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If you want to make a deck cleaner from products already in your home, there are various options. The most common is to use a gentle blend of 1 gallon of warm water and 2 tablespoons of ammonia-free dish soap. You can also mix water with distilled vinegar. Sprinkling on some baking soda can help to remove mold and mildew. You can add oxygen bleach (but never damaging chlorine bleach) to the water and ammonia-free dish soap solution for something a bit stronger. 

Trex states that its Trex decking is an eco-friendly composite material made of 95% recycled or reclaimed materials (including plastic and wood), making it a sustainable brand of choice. According to the company, Trex is one of the largest plastic bag recyclers in the U.S., with each 500-square-foot Trex deck containing about 140,000 recycled plastic bags.

Yes, pressure washing a wood deck can be a good idea as it effectively lifts ingrained dirt, mold, and mildew, improving the deck's appearance and longevity. However, it must be done carefully, as it's easy to damage the wood, especially softwoods. To pressure wash safely, use a lower pressure setting and a wide, 40-degree fan pattern nozzle (often white). Keep the nozzle at least a foot away from the wood surface and maintain constant motion, avoiding hovering in one spot to prevent gouging.

The best direction for a gate to swing depends on its location and purpose, but swinging inward is the general rule. An inward swing is often considered safer, prevents the gate from opening into public spaces like a sidewalk, and may be required by local building codes.

There are exceptions and specific considerations. If your property is on a slope, an inward swing might not be possible. For a deck gate, it's safest to have it swing away from any steps. In a backyard, the direction can be a matter of preference, though an inward swing can be helpful when carrying heavy items like a wheelbarrow into a garden.

Regardless of direction, ensure the gate can open fully without hitting any objects or blocking spaces. While an inward swing is standard, a gate that can swing both in and out offers the most flexibility if your setup allows for it.