Wood Deck Cleaning PICAsk Questions on Cleaners for Exterior Wood, Decks, Fences, etc.

How to properly clean and prep a deck before applying a wood deck stain.

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    John · 09/14/2022
    I have left over Restore A Deck Cleaner. I'm going to paint my bare garage floor. Would using the Restore A Deck Cleaner give concrete a general cleaning. I don't have oil or other contaminants on the floor - just dirt. Thanks
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    David Waterbury · 08/11/2022
    Hi. I used RAD cleaner and brightener package on my pressure treated deck. After cleaning and brightening many boards have a white residue visible on top when dry. I rinsed for a full 20 minutes with a garden hose and there were no suds visible. Is this normal? If not, what do I do about it before staining?
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      The Sealer Store · 08/12/2022
      That is oxidation or mill glaze that needs to come off. Apply the cleaner and then pressure wash off to remove. Brightener is last.
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        David Waterbury · 08/12/2022
        Thanks for responding. I already applied the cleaner and then pressure washed. The white residue was left after doing those things.
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    Harold Hansen · 07/08/2022
    I have a Trex Transend deck that needs cleaning what is the best product that will remove alge and pollen with harming the Trex material
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    Harold Hansen · 07/08/2022
    I have a Simpson fir veneered door that has some water stains on it what is the best way to remove them before touching up the fineish 
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      The Sealer Store · 07/08/2022
      Sorry, but we do not know what will work to remove water stains on a veneer. 
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    Susan · 05/03/2022
    Hi I’m in Edmonton Alberta. My deck is pressure treated pine and is 2 years old. It has not had any treatment of any kind. What prep do I do before using Armstrong Clark stain?
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    Jim · 08/27/2020
    Just want to make sure I'm gonna do this right. I have a pressure treated pinewood boat dock that was built about 12 months ago, never been stained or treated. If I'm reading everything correct on your website, I'll clean first with Defy Marine Seal Wood Cleaner, then use Defy Exterior Wood Brightener ( is wood brightener necessary?) then stain with Defy Marine Seal Wood Stain. Do I need to wait a day or two after cleaning before applying stain? Thanks for the help!
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      The Sealer Store · 08/27/2020
      The prep and stain items are correct. 48 hours after to prep to apply the stain.
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    Ashley · 07/22/2020
    I just installed a 18x28' Ipe roof deck in boston. There is so much conflicting information out there. Not sure we did the right thing. We allowed the wood to acclimate on site for 3 weeks, covered in plywood with spacers. After 3 weeks, we cleaned the wood (with a dish soap, water and scrub brush) both sides, allowed to dry, and treated 4 sides with Penofin, wiped, and no stickiness. It rained within 24 hours of application, on one side, but we bushed it off quickly with a broom. There were a few whitish water marks, on some of the boards, but not thing serious.

    We've installed the deck (some of the boards from the side that got rained on, but some that didn't) and within a week, we have mold/mildew forming.

    We're open to sanding because in the installation process, the contractor has scuffed some of the boards.

    In the long run, we'd like the deck to grey, but we understand that it is better for the longevity of the deck to oil it in the beginning.


    What to do? What steps in what order? Clean/Brighten/Sand/Oil? And what is the gentlest cleaner/brightener for the wood? I don't mind the current color (before the mold).
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      The Sealer Store · 07/22/2020
      You will have to strip it to remove the Penofin and mildew. Brightener after. Also, Penofin will only last 3-6 months on IPE so the "oil" will be useless in months and have no long term benefit. If you want it to gray then just remove the Penoifn and let it gray naturally.
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        Ashley Schafer · 07/22/2020
        Thank you so much. If we want to sand, do we do that before or after stripping and brightening?
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    Bruce · 05/15/2020
    I stained my deck last year. It’s really dirt now after a year of the elements in Canada. Can I just clean and brighten the deck to get rid of all the dirt or will I have to stain. In other word will the cleaner or the brightner damage the stain?
    Thanks!
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      The Sealer Store · 05/15/2020
      The cleaner and brightener are only to be used when reapplying, not for general cleaning of dirt.
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        Bruce · 05/15/2020
        So in between staining applications what is recommended. Thanks again
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          The Sealer Store · 05/16/2020
          Just water with maybe a little bit of dish soap.
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    Brian · 08/22/2019
    Just installed a pt deck 16'x12' about a month ago. replaced only deck boards and top rail. Left lattice and post intact which have been stained in past but in good shape. What product do you recommend to clean and brighten the complete deck including the deck boards and lattice?
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    Tracey · 04/23/2019
    Are these cleaners and protectors for composite decking? They state for wood decks
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    vanessa · 04/03/2019
    I have a deck that was built August 2018 and is 90% covered in middle Tennessee. Recently 3 boards were replaced due to cracking. How should I prep for stain/seal? I've never done ANYTHING to it but sweep it.
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    william carouth · 06/13/2018
    I need a marine life safe cleaner, brightner
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    Kristin B · 05/24/2018
    Looking for just a cleaner on my Ipe deck and stairs. I have mold/algae in a few spots and just basic grime. I'm in the PNW, so lots of rain. And haven't brushed on the Penofin for 2-3 years. Can you suggest a cleaning product? I do not require stripping.
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    The Sealer Store · 08/18/2017
    PHIL HARE:
    I need to clean, brighten, seal my red ceder deck. I do not want to use a cleaner-brightener with bleach. What brand of cleaner-brightener can I use that wont damage the metal spindles

    Use the RAD Kits. No bleach:
    https://www.opwdecks.com/best-selling-cleaner.htm
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    PHIL HARE · 08/17/2017
    I need to clean, brighten, seal my red ceder deck. I do not want to use a cleaner-brightener with bleach. What brand of cleaner-brightener can I use that wont damage the metal spindles
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    The Sealer Store · 04/03/2017
    andy broughal:
    I need to wash a cedar shingle home before applying semi transparent stain. It's 8 years old and has Maibec cedar shingles with manufacturer applied bleaching oil. There is mold, mildew, and tannin staining.Any suggestions?

    You may need to use the RAD Stain Stripper and Brightener kit to remove the Bleaching Stain. This will allow the new semi-transparent stain to properly soak into the shingles.
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    andy broughal · 04/02/2017
    I need to wash a cedar shingle home before applying semi transparent stain. It's 8 years old and has Maibec cedar shingles with manufacturer applied bleaching oil. There is mold, mildew, and tannin staining.Any suggestions?
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    The Sealer Store · 06/07/2016
    Strip and remove the Penofin with the Restore A Deck Stripper and Wood Brightener. Switch to Armstrong Clark in Amber or Mahogany colors.
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    Needs help · 06/06/2016
    Hi,
    Initially we used Penofin on the mahogany floor of my screened-in porch. Two years ago, my husband reapplied, but a little too much and it really never dried well. Now parts of the floor are in need of re-sealing, other parts are still dark from the excess Penofin. How do I restore my formerly beautiful floor?
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    The Sealer Store · 05/31/2016
    Use the Restore A Deck Kits for this and prep.