How to Get Stains Out of a Well-Used Vinyl Deck

If your deck is protected with Duradek, you are probably already aware of how easy Duradek vinyl is to clean. On our previous post – How to Clean and Care for Your Vinyl Deck, we discussed the care and cleaning of your Duradek vinyl deck and how inspecting your deck is a step that you should take to ensure all of your waterproofing details are intact. If during your seasonal cleaning or annual inspection you came across any stains on your vinyl from a full summer of use, we’ve got some tips for you on how to remove them.

Vinyl Deck Stains from a Busy Summer of Fun

If you are a lucky homeowner who was able to enjoy a summer season full of barbecues and sunbathing, you might come across the occasional ‘oops’ of a spilled condiment that was not addressed right away. Don’t be disheartened if wiping it off leaves you with a stain…there are a few tricks we can suggest to help you remove these blemishes from your deck surface.

Caution – use of anything other than Duradek Vinyl Deck Cleaner is done at your own risk. The options below for tough stains come with some risk on the appearance of the vinyl and should be used to spot clean difficult stains only.

All cleaning methods should include a thorough rinse with clean water to rinse all cleaning residue off the deck.

Ketchup Stain on a Vinyl Deck – For a ketchup stain, first try using some diluted Duradek vinyl cleaner and scrub the stain with a soft brush and water; then rinse well and dry. If that does not get the stain out, try using FANTASTIK spray cleaner or Cascade Powdered Dishwasher Detergent. Let it sit on the stain for just a few minutes, give it a scrub with a soft brush and then thoroughly rinse and dry.

Mustard Stain on a Vinyl Deck– For a mustard stain, follow the same steps as above for ketchup stains. If the stain is very stubborn and is still there after that, try using one (1) tablespoon ammonia to one (1) quart of water, scrub with a soft brush, then thoroughly rinse and dry.

Suntan Lotion Stain on a Vinyl Deck – For this type of stain, follow the same first two steps with Duradek vinyl cleaner and/or Fantastic Spray Cleaner or Cascade Powdered Dishwasher Detergent. If those methods do not work for you, contact the product manufacturer for their recommendations. Surprisingly, suntan lotion is a product that may contain dyes that can sometimes permanently stain.

Grease Stain on a Vinyl Deck– If your barbecue was on overdrive this summer and the grease made its way to settle on your deck, the first step is to wipe or gently scrape off any excess grease that has settled on the surface. Next, use FANTASTIK spray cleaner or Cascade Powdered Dishwasher Detergent. Let it sit on the stain for just a few minutes, give it a scrub with a soft brush and then thoroughly rinse and dry. If staining remains and you know the type of grease it is, follow instructions recommended by the product manufacturer.

Rust Stain on a Vinyl Deck – Rust is one of the more challenging stains to remove. We have had the most success using our Duradek vinyl cleaner. Once the rust has been loosened, simply wipe and rinse thoroughly. The use of gloves is recommended when using any chemical treatment. After rinsing, we recommend you clean the surface with diluted Duradek Cleaner using a soft brush, and again provide a thorough rinse.

Vinyl Deck Stains from a Busy Summer of Projects

Maybe you spent your summer working on some maintenance or creative projects around the house, and what better place to do so than on your beautiful deck? Few people can pull off a home project without some type of spill but don’t worry. We’ve got some suggestions for you if you had some project mishaps this summer that left a stain on your deck.

Latex Paint on a Vinyl Deck – If you find any latex paint has stained your Duradek, it is not necessarily there permanently. The methods of scrubbing with diluted Duradek vinyl cleaner and/or Fantastic Spray Cleaner or Cascade Powdered Dishwasher Detergent may work for you. If not, this is an instance to contact the product manufacturer for their recommendations.

Oil Based Paint on a Vinyl Deck – If any oil based paint has gotten on the surface of your Duradek vinyl, first you should try to remove as much as you can by wiping it off (or lightly scraping it off if already dry). Then you can follow the same directions as for the removal of latex paint stains.

Permanent Marker on a Vinyl Deck – the key word here is permanent, and many ink stains from permanent markers may permanently stain or discolor the vinyl surface. In this instance, Duradek vinyl cleaner will not remove the stain; however you may have some success with Fantastic Spray Cleaner or Cascade Powdered Dishwasher Detergent. If that is not successful, contact the manufacturer of the marker for their suggestions.

Be Prepared to Protect Your Vinyl Deck from Stains

Your vinyl deck surface is quite durable but care must still be paid when attempting to remove stains. Sharp or scraping type of objects should be avoided as this method of removing stains will damage the finish of your vinyl surface and if you are not careful, you may puncture the membrane and compromise the reliability of its waterproofing function. When at all possible, deal with spills right away. If a stain has made its way onto your deck, refer to Duradek’s Cleaning Recommendations. You can find it on the back of your Duradek Warranty card, or you can access cleaning recommendations on the Duradek website.

A lot of Duradek homeowners report being happy with their deck for upwards of 20 years. If you would like to find out about installing Duradek at your home, or it’s time to replace your Duradek vinyl deck with one of our new colors or patterns, contact your local Duradek dealer.