Elements Care and Cleaning

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• Reducing Dirt & Grime

  Semi-annual cleaning of your dock is recommended to reduce dirt, dust, grime and other residue build-up. When cleaning, rinse your dock with a garden hose using a fan-tip nozzle at a pressure not exceeding 1,000 psi.
  
  Regular cleaning may not eliminate all dirt, dust, grime and other residue build-up on your dock. For a more thorough cleaning of your Elements dock, use a deck wash containing sodium hypochlorite such as those listed below:
  
  

  • BEHR^® Multi-Surface Cleaner & Mildew Stain Remover
  • ARMOR ALL^® E-Z Deck Wash
  • OLYMPIC^® Deck Cleaner

• Removing Rust Stains

  Metal outdoor furniture can leave rust marks on your dock. Therefore, we recommend that you apply appropriate plastic or vinyl tips to metal furniture to prevent staining.
  
  If rust stains do appear on your EverGrain dock, they can often be removed using dock cleaners containing oxalic acid or phosphoric acid such as those listed below:
  
  

  • BEHR^® No.63 Wood Cleaner Brightener Conditioner
  • Flood^® Dekswood^® Deck Cleaner Brightener

• Cleaning Oil and Grease Stains

  To keep your dock in the best possible shape, we also recommend the use of grill mats to reduce the risk of grease stains associated with grills.
  
  Should grease or oil stain the dock's surface, it is important to clean the stain immediately using a commercial degreasing agent such as those listed below:
  
  

  • Gojo^® Natural Orange Pumice Hand Cleaner
  • Castrol^® Super Clean

• Removing Suntan Lotion

  Since suntan lotions and oils can potentially stain your dock, please take precautions to avoid these types of spills.
  
  These stains can often be removed using commercial degreasing agents such as those listed below. Be sure to remove as much of the lotion spill as possible with water before using cleaning agents.
  
  

  • Gojo^® Natural Orange Pumice Hand Cleaner
  • Dawn^® Dishwashing Liquid

• Removing Mold and Mildew

  Periodically rinse your dock with a garden hose, at least semi-annually, using a fan-tip nozzle at a pressure not exceeding 1,000 psi, to help reduce the occurrence of mold and mildew.
  
  Mold and mildew stains are a natural result of moisture. These stains can often be removed using cleaners containing sodium hypochlorite such as those listed below:
  
  

  • BEHR^® Multi-Surface Cleaner & Mildew Stain Remover
  • ARMOR ALL^® E-Z Deck Wash
  • OLYMPIC^® Deck Cleaner

• Additional Tips

  • Dragging furniture and other objects across the dock boards may cause surface scratches.
  • Remove food, spills and other debris and clean immediately to minimize the possibility of staining.
  • Always test any cleaner on a small portion of your dock before cleaning the entire dock.
  • Always follow manufacturers' application instructions when using any cleaner.
  • Please note that any cleaner can lighten the color of your dock.
  • Place mats under metal objects to protect against rust stains.
  • Place grill mats under your grill to protect your dock from grease spills.
  • Never mix two or more cleaning agents when cleaning your dock.
  • Do not use a metal shovel to remove snow or ice from your dock, as you may cause damage to the dock surface.
  • Always follow proper gapping (installation) instructions to prevent water from accumulating on your dock.
  • Keep the area under your dock clean and well ventilated. 
  • Never apply harsh solvents such as acetone, gasoline, benzene, carbon tetrachloride or paint thinner to your dock. 
  • Sanding the surface to remove stains is not recommended. 

  Please contact our technical service department with any additional questions, comments or concerns.