|
|
|
| Care and Maintenance |
| The AURORA Decking System is designed to maintain its initial color and finish for decades. Unlike wood decking, you'll never need to sand, paint, or stain AURORA Decking System. However, typical use and exposure to natural outdoor elements may result in an accumulation of dirt, dust, or other materials on any deck. While normal rain will wash away many deposits from an AURORA Decking System, owners may need to take some additional simple steps to help their system look as beautiful as the day it was installed. Here are our suggestions: |
| Basic precautions: |
- Wear latex gloves when working with chemicals or solutions that can damage skin.
- Wear protective eyewear when dealing with chemicals or solutions that can burn or damage the eyes.
- Follow product instructions if you come into contact with a harmful chemical or solution.
- Rinse your AURORA Decking System with water after any type of cleaning to remove residual foreign agents.
- To prevent discoloration and damage of an AURORA Decking System, test the effects of chemicals and solutions on an unobtrusive portion of a decking plank before applying chemical or solution to the entire decking surface.
|
| Specific Cleaning Instructions: |
Annual Cleaning
Clean your AURORA Decking System once a year. AURORA Decking System can be cleaned with a soft bristled brush and a solution of water and mild detergent (dishwashing or laundry). Gently scrub the surface of the deck with the solution and rinse. To simplify scrubbing and rinsing, we recommend using a soft bristled car wash brush with a long handle attached to your garden hose. AURORA Decking System can also be cleaned using any common deck cleaning product, and it can be power washed. You may need to clean your AURORA Decking System more than once a year if the area in which you live produces substantial dirt or dust deposits on your deck.
Scuff & Natural Stain Removal
Some natural materials (such as berries and leaves) may leave stains on your AURORA Decking System that an annual cleaning will not fully remove. Most stains can be removed with a soft bristled brush and a 1:1 solution of bleach and water. Gently scrub the surface of the deck with the solution until the stain is removed and then rinse. Tougher stains can be cleaned by sprinkling baking soda or a household cleanser on the affected area and then gently scrubbing with a damp sponge. Rinse the area with water to remove residual cleaning agents from the deck.
Mold & Mildew Removal
Mold and mildew may accumulate on your AURORA Decking System if the deck is exposed to extremely damp weather conditions. Mold and mildew are forms of fungi that need foods (such as pollens and nutrient rich soils) to grow. They will not feed on vinyl, but may feed on materials that settle on the decking surface. Annual cleanings will reduce the food sources available to mold and mildew. However, if mold or mildew appears on your deck it may be removed by gently scrubbing the area with a soft bristled brush and a deck cleaning solution containing sodium hypochloride.
Removing Hard Water & Rust Stains
Frequent contact with some metals during rainy or damp conditions, or frequent exposure to some hard waters, may result in an orange residue on your AURORA Decking System. To remove these stains, dissolve 4 ounces of oxalic acid crystals (commonly known as wood bleach) in 1 gallon of water (be sure to use a non-metallic container). Apply the solution to the stained areas with a soft bristled brush and let it stand until the stain is dissolved, then rinse the treated area with water. If the oxalic acid solution does not remove the stain, gently scrub the stained area with a soft bristled brush and a solution of 1 cup trisodium phosphate (TSP), 1 cup household bleach, and 1 gallon of water. Thoroughly rinse the washed area and apply another treatment of oxalic acid solution. Rinse the area with water to remove any chemical residues.
Grease Removal
Follow the instructions for any common degreasing agent to remove grease stains from your AURORA Decking System.
Paint Removal
Most paints can be easily removed from your AURORA Decking System using a soft bristled brush and a solution of water and mild detergent. Some difficult paint deposits or graffiti may need to be power washed. Difficult paint deposits may also be removed using a soft cloth and mineral spirits or paint thinner. Dampen a portion of the cloth with the mineral spirits or paint thinner and wipe the deposit until it is removed. Then wash the area with a solution of mild detergent and water and rinse to remove chemicals from the treated area.
Removing Gooey Stuff
Most glues and sticker residues can be removed from your AURORA Decking System using a soft cloth and denatured alcohol or PVC pipe cleaning solutions. Moisten the cloth with denatured alcohol or the cleaning solution and wipe the affected area until the foreign material is removed. Rinse the treated area with water to remove residual chemicals. To eliminate gum, gently scrape the gum from the area using a flexible putty knife. To remove any remaining gum, wipe the area with a soft cloth moistened with denatured alcohol or PVC pipe cleaning solution until the remaining gum is eliminated. Rinse the area with water to remove any residual chemicals.
Additional Cleaning Problems
We have tried to anticipate most of the common cleaning problems you might face with your AURORA Decking System. However, you may encounter problems that cannot be solved using our recommendations. If you have a special cleaning problem that we have not addressed, or our recommended treatment is not fully effective, please contact us. One of our experts will work with you to help you restore your AURORA Decking System to its original beauty.
|
|
|
Innovection Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.
