[Sticky] How to clean a wood deck

You can restore the wood with the prep products in the Spring. Use Restore A Deck Cleaner/Brightener Kits.

I have a cedar deck and it hasn't been sealed for a couple years. I've kept it clean by power washing so at this point there is no seal remaining. I just finished power washing again to prepare for the seal and I'm wondering if I need to use a brightener? The wood is in good shape and after power washing it is very light colored already. Since I didn't use a cleaning agent or stripper, is it necessary to use a brightener to get the ph right or should it be fine already since I haven't used any other product on it?  

No need to brighten.

Thank you!

Hello! We are in central Michigan and had a new 300sf cedar KDAT deck built. We are planning on using the Gemini cleaner/brightener and then a TWP stain we like based on samples on scraps (a semi: Honey, Cedar or Pecan), once the moisture gets below 15%. Question is: sunscreen from a low-on-aerosol can got sprayed/dripped on several thirsty boards and gentle scrubbing with Dawn and warm water didn't do the trick. Will the Gemini take out the oil stains or should we just have the boards replaced or maybe flipped? Try the cleaner and try the stain and then replace? Thanks in advance and we LOVE this website!

Nothing we know of will remove the sunscreen oil if deep in the wood. Sorry.

Rats! Thanks for the quick reply.

Greetings and thanks in advance for your help. 

I have always used Redwood color TDW 1500 in the past.  Its been about 3 years since the last stain.  I thought I read once on the forum that as long as I used the same color and type stain, it would be sufficient to just use the RAD 'cleaner and brightener', no need to use the RAD stripper, AND no need to do 'wet-on-wet' again (so one coat would be sufficient).  That would be very helpful to know and also save dollars.  

To summarize,

1.  For this job, Is Cleaner and Brightener sufficient? 
2.  Is One coat sufficient, no 'wet on wet' necessary since I am using same type and color?
3.  If you recommend the RAD 'Cleaner and Stripper', will wet on wet be needed or a single coat work OK?

I would love to order the RAD and Stain ASAP I

appreciate your reply. 

Attaching pics. 

Thanks, 

RonP

You can clean brighten for prep but more than likely, you will need two coats applied wet on wet as this stain has deteriorated pretty well for the flooring.

I prepped my deck today with RAD cleaner and brightener. Please see attached photos. Hoping I won’t have fuzzies like in the past, but assuming with how it looks that I am good to go after it dries? 

I thought I would just need to clean since the deck had Armstrong semi trans oak (and that is what I am reapplying), but brightening was recommended because the stain had worn through to bare wood in some areas. If I don’t want to brighten in the future do I just need to stain sooner?

Looks good to stain. We always brighen after to neutralize the cleaner or stripper.

I cleaned deck with Oxygen bleach and a lot of old oil based stain has become gummy and blotchy.  Do i need to strip old stain off, or just brush like crazy? Even a pressure washer was struggling to remove without damaging the wood. The plan is same stain as before.

Thanks for advice.

I cleaned deck with Oxygen bleach and a lot of old oil based stain has become gummy and blotchy.  Do i need to strip old stain off, or just brush like crazy? Even a pressure washer was struggling to remove without damaging the wood. The plan is same stain as before.

Thanks for advice.

We would strip it.

About 2 months ago I sent a picture of our fir floor and you diagnosed it as rust. We tried the Restoreadeck stripper and did not have good luck. Builder finally sanded it clean. Should we apply the Restoreadeck stain/finish now or let the floor age for 6 months before applying anything.

Thank you.