Question on Cleaning - Deck Cleaning Questions and Answers https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-cleaning-questions-and-answers/question-on-cleaning/ Deck Stain Help Forum Discussion Board en-US Tue, 28 Apr 2026 13:29:58 +0000 wpForo 60 RE: Question on Cleaning https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-cleaning-questions-and-answers/question-on-cleaning/#post-11306 Thu, 20 Jul 2017 11:40:49 +0000 Not clean enough as it sounds like you are not removing all of the oxidation. You need to remove the graying fibers with the cleaner. It would be best to reclean and pressure wash off. Brightener goes on after all is removed.

]]> Deck Cleaning Questions and Answers Scott Paul ~ Restoring Wood & Decks Since 1993 https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-cleaning-questions-and-answers/question-on-cleaning/#post-11306 Question on Cleaning https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-cleaning-questions-and-answers/question-on-cleaning/#post-11305 Thu, 20 Jul 2017 01:52:15 +0000 Hello DSH,

We had new cedar deck boards installed last fall (sunny location in Maine).  The boards had turned somewhat grey since fall, but were not heavily soiled.  I read about the 2-step process of cleaning and brightening on your site.  Today my wife and I started cleaning using an oxygen bleach solution: wetting the wood first, applying solution, lightly scrubbing, rinsing.  Some of the grey wood fibers came off in places on some of the boards, so at the moment the deck is looking very "blotchy". 

Did we "over-clean", or not clean enough to get all the grey wood fibers off in this step?  Should we clean again?  Or, is the next step - brightening with an oxalic acid solution supposed to remove those greying wood fibers?  We really appreciate your help in understanding what to do next!

Thank you...derekw

]]> Deck Cleaning Questions and Answers derekw https://forum.deckstainhelp.com/deck-cleaning-questions-and-answers/question-on-cleaning/#post-11305