Restore A Deck Cleaner Instructions and How To Tips
Keeping your wooden deck in good condition is without a doubt crucial to both its appearance and lifespan. Nothing looks worse and deteriorates more quickly than a neglected deck. Many deck owners have opted to do their own deck maintenance.
Restore A Deck cleaner is a specifically designed two-part system that is best used to clean and prep a wood deck prior to resealing it. The Restore A Deck cleaner system consists of a wood cleaner that will remove dirt, grime, mold, mildew, and grayed wood fibers. Step 2 of RAD Cleaner is a wood brightener that corrects the pH of the wood and brightens it up prior to applying a wood stain or sealer.
To clean a deck using the Restore A Deck system follow these easy step-by-step instructions.
1. Be sure air temperatures or between 45-90 degrees. Remove all furnishings from the deck and the surrounding area.
2. Though Restore A Deck is Eco-Friendly it is still a good idea to cover sensitive plants and shrubbery or pre-wet them with fresh water. Use plastic to cover doors and windows in the surrounding area.
3. Follow the Restore A Deck instructions to mix the Step 1 Cleaner in a clean bucket until all crystals are dissolved and transfer to sprayer to avoid clogging of sprayer inlet tube.
4. Lightly spray the wood deck with water. Use a pump sprayer or scrub brush to apply RAD Cleaner to the wood. Allow the cleaner to dwell for 5-15 minutes. Keep the deck wet by misting with water during the dwell time. If using a pump sprayer please make sure that no undissolved powder is poured into the sprayer. It will get clogged!
5. Hand scrub or use a pressure wash to remove dirt, grime, and graying from the wood surface. Do not use excessive pressure. Pressure washing at 1500 PSI is much more effective and easier.
6. Once cleaned, rinse the wood deck and the surrounding plants, windows, house siding, etc.
7. While the deck is still wet from rinsing, apply the Restore A Deck Wood Brightener (Step 2).
8. Blend the RAD Wood Brightener by following the product’s instructions and apply with a pump sprayer. Allow the brightener to dwell for 10 minutes then rinse off. No need to having scrub or pressure wash the RAD Brightener. Make sure to rinse the RAD Brightener thoroughly for 20 minutes until all soap suds are removed after the 10 minutes dwell time.
Note that the RAD cleaner is not intended for removing old deck stains or sealers. Please see Restore A Deck Stain Stripper when dealing with existing stains.
If you have any specific questions about your project or just need some help, please ask below!
I want to stain for the first time a small new deck w/stairs with a semi-transparent stain. The deck was installed about 2 years ago and I did not get around to staining it until now. After 2 years it clearly shows that some cleaning is needed (e.g. there is some graying of some boards and even a few cracks). What is the best way and material that you recommend I should use to prepare/clean the wood and remove any potential mold/mildew before staining?
Thank you,
GK
Hello,
Use this kit for the prep: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-package-300.html
Is it a problem if after I apply the stain, if it falls below freezing at night?
It cannot drop below freezing the first night after staining.
I am going to mix 1 gallon of cleaner. How much powered cleaner di I use?
6-8 oz per gallon of water.
I have a deck that also has a gazebo on one corner of it. I have used RAD products on this deck several years ago, and am going to give RAD one more chance as 3 years on the deck is in very poor condition after it initially looked great; it does get a lot of sun which is likely a contributor to the degradation of the deck stained floor. I am in Northern Vermont, and am trying to get this done in the next day. The walls of the gazebo (which are low walls with screens above them) are in good shape. I would like to use just the cleaner on them; although I will use the RAD stripper on the deck floor. I need to do the Deck floor right away; can I use the cleaner on the walls of the gazebo after I have finished the deck floorand let it dry for a couple of days?? Will the cleaner damage the newly stained floor?
No, prep all wood first with the stripper and or the cleaner. Brightener when done. Stain after all is prepped.
Can the RAD cleaner and brightener be used as prep for latex paint?
The Cleaner will help to remove dirt, mold, and grime for prep for painted services. No need for the brightener.
I cleaned my deck with RAD cleaner but was unable to apply brightener the same day. Can I apply the RAD brightener a couple of days later?
