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Ask Questions on Cleaners for Exterior Wood, Decks, Fences, etc.
How to properly clean and prep a deck before applying a wood deck stain.
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
Yes, it would work.
Thank you. Much appreciated.
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?
That is oxidation or mill glaze that needs to come off. Apply the cleaner and then pressure wash off to remove. Brightener is last.
Thanks for responding. I already applied the cleaner and then pressure washed. The white residue was left after doing those things.
Post some pics.
Here are some pics.
Yes, that is oxidation that you didn’t fully remove. It is not really that big of a deal as it will not show when stained.
Just what I was hoping to hear! Thanks.
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
https://www.opwdecks.com/restore-a-deck-cleaner.htm
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
Sorry, but we do not know what will work to remove water stains on a veneer.
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?
Use the Restore A Deck Cleaner and Brightener: https://www.opwdecks.com/best-selling-cleaner.htm
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!
The prep and stain items are correct. 48 hours after to prep to apply the stain.
I just installed a 18×28′ 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).
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.
Thank you so much. If we want to sand, do we do that before or after stripping and brightening?
After.
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!
The cleaner and brightener are only to be used when reapplying, not for general cleaning of dirt.
So in between staining applications what is recommended. Thanks again
Just water with maybe a little bit of dish soap.
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?
See here about new decks: https://www.opwdecks.com/when-to-stain-a-new-deck.htm
Are these cleaners and protectors for composite decking? They state for wood decks
See this for composite: https://www.opwdecks.com/defy-composite-deck-products.htm
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.
See this for the prep: https://www.opwdecks.com/best-selling-cleaner.htm
Apply one coat of stain. Try this: https://www.opwdecks.com/armstrong-clark-stain.htm
I need a marine life safe cleaner, brightner
The RAD prep kits are Eco-Safe: https://www.opwdecks.com/best-selling-cleaner.htm
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.
Use the Restore A Deck Kits: https://www.opwdecks.com/best-selling-cleaner.htm
[quote name=”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[/quote]
Use the RAD Kits. No bleach:
https://www.opwdecks.com/best-selling-cleaner.htm
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
[quote name=”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?[/quote]
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.
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?
Strip and remove the Penofin with the Restore A Deck Stripper and Wood Brightener. Switch to Armstrong Clark in Amber or Mahogany colors.
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?
Use the Restore A Deck Kits for this and prep.
What options do I have to clean mill glaze from new cedar deck?
You cannot get the RAD Brightener on the unprotected aluminum. It may “spot” it. The cleaner might be okay but should be protected as well. You would have to plastic wrap all the aluminum well to avoid this from occurring. I doubt the copper flashing will be an issue as it is not visible.
FYI, all cleaners and brighteners will have a potential issue with this railing type.
I have a new ipe’ deck. The top & bottom rails are ipe’ but the balusters are powder coated aluminum. See railing product here: http://www.decksdirect.com/level-aluminum-insert-panel-by-evolve-rail-system.html
I also have copper deck flashing.
I have purchased the Restore-a-Deck cleaner & brightener product and see that I need to avoid getting those products on metal surfaces. I am concerned about my ability to keep the cleaner & brightener entirely off the railings & flashing and fear I might damage those metal component of my deck.
How can I be confident that I will not damage the aluminum railing components & the copper flashing?
Wolmans Deckbrite is not a traditional wood brightener. Try one of these to lighten the wood:
http://www.opwdecks.com/wooddeckbrighteners.htm
I used DeckBrite to prepare my new redwood steps for treatment. I followed the instructions exactly (though used a garden hose rather than a power washer to do final rinse). The redwood dried dull and dark. In addition, on areas where it dripped on the side of the steps (and I didn’t know it dripped) it has stained the wood very dark. What can I do?
I used Wolman deck brite to clean my new redwood steps after they’d gotten dirty, and as a way to prepare them for a treatment. But even though I followed the directions on the DeckBrite package, the product dulled my redwood boards. They now look darker and duller. I used a brush to clean after the foaming time, but have not used a power washer. Would it help if I used a power washer?
