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LuckyCharms

(23,168 posts)
Sat May 23, 2026, 09:46 AM May 23

The nice thing about today's rain in New York State...

is that it will make the weed pulling much easier tomorrow with the ground being soft.

There's a bright side to lousy weather.

I managed to clean my composite deck with something called (I think) "30 second cleaner".

It's a concentrate that is probably mostly bleach that you mix 50/50 with water and apply with a pump sprayer.

I re-skinned by deck about 15(?) years ago with light brown TimberTech composite decking, and white composite railings.

Apparently, at the time, that material was first generation, and the white railings really hold mildew stains more than they should. so I have to clean the hell out of them every year so the mildew does not get out of control.

Some years, I have a company to come in and do it, but this year, money is tight (as it is for all of us), so instead of paying someone $200 to clean it, I did it myself with a $35 bottle of this cleaner.

Pic below. Left side is before cleaning, right side is after cleaning (this is an old pic).

You all have a nice day.



16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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The nice thing about today's rain in New York State... (Original Post) LuckyCharms May 23 OP
When you're done could you come and hit that spot under my window A/C unit? marble falls May 23 #1
Sure! I'll be there with the pump sprayer! LuckyCharms May 23 #3
I'll get the beer in the cooler. marble falls May 23 #6
Haven't had any alcohol for 13 years, but... LuckyCharms May 23 #8
True, but... PJMcK May 23 #2
Oh no... LuckyCharms May 23 #4
I, too, am looking forward to weeding after the rain biophile May 23 #5
Yes, it's a feeling of accomplishment when done! LuckyCharms May 23 #7
So we get to have that good feeling multiple times! biophile May 23 #11
Yeah. Me too. Figarosmom May 23 #15
Ahead of you NJCher May 23 #9
Thanks, Cher! LuckyCharms May 23 #10
You are an over achiever! biophile May 23 #12
what happened to the waste water full of bleach and mildew? msongs May 23 #13
It's not 100% bleach. LuckyCharms May 23 #14
Desert solution; no rain, no weeds. Ptah May 23 #16

LuckyCharms

(23,168 posts)
3. Sure! I'll be there with the pump sprayer!
Sat May 23, 2026, 10:04 AM
May 23

Seriously, the stuff works pretty good.

They market this cleaner as "no scrubbing required, but I have to scrub.

Spray onto a dry surface, let it sit, scrub it, rinse it off, repeat.

It's not a big deck, but it takes me three hours to clean the railings. The deck itself goes quickly.


PJMcK

(25,152 posts)
2. True, but...
Sat May 23, 2026, 10:04 AM
May 23

... today is my good friend's daughter's wedding ing NYC. The rain will prevent the photos being taken in Central Park.

LuckyCharms

(23,168 posts)
4. Oh no...
Sat May 23, 2026, 10:06 AM
May 23

Well, I bet the wedding will be a blast anyway!

Good wishes to the bride and groom!

biophile

(1,610 posts)
5. I, too, am looking forward to weeding after the rain
Sat May 23, 2026, 10:07 AM
May 23

Only a die-hard gardener would say they are looking forward to weeding 🤣. But I’ve been waiting for the rain and now the weeds are so big that I could only pull them after a ground softening rain 😏.
It’s a very rewarding feeling once it’s done, though!

biophile

(1,610 posts)
11. So we get to have that good feeling multiple times!
Sat May 23, 2026, 11:14 AM
May 23

My weeds are very determined and persistent!

Figarosmom

(13,885 posts)
15. Yeah. Me too.
Sat May 23, 2026, 07:34 PM
May 23

I just bought some weed barrier fabric I'm going to use with the tomatoes which are still in their starter pots. We had some late frost so I held them back a couple extra weeks.

NJCher

(43,641 posts)
9. Ahead of you
Sat May 23, 2026, 10:33 AM
May 23

Neener neener neener

I pulled mine yesterday in 4 more beds. I am awaiting the rain and I will then put in yellow zucchini, acorn squash, and more lettuce, kale, and tomatoes. Seeds on some, like the zucchini and cuke.

Then I will seal in the water with flattened cardboard to prevent weeds. After that a big pile of straw.

This is in an area with intense sun, so it works really well.

————

I think your deck looks really nice with the cleaned railings.

LuckyCharms

(23,168 posts)
14. It's not 100% bleach.
Sat May 23, 2026, 06:53 PM
May 23

It has other ingredients, and it's heavily diluted.

The actual amount of product sprayed on the railings is small.

The product has an EPA "safer choice" label.

The specs for the product indicate that it is safe for plants (which it indeed is) with careful rinsing.

The small amount of waste water is rinsed off and then further diluted with a hose.

Does that answer your question?

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