How To Clean A Wood Deck For Staining
Author
Reply to Catherine Weida
It should be. Make sure it is free of debris, etc.
Planning to strip then brighten my deck using the restore a deck products then stain with the TWP–all of which I just purchased from you. Question: I am heading out of town–is it OK to strip and brighten, then let the deck sit for 1 week before I stain?
Author
Hey guys – I am in the process of prepping my deck for stain and had a couple quick questions. I put brand new deck flood boards on the deck 2.5 months ago and left the spindles and handrails alone since they were in pretty good shape.
I am planning on using the Benjamin Moore prep product since I am not able to get the RAD kit in time. Benjamin Moore has a Clean product and Restore product. Based off the attached pictures do you think I could get away with the Clean product instead of Restore and then a brightener on the entire deck before staining?
Also, if I have to sand off any fuzzies should this be completed after the clean stage but before the brightener?
Thanks guys and appreciate all the excellent info on this site!
Author
Reply to Eric
Have you read this about new wood?
After the proper wait as the stain brand suggests, you will need to clean and then brighten the deck. If you need to sand fuzzies, do that after cleaning.
Reply to Deck Stain Help
Thanks guys – should I use a deck brush to clean all surfaces including the new deck boards after spraying the cleaning product on – or can I just pressure wash off the cleaning product?
Author
Reply to Ryan
Use a deck cleaner and then pressure wash off.
Rhonda E Eghigian
1 year ago
If I'm going to stain a deck and paint the railing, when should I clean the deck? I've already sanded the deck. I bought Behr All-In-One wood cleaner and I'm ready to start cleaning.
Author
Reply to Rhonda E Eghigian
The Behr prep is not very good. use a cleaner and brightener system like the Restore A Deck kits:
As for one to stain, is the wood new or older?
Can I sand algae away from cedar decking instead of using a liquid product?
Author
Reply to Kathy Eggers
That does not work very well.
Kristy Raudenbush
1 year ago
Hi,
I am going to use the RAD Stripper, cleaner and then brightened as you suggested before staining my older deck. But I need to have a few random boards replaced here and there. I know I have to wait to stain them until they dry out. But can I still do the stripping, cleaning and brightening now ? And then in the fall possibly stain? Or do I need to do it all at the same time?
I was hoping I could do it now so I could at least maybe stain the railing. That will take a long time.
Thank you!!
Author
Reply to Kristy Raudenbush
Do it all at the same time in the Fall.
Should I sand before or after cleaning/brightening the deck? Also, is it fine to clean/brighten the day after it rains?
Author
Reply to Danny
Sand first. You can prep after rain.
Reply to Deck Stain Help
Great to know. I also just noticed a splinter in one of my boards. Would I be able to stain over it? If not, what would you recommend I do to fix it? Thanks for your help!
Author
Reply to Danny
Sand the splinter.
Reply to Deck Stain Help
Sounds good. Should I break it off before sanding?
Author
What about the holes where the deck was nailed . Nail hole 1/4in was Nader top of board
Author
Reply to Larry Gay
Not sure what you are asking?
Will a cleaner or brightener affect colored masonry block or stucco
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Reply to Mark
No, it will not.
it has been raining for 2 days so deck is soaked. once it stops raining how long do I need to wait to use RAD cleaner?
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Reply to Linda
A few hours.
Minnesota Mike
2 years ago
Hi,
I used the cleaner and brightener on 3year old deck then stained railing and half the large deck with twp. I was unable to finish due to rain on the weekends for the last month. I believe I need to reapply cleaner and brightener before I finish staining unstained sections. My question is if it is okay if the cleaner and brightener get over sprayed onto the new stained sections or do I need to make sure the cleaner brightener only get applied on the old deck. I don't want the cleaner/brightener to affect/discolor the new stained sections.
Thanks,
Author
Reply to Minnesota Mike
Just lightly wash with water and then brighten the wood again. It will not harm the stain.
Howard A. Baum
2 years ago
I am going to redo my deck with pressure treated wood. My contractor says it has to be power washed before having it stained. Is this a common practice? Thank you.
Author
Reply to Howard A. Baum
Yes. Has to be prepped.
Howard A. Baum
2 years ago
Reply to Deck Stain Help
Thank you.
I pressure washed the new wood on our deck, but the soap dried on it before I could remove it. When it rains you can see small bubbles. How can I remove the dried on soap.