Yes.
I used restore a deck cleaner and brightener. A bit of green mildew/mold remains. How do I remove it? I plan on recoating with TWP, the original stain I used.
Post some pics in the comments.
I have posted a photo from my phone twice. Have you gotten them?
No pictures.
I’m trying again. I need to know if I can spray bleach on the affected areas and rinse off and not have to use the cleaner and brightened again.
You should strip and brighten this to ensure it is all removed and even when appearance when done:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit.html
Make sure you are pressure washing as well.
I have 2 year old unstained, treated pine deck in need of a clean. I do not plan to stain at this time, can I use RAD just to clean and leave unstained for now? Also can the brightener be applied a day or two after cleaning if one re-wets the deck? Not sure sure I can get cleaning and brightening done in one shot.
Yes to both questions but if possible, brighten right after the cleaning. It is a very easy step.
I tried to remove a marine seal once sealer on vertical spindles so I could apply RAD semi transparent cedar stain. It was impossible to remove the stain just beaded on top. I used RAD stripper and power washed a little too much to try to get it off. In addition after staining my deck there was a huge down pour. Some of the deck that immediately got wet turned dark in some areas. I also thought one coat would be enough because I sanded. This spring 2024, I’m starting over! Plan to strip , brighten and restain using the brush ( last year I used a hand brush) question is those spindles what is the most powerful stripper RAD offers to get the sealant completely off the spindles? Is stripper enough to remove the one coat on the deck boards then brighten?
Post some pics of the deck and what you are trying to remove.
plan to strip,brighten then stain. The railings had a sealant i couldnt completely remove
The floors look pretty good. You can clean (or lightly strip) and then brighten them. Hard to see form pics but the railings should strip off as well. You could add the Booster and Gel additves to the strippers.
FYI, it is normal for the stripper to lower the pH balance of the wood and darken it. This is why you must brighten after to restore the pH and lighten the wood.
I prepped and stained my front covered deck with semi transparent cedar stain last summer looks great . All I want to do is clean it. Heavy pollen and dirt. Can I use the cleaner on the stained wood to clean and freshen without restraining?
No. Deck cleaners should only be used when you plan on recoating with the same stain or sealer as they produce a “deeper” cleaner. They should not be used for general cleaning of dirt or pollen.
Can I clean and brighten and if it rains before I get stain on do I need to do it again? It will be just a couple of days.
Rain will not harm the prep.
I stripped and stained our deck last summer, which came out far better than we expected. This summer, I plan to clean and brighten it, adding another coat of stain (semi-transparent natural) . I’m wondering what to do with the vertical portions — spindles and posts. Can I clean and brighten them without restaining?
Only use the Cleaner and Brighten if you plan on recoating in those areas.
Can I use cleaner, skip brightner and go straight to stain?
No, you should not skip the brightener step.
Is the brightner necessary to create a balanced ph suitable to receive stain? The wood is only 2 months old but experienced some discoloration from standing leaves. I’d simply like to eliminate the limited discolored area’s using the already purchased RAD cleaner alone. Will my results surely be unsatisfactory following this course of action?
You cannot skip the brightener step as it is needed for the proper pH balance.
I have glass panels for my deck railing. Will the deck cleaner damage or cause any effect/damage tothe glass?
It should not but sometimes glass can have a coating on them. Test spot first. Also, always prewet and rinse all over spray while working.
Thanks
I stripped, cleaned and brightened my deck using RAD products 3 years ago. When I retreat next year should I use cleaner at half strength, then brighten and restain or clean at full strength?
Depends on the condition of the stain next year. Post pics when you are ready.
I used RAD Cleaner and Brightener again about 3 years ago, followed by a Woodrich Timberoil semitransparent stain designed for redwood and other resinous woods. I planned to do so again now, but see I used up your cleaner and brightener kit, and the kit I was about to use is your stripper and brightener kit. I don’t really need to strip, but could that work just for cleaning and brightening?
You can use the stripper and brightener kit for the prep.
