newish redwood - cleaning AND brightening necessary? - Deck Cleaning Questions and Answers https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-cleaning-questions-and-answers/newish-redwood-cleaning-and-brightening-necessary/ Deck Stain Help Forum Discussion Board en-US Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:21:26 +0000 wpForo 60 RE: newish redwood - cleaning AND brightening necessary? https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-cleaning-questions-and-answers/newish-redwood-cleaning-and-brightening-necessary/#post-13672 Mon, 01 Mar 2021 14:40:10 +0000 Do not avoid the brightener as you need to neutralize. No reason to prep now, just prep later.

]]> Deck Cleaning Questions and Answers Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993 https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-cleaning-questions-and-answers/newish-redwood-cleaning-and-brightening-necessary/#post-13672 RE: newish redwood - cleaning AND brightening necessary? https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-cleaning-questions-and-answers/newish-redwood-cleaning-and-brightening-necessary/#post-13667 Sun, 28 Feb 2021 17:24:44 +0000 @administrator

We're wondering if we might clean it now, then do sanding/cleaning/staining later (in several weeks).  At that time, still hoping to avoid the brightening step, for reasons mentioned earlier.

OK we'll avoid bleach... (the manufacturer says a bleach-based mix is alright, though I'm now thinking I should use sodium percarbonate, it seems safer vis a vis runoff and there are several references to it here in this forum and in others.)

Any more feedback/thoughts are welcome.

]]> Deck Cleaning Questions and Answers Darla https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-cleaning-questions-and-answers/newish-redwood-cleaning-and-brightening-necessary/#post-13667 RE: newish redwood - cleaning AND brightening necessary? https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-cleaning-questions-and-answers/newish-redwood-cleaning-and-brightening-necessary/#post-13665 Sun, 28 Feb 2021 14:07:44 +0000 You cannot stain the new wood yet: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-long-should-you-wait-to-stain-a-new-deck/

Once you weather, you clean and brighten all for prep. Do not use bleach based cleaners.

]]> Deck Cleaning Questions and Answers Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993 https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-cleaning-questions-and-answers/newish-redwood-cleaning-and-brightening-necessary/#post-13665 newish redwood - cleaning AND brightening necessary? https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-cleaning-questions-and-answers/newish-redwood-cleaning-and-brightening-necessary/#post-13661 Sun, 28 Feb 2021 01:12:49 +0000 Have a new (2 weeks) redwood deck, plan to use Armstrong Clark, (transparent, as we're wanting it to gray out like the rest of the redwood around the yard.)  Two clean/prep questions: 1. dirty footprints of builder are pretty ground in, how to deal with them while waiting a few weeks to complete stain process?  2. Most everyone says to Sand the wood (80grit) in order to open the grain, then to use a Cleaner.  Then, the Brightener.  I'm sorely tempted to skip the brightener, as we aren't trying to either a. make this deck have an even tone/color/value or b. apply a finish with color in it.  Am I missing something?  By the way, some say Bleach is Bad for wood, some (including manufacturer) say a bleach/water/soap solution can be used if it's rinsed off soon. 

]]> Deck Cleaning Questions and Answers Darla https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-cleaning-questions-and-answers/newish-redwood-cleaning-and-brightening-necessary/#post-13661