Author
Reply to Suzanne L
What soap did you use?
Reply to Deck Stain Help
krud kutter
Author
Reply to Suzanne L
The only thing you can do is to keep rinsing until no more soap suds are coming up.
We have a covered porch with entrance stairs. When we bought this house 3 years ago, it was all untreated and grey. Using the great information on this site, I prepped and cleaned the entire surface, and used the Sherwin Williams Deckscapes semi-transparent latex stain on all the horizontal surfaces. Last year (year 2), I again cleaned the surfaces and did another coat to darken it a bit. The covered portion of the porch still looks great, no cracking or peeling.
But in my quest for The better idea, I used the crushed nuts mixed in for the stairs last year. As the picture shows, that process apparently made for sandpaper in the walking areas. Peeling down to the bare wood. No more traction attempts this year!
My question is this. I'm ready to redo the stairs. Do I clean/powerwash/sand to remove all prior stain?
Author
Reply to SteveH
Clean first and then sand to remove.
Reply to Deck Stain Help
Thanks, I am armed and ready!
I stained my deck 2 yrs ago and I forgot what I used to clean it before hand. I'm pretty sure I used TSP but I'm not sure if I mixed bleach with it or what the mix ratio of either was. Some websites advise not to use bleach., not sure why.
Author
Reply to Chris
Bleach and TSP are not good for decks. Use a true "deck cleaner" that contains sodium percarbonate.
Reply to Deck Stain Help
I'm pretty sure I used it last time. On other websites it says to use TSP and powdered oxygen bleach(Oxiclean) What is the reason why they aren't good for decks? My deck is made of pressure treated wood. Does it harm the wood?
Author
Reply to Chris
TSP is just a soap, not a deep cleaner. See this about bleach:
Reply to Deck Stain Help
Is there a reason why the TSP & Bleach solution is not good for decks? I'm pretty sure I used it the last time and it worked pretty good. Other websites say to use 1 1/2 cups of TSP and 1 cup of powdered oxygen bleach(Oxiclean) Does it harm the wood?
I just tried cleaning my less than a year old deck with Olympic Deck Cleaner, suffice it to say that it didn't do much if anything other then bring it something green in my deck boards that wSnt there before I applied it. What is it or what dis I do wrong?
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Reply to Bobby Otero
The green is inside the wood and will not come out. It is part of the treatment of PTP wood.
We have a 20 yo cedar deck that was never stained or treated in any way. I plan on using Restore A Deck Cleaner/Brightener then staining with Restore A Deck Wood Stain or TWP 100 Series. However, all the cedar railings, balusters, and stairs were painted about 10 years ago. The paint is peeled in many places, is ugly, and needs to be removed, do you have any products/advice for how to go about this?
Thanks!
Author
Reply to Jeff
You will have to power sand off the paint to remove. Once 100% removed. clean and brighten for final prep.
Reply to Deck Stain Help
Thanks!
Apologies if you've answered this elsewhere, but would it be beneficial to sand the deck surface as well? It's been pressure washed before, I don't notice too much raised grain. Or will this retard the stain penetration?
Author
Reply to Jeff
No need to sand the floor if it does not have a paint. It can hinder stain penetration into the wood.
I live in Virginia and need to apply the second coat of Defy Extreme on my new PT deck (first coat was applied a year ago). I am trying to get the deck cleaned and brightened before the pollen starts up but it is still getting down to 30 degrees at night (and then trying to catch a few days without rain). I read from previous posts that I can clean and brighten it and it is ok to wait up to 2 weeks to apply the stain. When pollen starts it coats everything every day, if I wait 2 days for the deck to dry and pollen is on it what do I do? Should I just wait until after pollen season is over and hot weather has arrived?
Author
Reply to Sue
Pollen issues arise more with oil-based stains, not water-based like Defy. I would not worry about it much when using the Defy. If you do wait a couple of weeks between prep and staining, lightly wash or rinse the deck down two days before stating if the pollen has fallen on the wood.
Thanks for all the information here. I've read through a ton and haven't been able to form a great plan.
I just moved in before winter, and I'm not sure what the previous owner had done to the deck. The deck is only 2 years old and has gone through 2 Minnesota winters. Now that the snow has cleared, we're ready to re finish the deck. It was gray and dirty, so I power washed it. After it dried the sheen was very silverish grey so I applied a brightener and power washed again. I'm planning on trying a different brand, but please give me any advice you can before we stain.