After applying RAD brighter (after first using RAD stripper, I rinsed for 45 minutes. A little foam is still appearing with all that rinsing….with 45 minutes of rinsing, mai I be confident to proceed to staining after 2-3 days of drying?
Thank you
Yes.
We sanded, applied applied borate, and stained or deck with TWP 100 last year. We would like to apply another coat this year because we had a few spots peel. Also we have a log home and want to be careful not to damage the log finish. We will be careful but have logs next to the deck. We purchased RAD.
Clean with the cleaner and then recoat.
Using just the cleaner, or the cleaner and brighter?
Cleaner at 1/2 concenration. You just want to remove dirt, not the stain. BTW, it actually looks fine. You could wait until next year.
I restored my deck with your products late last summer–stripped, brightened & stained. The result was fantastic. Your products & system are the best. However, I could not apply a 2nd coat of stain because of the time needed to do the first coat. I want to do the 2nd coat now. I think that all I have to do is apply your cleaner and then stain–is that correct?
Also, your yellow staining brush is great! Thank you!
Yes, that is correct. You might want to use the cleaner at 1/2 strength so it is not too aggreesive.
I have a cedar ceiling on my porch and it needs cleaned and resealed can I use a pressure washer to apply the cleaner?
No. Pump spray on and then pressure wash off.
I did my entire deck last year. New wood. I used the Clean, Brighten and stain as directed. I have a few random spots that are flaking on my deck. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to why the stain didn’t adhere. My plan was to do another coat this year as per the directions. (2nd year) but I want to know if I need to do anything special to these flaking areas, such as sand/buff///
Just prep and recoat and you should be okay.
After using paint stripper, when should solid stain be applied?
Stain within 2 weeeks after the prep. You can stain as soon as a few hours later.
I will not be able to apply the solid stain for about a month after using the paint stripper. Would I then have to clean and brighten before applying the solid stain?
Yes.
Hello, I used the RAD cleaner and brightener on my 1 year old cedar deck, with a pressure washer.
I supposed I used too much pressure because there are plenty of fuzzy wood fibres all over. Will I have to sand them away? Or can I stain over top?
Pics?
Sure thing.
Buff them off. This happens when removing deep oxidation. See this article for tips: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/wood-fuzzies-furring-on-deck/
Sure thing, here they are.
California
Lots of sun, though partial oak shade.
Redwood, circa 1990’s, good condition
No apparent mold or mildew
September 2020, after stripping and neutralizing old red stain we did not like (alkyd and various oil), Then used TWP 1500 clear transparent and liked the natural tone when fresh. It turned dull and gray after a year or two.
I anticipate either Restore A Deck two step vs. stripping plus neutralizing. Then more TWP 1500 (I have 1-2 gallons left in the 5 gal can). I would also consider a cedar tint since that should give me a little more sun protection.
I intend to leave rails as-is this time and only do the 950 sq. ft. floor. Never impressed that my now-leaking pressure washer did any more than hose nozzle unless I got so close as to damage wood, so I am inclined to use scrubbing brush and hose nozzle for prep. Water is scarce here, but I don’t see any way to conserve water on this job.
Does this make sense?
RAD Cleaner and Brightener fore prep while pressure washing is the easiest way to prep. Yoi could scrub but it is a lot more work. Tinted stains are needed for UV protection.
if I don’t have a pressure washer, how do I apply the cleaner and then the brightener?
Apply with a pump sprayer, heavy scrub, and rinse when done.
sorry, I wan’t clear on my question—I have neither a pump sprayer nor a power washer…can I use a big sponge?
Yes but much easier to buy a pump sprayer for applying. They are fairly inexpensive.
Let me make sure I got this right. Using the Restore-A-Deck cleaner, you first lightly spray the deck with water, then apply the dissolved cleaner using the hand pump sprayer, then wait 5-15 minutes before using the scrub brush to clean. Is this correct? Call me stupid if you wish 🤔
Yes, except pressure wash off is the preferred and easier method. Brightener goes on after.
I live in south Georgia. Summer temps here are 60’s and 70’s overnight …. and 80’s and 90’s during the day. I see that the recommended temperature for applying the cleaner/brightener is between 45-90 degrees. Is there any leeway in that temperature requirement? As I mentioned, we will often hit 95 degrees at mid-day or late afternoon.