Karen, use the Restore A Deck Kits that we sell.
I have a porch made of marine grade lumber and I am wondering what is the safest way to clean it. Thank you for any help.
Will not harm glass but keep off aluminum and the siding.
I’m trying to figure out if I should mask off the house or not to clean my deck. Do you know if the restore -a -deck cleaner and brightener has any adverse affects on glass, stained fiber cement siding, or aluminum windows trim?
Yes but you will need to let it dry for 48 hours after a heavy rain.
Question if I clean/brighten the cedar is it ok if it gets rained on during the 48 hours between when you cleaned/brightened the wood and stain it.
Franco, No need to strip. Prep with a Restore A Deck Kit which is a cleaner followed by the brightener.
strip clean brighten? in what order are these steps? deck is about 3 yr.s old this is my first house and it has a deck. i have no idea how old it actually is or what was done to it. it looks weathered and worn with a greyish color. deep splinters and boards curling upward.
Hard to clean without removing some of the stain. Try water with a little bit of dish soap. Lightly agitate with a car was brush.
Last summer I installed a new cedar deck that faces south and is uncovered. I followed all you recommendations for cleaning and preparing prior to using Armstrong & Clark stain. Staining was completed Sept 2014. The deck still looks great but is ‘dirty’ in spots from our harsh Michigan winter. I do not think I have to re-stain the deck yet, but I’d like your advice for what to use for a simple cleaning. I’d like to avoid re-staining since it’s only been 8 months since original stain and it still looks great. Any ideas?
Apply one coat of stain this year and another light coat to the floors next year if needed. You are on edge of needing the Restore a Deck 300 or the 600. Hard to say for sure if the 300 will be enough. The RAD will not remove the inks stamps. You will need to sand this off first then use the prep kit.
How do I remove the bluish-purpleish ink that was stamped on the pressure treated lumber. I assume the transparent stain will not hide it.
I have a new pressure treated pine deck (approx. 850 square feet. Brand new this past August 2014. Waited until now to stain. How much Restore a Deck cleaner/brightner do I need. I have been told different amounts. Also, I was told by one employee on the ephone that I only need to do one coat of the stain because it has never been stained before and two coats won’t absorb correctly. I am planning on using DEFY Extreme Stain, natural pine.
Use the Restore a Deck Cleaner.
I treated my deck 2 years ago with TWP and need to give the floor a new coat this year. What is the best cleaner to use for this application? I don’t want to strip off the sealant just clean the deck. Would the EFC-38 be to strong?
Sorry but without knowing what is causing the darkening there, it is not possible for us to give any suggestions.
Any suggestions to remove the darker stains at the end cap..like at the slanted edges of handrails and tips of fenceposts?
Stephen Galyen
The green stains appeared wherever the cement came into contact with the wood.
No idea on this as we are not sure what caused the green stains.
I recently had some building work done and the cement has caused green stains on my newly installed Garapa deck.is there a way to remove the green stains?
The RAD is more for when you reapply. If you are just trying to remove some dirt, then use soapy dish water or similar.
It’s been about 2 months since I’ve stained my deck with a Armstrong semi- transparent stain. I want to clean the deck. I still have some restore a deck cleaner & brightner left from when I stained it . Can I use the just the cleaner or do I have to use both. My main concern is that the cleaner is too strong & will remove some of the stain I just put on. Or is there something else I can use.
Not sure what you could use.
hello, i have used the deck cleaner and brightener with excellent results, have also used a recommended stain that i am very happy with. now the problem, i have a 12 foot long 2 inch wide strip i need to add to the deck.
i have the deck cleaner and stain left over, but no brightener. was wondering if there was anything you might recommend i could use, not sure if i am looking for acid or base. seems silly and expensive to order a whole bottle of brightener for such a small amount any help would be greatly appreciated