Much appreciated!
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Reply to Brent
Use the Restore A Deck Cleaner/Brightener Kits for the prep. Stain with Restore A Deck Wood Stain or TWP 100 Series.
Marty McGregor
3 years ago
I will be staining a new pressure-treated deck, after prepping with Restore-A-Deck Cleaner and Brightener. There are two types of stains that I will need to remove prior to staining with a semi-transparent stain – the rubber tire marks from the pressure washer and residue from black walnuts that have fallen on the deck. I seriously doubt the cleaner and brightener will remove these stains – I hope I'm wrong. Does anyone have experience removing these stains?
Author
Reply to Marty McGregor
The RAD prep should remove most but if not, watered down bleach will remove organic stains (black walnuts). Try 1 part bleach to 4 parts water. Let sit and rinse well after 10 minutes.
Marty McGregor
3 years ago
Reply to Deck Stain Help
Thank you! I'll give that a try.
I also would like to remove the lumber yard stamp from the decking and I've accumulated some grease stains from my grill. I would imagine a last resort for any of these stains (especially grease) would be light sanding. But, would that possibly cause an uneven appearance after staining with a semi-transparent stain? The decking has now "aged" 5 months.
Author
Reply to Marty McGregor
You will have to sand the stamps:
You will need to spot sand them, let weather again, then do the prep.
Grease will not come out if deep in the wood grain.
Do I need to use cleaner on a new deck where the wood has never been stained?
Author
Reply to Jason
Yes. See this about new wood:
We used the Restore-A-Deck Cleaner and Brightener and the deck looks much cleaner. However, now we can see dark streaks next to many of the nails. Is there any way to remove these streaks? Will the stain cover over the discoloration? We never noticed it until we cleaned but now these streaks are very visible! Thanks for your advice.
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Reply to Amy
That is rust from your nails. You have bad nails or screws there. Try the brightener again, it should remove it.
I have a 1200 sq ft Cumaru deck that was completed in June. We are wanting to clean/brighten and oil the boards before our rainy season begins (soon! we live in the Seattle area). I have 1 week of sunshine and mid 60's weather this week although the only products I can source locally are Penofin for the oil/stain and either deck wise cleaner/brightener combo or Penofin cleaner. We also have the usual HD, Lowes and Ace Hardware brands which seems to mostly be Cabot, BM or Valspar. I see you recommending people to avoid Penofin, so my question is, should I use the Penofin if it means that I won't be able to protect the deck until next summer?
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Reply to Jen
Do not use Penofin. It turns black and you will need to strip to fix. Better to use Armstrong Clark or Defy Hardwood stain.
Nancy Soldatow
3 years ago
I have a half container of behr 63 wood cleaner that I bought an used about 6 years ago. can Iuse the rest of it and will it work?
Author
Reply to Nancy Soldatow
It is probably okay to use.
Ms Jo Willard
3 years ago
Still trying to finish older deck before it gets worse. I definitely have to do the best I can this time. Do I remove nails where screws are needed first & sand or..do I wash deck first with outdoor bleach or vinegar? (Already stripped & used cleaner fee months ago) Unfortunately had Mudd filled with Elmer's on the few places where starting to rot after cleaning them out on the last staining…use behr semi-transparent stain. Remove & fill with the Permafill you mentioned? How….chip out with screwdriver? … only 1 LARGE strip that needs filling. How do I flip another board in middle of deck…using what tool? How do I get splattered residue off vinyl siding when I had stripped & used pressure washer. Didn't realize it was there at the time because of splatters of old deck stain. Can I get splatters of the paint off? Have tried with brushes etc
I apologize for the long note & many questions. Had continuously been researching online to no avail. Your website was highly recommended. Thank you very much for your knowledge & expertise & especially your willingness to help!
I finished cleaning my deck this weekend with RAD and some areas are brighter than others . Refer to the attached photos.
Is this acceptable to stain as is (I don't want to see the look come thru the stain). or do I need to redo the cleaning. I plan on using Armstrong Clark semi solid stain. The wood is KDAT pine.
Thank you!
Joe
Author
Reply to Joe
You are good to stain.
