Nothing - except they are made for wood decks, not composites. Composite decks are relatively new on the market. Consumers and manufacturers have looked to PSC to create cleaning and care products to maintain composites, since you probably won't find them in hardware stores. Composite Deck Restorer is the only system we know of specifically designed to effectively clean composite decks without leaving stains and bleach marks. Results may be unpredictable if you use a wash meant for wooden decks on a composite.

Bleach is a powerful substance. Unless you know the chemistry of what you are blending, you may well create a mixture dangerous to people and pets, as well as harmful to your composite deck. PSC products come with complete instructions for application and safety, as well as a warranty. In the event of problems or questions, you can call PSC's toll-free telephone technical support. "Home remedies" have none of these safety factors. As with hardware store deck washes, your results may be unpredictable.

Bleach, also known as sodium hypochlorite, is very good at killing mold and mildew. But bleach degrades over time, losing its effectiveness. Cleaners, on the other hand, stay strong for years. Combining them lessens the shelf life of both.

PSC 's Composite Deck Restorer is specifically blended to increase the performance of bleach. A unique blend of cleaning agents called "surfactants" help the bleach thoroughly invade mold, mildew, and dirt deposits. Treatment leaves your deck clean and ready for PSC's Composite Deck Protector.

Composite Deck Restorer tells you if the bleach you add is fresh enough for cleaning. When you add good bleach, the mixture turns light yellow. This lets you know you have a safe, effective mixture ready to take the worst staining and soiling off your composite deck.

Straight bleach isn't a good idea on composite OR wooden decks, for the same reason you don't use bleach alone in your washing machine. Though powerful, bleach needs the help of cleaning agents called "surfactants"" to completely dissolve stains and soiling. Also, straight bleach is harmful to the wood in your composite deck. It dissolves the material that holds the wood fibers together (called "delignification"). This speeds up wood deterioration. PSC Composite Deck Restorer lets you use less bleach to remove more mold and mildew without harming the wood portion of your composite deck.

By itself, soap is not strong enough to completely clean mold, mildew and other contaminants from a composite deck.

Mold and mildew can form on a cleaned deck just like it did when the deck was new. As the deck gets wet from rain, snow and ice, the conditions that created mold and mildew reoccur. So does the mold and mildew.

By applying PSC Composite Deck Protector, you put a barrier between your deck and the water that mold and mildew need to grow. That barrier also keeps dirt and other contaminants from soaking into your composite deck. Messes stay on the surface for easy clean up with PSC General Purpose Outdoor Maintenance Cleaner.

That depends on the amount of use the deck gets. Commercial decks used continuously and washed down daily may need treatments more often than the homeowner's deck that is used occasionally and washed down a few times each year. Under normal circumstances, expect at least a full year of protection.

While all of the products are environmentally friendly, protect surrounding foliage while you clean and treat your deck. Running sprinklers over nearby grass, shrubs and gardens is one good way to protect them. Covering with plastic is another.

Lawrence, Kansas-based Problem Solving Corporation was established in 2000 to address newly discovered cleaning and maintenance problems in the emerging composite deck market.

PSC is a sister corporation of PROSOCO, a national manufacturer of products for cleaning, protecting and maintaining concrete, brick and stone. PROSOCO, in business since 1939, is also based in Lawrence, where the two companies share state-of-the-art manufacturing and industrial research facilities.

PSC has a fully staffed technical customer care department to assist you with your questions. Call toll-free 800-354-2926.

PSC Composite Deck Protector helps to prevent water and oil from penetrating into the fibers of your composite deck. However, dirt , food and drink spills can provide food for mold and mildew. Spot clean localized spills and dirt with PSC General Purpose Outdoor Maintenance Cleaner. It's also effective for quick and easy generalized deck cleaning whenever your deck starts looking a little dingy.