep on. We were shocked how it naturally broke down the mildew.
- Work in small sections and spray off each area as you finish.
- Enjoy your beautiful and clean deck.
Video
Notes
- Work in small sections.
- Make sure to fully rinse your decking before and after.
- Always test cleaning solutions in a small area first to make sure it is safe for your specific deck.