Removing gray color from deck

Installed a new deck approx 12 months ago. Was told by a number of people to let the new wood weather for a year before doing anything to it. So now that I've waited that long, the decking has been grayed considerably by the sun.

I've already hit the deck boards with Wolman Deck and Fence Brightener and a pressure washer. The difference is definitely noticeable, but there are still a number of gray areas.

Do I hit the deck with cleaner and pressure wash again? And just repeat until all of the gray is gone? Or is it safe to stain with some slight graying without it being noticeable?

Also unsure if I should sand the boards prior to staining or sealing. Some sites have recommended hitting the deck with 80 grit on an orbital sander to smooth out any "damage" done by the pressure washer.

Attached a few photos of the before/after process, with Deck_03 being the most recent, in which you can see the gray color that still remains.

Appreciate any advice!