Interesting question. I'm one of those guys that has specified FRP
tanks to hold industrial bleach (15%). I have also done
laundry bleaching tests on nylon and polyester lines in cooperation with
rope manufactures.
- Nylon rope can be weakened about 10-15% if you soak repetitions for days in bleach concentrations 10x higher than anyone recommends. If you want to damage nylon rope, use strong acid (melts), power washer (obvious), or a washing machine (new rope can herniate, old rope can rip the agitator off if not bagged.
- Polyester rope was basically unaffected by bleach. A few percent. I did not test sail cloth or the resin.
So is using bleach on the
deck for any reasonable period and any reasonable dosage going to hurt anything, other than remove the wax. Not hardly. In fact, bleach is unlikely to affect any synthetic material that is stable in the sun (if UV can't do it, neither can bleach).
That, said, bleach is quite alkaline and will attack
aluminum and yellow metals quickly. Bad on
bottom paint always and some other paints if exposed too long. There is always a "but."
By the same token, much of what bleach can "bleached" is already "bleached" by the sun. It is often not as effective as other cleaners.