If you keep the wood wet while using the prep products, you can apply them in higher temps.
I have used your semi transparent products for a few years on my decks. I refinished this deck 2 years ago. It is not looking good at all now. Why do you think it has deteriorated so much and what are your suggestions?
Thanks,
Tom
It is normal to have to prep and recoat every 2-3 years. Use the Cleaner an Brighener Kit and pressure washing for prep.
do i have to strip deck or can i stain over this. it’s your product i put on last year
Use the Cleaner and then recoat. You could also wait until next year.
can i restain with your product without stripping from year to year
Whenever recoating you need to cleanr for prep but you do not have to strip.
We have stain our deck 3 years ago with RAD semi-transparent walnut stain. We would like to recoat the deck this year. I was wondering if we have to do the cleaner and the brighter or just the cleaner before recoating? Thanks !
Clean and brighten.
Thanks!
Okay…when recoating, should I do one or two coats?
Proabbly two light coats applied wet on wet:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stain-wet-on-wet-application
Can the cleaner be used just to clean off the grime?
Only use the Cleaner if you plan on recoating. For dirt, just use some warm water and dish soap.
UGH. I called the toll free number while I was waiting for your reply and I was told the opposite: that the cleaner can be used just to clean! I ordered from Canada and with exchange and shipping the total came to just over $100. I received the supplies I need to strip, brighten and stain last week and now I have the cleaner coming that will be useless.
You can cancel the order. Thanks
I just did the whole process on my deck and steps last year and used the TWP stain. The deck surface and steps didn’t hold up well through a buffalo winter and need to be done again. Do I just powerwash and put down more TWP or do I have to go through the whole cleaner/brightener process again?
Use the prep products while pressure washing.
Your bamboo is clean already so just use water to remove any dirt. The TWP 300 Series is a filming coating designed for bamboo. It is designed to dry on top and leave a shine. It is not the same as using a penetrating stain like the RAD semi-transparent where you need the bamboo porous by removing the natural coating that is already on your bamboo.
Thanks for the quick reply!
Ah.. OK. Then I’m good to go with, like you’ve mentioned, a straight water rinse. Good to know! I appreciate the info and will forgo the Cleaner/Brightener combo.
I used the stripper/brightener and stain on the deck. Now I want to do the fence and railing nearby. The stain is in pretty good shape there, I think I can clean and brighten without the stripper. The stain is still visible but is fairly consistent on the uprights. the horizontal pieces show more graying but I cannot possibly get inside the uprights to scrub. If I clean and brighten with some stain left from before, am I making a mistake?
What brand is the prior stain? It has to come off if a different brand.
Benjamin and Moore, semi transparent oil based
Whenever you switch brands of stain you have to remove the old coating.
We have a deck with pressure washer marks. Will this product get rid of them?
No. The only way to get rid of this is to power sand the entire deck evenly to remove.
We have a pressure treated wood deck in northern Wisconsin. We stripped, sanded and stained (PPG ProLuxe Transparent) the deck in June this year. We were thinking about putting another stain coat on for extra protection in the next couple weeks before winter sets in.
1. Would applying another coat make sense?
2. If we apply another coat, would prep be just a light washing and stain, brightener and stain, or cleaner, brightener and stain?
More is not better so leave it as is.
I have a large deck. Can I use both products all the way through on a section and then go on to another section? Will it show where I stop one section and start the next?
Clean all first and then brighten all last if the deck is all connected.
I have been puzzled by this…Applying cleaner to whole 950 sq ft deck, keeping it all wet, pressure washing with Powerwasher 1500HD takes a few hours; meanwhile I need to keep it wet the whole time for next step, which takes longer than time I am supposed to start rinsing it off. The same problem exists for the second step. The rinsing here also gets delayed while finishing the application and waiting for it to bubble. Struggling with what the priorities should be re timing. Had similar trouble with stripping, not to mention that powerwashing has not seemed to work as well as scrubbing. No doubt I am doing something wrong.
