There comes a time in every homeowner’s life when they stare out at their deck, coffee in hand, and think, “When did this turn into a biohazard?” The once pristine Duradek, installed with dreams of low maintenance and summer barbecues, now resembles a crime scene from the documentary titled ‘Nature Takes Over.’ Fear not – cleaning Duradek is simple, if not exactly glamorous. But with the right attitude, you too can restore order to the chaos.

Duradek is designed to be low maintenance. And it is! Most of the year, a quick sweep or rinse will do the trick. But once in a while, especially after a long winter or a few seasons of enthusiastic barbecuing, it can benefit from a bit of extra love.

Step one: mentally prepare. You’ll need determination and some tunes or a good podcast, and maybe a cup of coffee for morale. Gather your tools: a soft-bristle brush, a bucket of warm water with dish soap, and a garden hose with the fury of Zeus behind it.

Clear the deck of any furniture, planters, or long-lost toys (you never know what you’ll find). Sweep off the loose debris - leaves, needles, that one flip-flop that’s seen better days.

Now for the fun part: scrubbing. This is the moment when you realize the entire deck is in fact 90% grime and only 10% Duradek. You’ll lather up an area with your sudsy concoction, scrub like you’re trying to win a fitness competition, and then rinse triumphantly – only to find you missed a spot. And another. And another. Each stain has a personality. Some are polite and wipe away with ease, though you might find a few stubborn spots with a sense of humour.

After a couple of hours, a few deep thoughts about life, and maybe a mild workout you didn’t sign up for, you’ll finally rinse off the last of the suds. The deck sparkles. The sun breaks through the clouds. Birds chirp. A neighbour walks by and says, “Oh hey, looks like you got a new deck!” You smile with pride.

Congratulations! You’ve cleaned your Duradek. You are now a champion among mortals, a master of mild detergents, a god of garden hoses.

For more detailed instructions on cleaning Duradek vinyl decking, send an email to avdeckshop@gmail.com and helpful information will promptly be sent your way.

But if you decide you’d rather skip the workout next time, give us a call at AV Deck Shop - we’ll gladly take care of the cleaning for you!