I got our new deck (7 months aged) all cleaned and brightened with Defy. Then the rains started up and it's been another 3 weeks. Do I have to start all over again before putting on the stain and sealant? It's been drying out for 2 days. I am not sure how to tell if it's dry enough yet. We are in Northeast Florida.
Author
Reply to Martha
Lightly wash for prep to remove any dirt. Let dry for 48 hours and then stain.
Reply to Deck Stain Help
Do you mean to do this lightly with the Defy wood cleaner and brightener again? or just rinse the dirt off the deck?
Author
Reply to Martha
With water. You just want to remove any dirt/dust since it has been three weeks.
Reply to Deck Stain Help
🤗 Oh thank God! and thank you!
I was planning on cleaning my deck this morning but its raining until 10 AM. The forecast says that rain will begin around 8 PM this evening. Can I use the RAD in between the rain storms?
Thanks
Author
Reply to Joe V
RAD prep products, yes.
Reply to Deck Stain Help
Thank you!
Installed new red cedar deck and it has had time to season. The deck looks great, no dirt or graying, but there is mnimal small black mold or mildew spotting. Can we just sand those few areas and then stain. We would prefer not to use chemical cleaner or brightener if not necessary as our deck is surrounded with plants and we have animals.
Thanks
Author
Reply to Nano
No, you have to clean and brighten for the prep. This will remove the oxidation and mill glaze that needs to come off prior to staining.
Reply to Deck Stain Help
OK thanks. Do you have an article explaining step by step process of cleaning and brightening?
Author
Reply to Nano
Yes, this article.
I didn't see it in the directions but thought I'd ask anyway. When using the RAD stripper am I supposed to wet the deck first?
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Reply to Terry
Yes. Lightly wet is what we do.
Just finished sanding the deck. Going to stain with Armstrong Clark semi-trans. Does this stain prevent the gray from coming back? They say you just need to use cleaner and re-stain it. Is this true or do you have to sand off the gray that might appear as well? Or does the stain prevent it from going gray?
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Reply to Jim
Yes, it does prevent graying for about 2-3 years or so. Just clean and reapply when time to redo.
I striped, cleaned an brightened my 2 year old cedar deck. Then had vacation so it has been 2 weeks since that was done. Can I just apply the stain now (Defy Extreme). The can also says that 1 coat is enough on cedar.
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Reply to Carolyn H
Lightly wash and brighten the wood again before applying the stain.
I used the 2-step cleaning process from Restore-A-Deck using a scrub brush and ended with white spots. They're more prominent around knots. The deck is about ten months old and has never been stained. Is there a way to correct it? Please advice.
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Reply to Greg
That is oxidation of the wood cells that did not come off fully. See here for tips:
I have a deck that was already been painted with Olympic Rescue It. After pressure washing I would like to re-apply another coat or two of paint to give it a finished look. Is there anything else I need to prep before painting?
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Reply to Matt Bowman
No. Just make sure it is clean and all the peeling or loose paint is removed.
I cleaned an unfinished cedar deck with wood wash (Biotestore) and it discoloured some of the wood in spots. Is there a way to correct this before I stain?
Author
Reply to KEvin Baker
Picture, please.
Reply to Deck Stain Help
Here are a few that show the stains and colour changes. I followed the directions of the deck cleaner, used a plastic brush and power washed. Thoughts?
Author
Reply to KEvin Baker
Try a wood brightener the even it out.
If I have already stripped and sanded my deck , should I still wash it before I put new stain on it
Author
Reply to Dena Kellar
Lightly wash and use a wood brightener. This will help the stain to soak in better.
maureenaorton67@gmail.com
3 years ago
What tempature is best to apply stain,is 90 and humid ok
Author
Reply to maureenaorton67@gmail.com
Depends on the brand and type of stain you are using?
Hello, I applied a deck stripper as I has old solid stain that had worn away followed by a pressure washed rinse. It didn't remove all the tough stain spots so I have started sanding. I am concerned about some dark spots that seem to be underneath, possibly older stain (i hope not!)? Would a brighten and clean after sanding help clean it up? I have read stripper can "darken" the wood. Any advice is helpful, thanks!
Author
Reply to Sam
Try a stain stripper and pressure washing to remove more. Brighten all after will lighten the wood back.
Hi there, should I sand the boards before cleaner/brightener/stain? Or Should I sand the boards after the cleaner/brighter and before the stain.