Wife says need to keep deck damp after using cleaner until we put the brightener on. Can we let the deck after using the cleaner sit overnight then dampen in the morning before putting the brightener on?
Best to apply right after cleaning while wood is damp.
We recently redid our 25 year old deck with kiln dried wood flooring /steps and an aluminum railing system. Will be using RAD deck cleaner, brightener, and stain. Will the deck cleaner and brightener damage the posts (black aluminum) where they attach to deck boards or should we cover them prior to application? Also, do we need to cover our house siding that is in contact with the deck boards? Thanks.
They should not harm them but always test spot first. As for siding, it depends on what it is made of and the coating on it.
I plan on using RAD on my pool deck. Should I be concerned about any cleaner or brightener getting into the pool?
Wash away from pool when cleaning as best as you can. Check pH level of pool when done as you may need to balance it.
I am in a water critical area. If I use a pressure washer to rinse off the brightener doi still have to rinse 20 minutes? I don’t think it would take that long to get rid of all soap suds.
Yes, you need to make sure all is rinsed well.
If I’m putting on a new coat of the same stain, should use stripper or cleaner?
Cleaner.
If the finish is damaged from sun and weather or stained from spotted lantern flies in some places is the cleaner still sufficient?
If there is some damage from sun and weather and spotted lantern flies in some places is the cleaner sufficient or is better to use the stripper then?
Strip and brighten then.
is there guidance on how to know when to use cleaner and when to use stripper?
Sure, just ask or post pics. Every scenario is different.
Here are some pics. Your can see the main floor is in pretty good condition but there one spot with more weather damage. With the cleaner do you actually remove the old stain or no?
We would strip and brighten this one to ensure the new stain applies evenly. You have a lot of dirt/grime so some stain may come off unevenly if you just use the cleaner.
I have some 8×8 pressure treated vertical and horizontal beams on my porch that are pretty black with what I assume is mold. Will the Step 1 cleaner handle cleaning that mold with pressure washing or do I need something else?
Post pics.
Here is a picture
It should work well but the one issue is that it looks like you have a stain on it and the mildew may be embedded in the stain.
It’s never been stained. This will be the first time. I’ll give the cleaner a shot and see how it goes.
No. Pressure washer marks cannot be removed with a cleaner. You would have to deep sand the entire deck to remove the damage caused by the pressure washer.
Hello,
I will be cleaning and brightening my deck tomorrow and then staining six days later with TWP 1500. Two days after my Cleaning and brightening there is rain/ very light snow in the forecast. Is this going to ruin my cleaner and brightener steps?
No, just let it dry for 48 hours after before staining.
Thank you,
I have another question. I might need to replace the railing wood. If so I understand I need to let the wood weather. After several months of weathering I would clean and brighten the new wood? Then stain? Would I have to also clean and brighten and re stain the deck floor. The stain on the existing deck floor is TWP 1500
It would be best and easiest to do it all at once so as to not harm the flooring that is stained.
I cleaned and brightened my cedar deck using Restore A Deck and am now ready to apply stain. The day following cleaning and brightening it started to rain and the forecast is for daily rain for the next week. Do I need to wait for two consecutive dry days before applying stain? Do I need to clean and brighten again before applying stain?
Depends on what stain brand you are using?
I’m using TWP 1501 Cedartone stain.
Wait 48 hours after prep or rain before staining. If longer than 2 weeks after prep, redo by washing and brightening the deck.
I need to do my 2 year maintenance cleaning and re-staining of my deck. I will be using same color, How long after I clean and brighten my deck with the RAD products, do I need to wait before applying RAD semi transparent stain.
You can apply the RAD Stain to dry of damp wood: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/Deck-Cleaning-Reviews-and-Tips/how-to-restore-a-deck-stain-to-damp-wood.html
If I like the color of our ipe siding – as-is. Can I just clean it and reply with a new coat of transparent protector?
No, that is not possible. To prevent graying you must have a tinted stain and that means the color will be enhanced based on the color you choose.
How much cleaner powder make one gallon if I use a measuring cup
6-8 oz of powder by volume.