Author
Reply to Tamara
Sanding first is best if you are in need of sanding.
Please give your opinion of Sunnyside Deck Wash.
Author
Reply to Rusty
Sorry but never heard of it.
I sanded my cedar deck. Cleaned it today and it left dot like spots in places. I'm scrubbed with a nylon brush and old stain came up. Is this normal. Should I clean again. Stripper not an option. Too much vegetation. Previous stain was ready seal. Two years of o.it wiothoit more than cleaning. Ordered TWP. Any thoight
Author
Reply to Laura
Pictures, please.
Pam Jolly Haile
3 years ago
I have just found your site and now have several concerns as my painters are coming tomorrow to stain my deck with an oil based stain. I was going to have them buy Thompson's Water Seal at Lowes. Also, it has been 5 weeks since they pressure washed-see pictures. They were going to sweep off the debris and begin staining. What do you advise I insist they do to prepare properly and which product do you recommend and where to purchase. I have no idea what's on the deck now. Thank you your help!
Author
Reply to Pam Jolly Haile
You need to strip and brighthen for the prep. Once fully removed, try one of these brands:
I put a fire proof mat on a new deck that hadn't been stained. After about 4 months I'm ready to stain the deck but when I took up the matt. It showed the original deck color where as the rest of the deck had changed color due to the sun. What should I do?
Author
Reply to Larry Taylor
Is the mat going back in the exact same spot? If so, just clean and brighten as normal and then stain. If it has a slight discoloration after, just put the mat over it.
One more question… by the way your website and response time are great! We just power washed and sanded the tough spots to completely remove the Behr stain on just the floor and step surface as it was peeling and flaking. The railings, spindles and under deck still looks amazing. My question is will the deck cleaner and brightener affect the sections still stained if it makes contact? Of course the under deck will get drenched with both products. Is it going to harm the stain that still looks great? Thanks again!!!
Author
Reply to Anne
Probably not but hard to say for certain.
We just recently power washed and sanded our deck. We took off Behr's Premium semi-transparent stain. I was disappointed as it started flaking after one summer. My question is can we still clean and brighten or did we mess up by sanding before these steps? Thank you!
Author
Reply to Anne
Clean and brighten now for the final prep.
Reply to Deck Stain Help
Thank you!
Hi! I cleaned my deck with cleaner and followed it up with brightener. Unfortunately it did nothing for the algae. I used vinegar and baking soda and a scrub brush to get the algae off and now I'm wondering if I need to use the brightener again. Thanks!
Author
Reply to Elissa Myers
Yes.
When prepping your deck should you use wood filler and sand down before you use your deck cleaner or after you clean?
Author
Reply to Jeremy
Wood filler will not work for exterior wood:
I had a new set of stairs built last year and let them age for a year, untreated. They are under several pine trees which drip sap. What is the best process to address this before staining and sealing? Also do you have any recommendations for a good type of stain to use that will ease pitch remove next year?
Author
Reply to Mark Walton
You will have to sand off the sap. Unfortunately, there is not a way to clean off the sap or a stain that will make it easier to remove down the road.
Our 1500 sq ft redwood deck is 5 years old and we are restaining it for general upkeep. We power washed it a couple of weeks ago without any cleaner or stripper applied to it. After reading all of these reviews, I think we may have missed an important part of the process. How would we know if it should redone with a "cleaner," or move on with a brightener and stain. Thanks…..
Author
Reply to Pat Reagan
Post a picture please.
I have a one year old deck that I am staining for the first time this summer. I live in western Pennsylvania. I have purchased the Defy Deck Cleaner, Brightener and Butternut Deck Stain. If I clean and brighten on one day, can I stain on the next day or should I wait? If so, how long? Thank you!
Author
Reply to Nita
48 hours after the prep is normal to stain with the Defy.
Reply to Deck Stain Help
Thank you! Can you tell me what is the best to use to apply the brightener and also is it ok to apply the Defy stain if we are to have rain the next day?
Author
Reply to Nita
Use a pump sprayer to apply the brightener. The Defy Stain should dry for about 12 hours before the rain comes.
How To Clean A Wood Deck For Staining
Source: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/cleaning-wood-deck/
Posted by: jacksoninswer.blogspot.com
Catherine Weida
3 months ago
I cleaned and brightened deck, but haven't been able to stain because of weather. Is a 2 week gap before staining ok?