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 have a Generac 2800 PSI / 2.5 gallons per minute pressure washer. To avoid exceeding 500 to 600 psi so as not to damage the wood, do I use the green or white tip and how far from the decking should the tip be held?
Use the green tip and wash at about 6-10″ away from the wood.
Will a strong hose spray work to wash off the cleaner or do i need a pressure sprayer?
Pressure washer is best and easiest.
I rinsed rad brightner for 20 minutes it still is sudsy. Do I need to keep rinsing?
Yes for a little longer until no more suds.
Will the cleaner or brightner damage the Screens on a screen porch. There is good Chance of getting these on into the screens when spraying.
They should not.
Thanks, I see on this page that using the cleaner on wood that has been left unstained can cause raised wood grain/fuzziness that may require sanding to correct.
The open wood deck portion was built three years ago and never stained, although it has not grayed much, maybe because there are a lot of trees behind it.
The screened porch is older and was stained many years ago.
Am I ok with using the product on both portions or better to use only on the older stained porch but not on the unstained deck to avoid having to potentially deal with sanding fuzzy wood?
The cleaner does not cause the raised grain, it is oxidation that causes this. The more you have the larger the chance of this happening. You have to use it everywhere including the unstained areas.
it has been raining for a couple days and the deck is soaked. once the rain stops how long do I need to wait to apply the RAD cleaner then brightener?
I can be applied a visibly damp deck, not soaking wet.
I am searching for a deck cleaner that is not intended to strip away any solid or semi transparent stain but that can clean away dirt and mildew and that has no bleach. What would you suggest for just cleaning for dirt and mildew but not to prep for staining or retaining?
Out prep products are designed only for when you are reapplying, not general cleaning of dirt.
Looks like light rain early Sunday morning but high 80s rest of Sunday and 90s on Monday. Think I can stain on Tuesday? Temps in 90s Tues and Wed but rain on Thurs. Think that window of opportunity will be ok?. Thanks
Yes.
Deck is ready to stain with TWP. This morning dew had fallen. My deck faces east so can I wait for the dew to burn off then stain?
Yes.
We have powder coated, steel balusters. Will the cleaner or brightener damage the finish? Q
It should but always test a spot first.
Was the reply intended to say it should “Not”?
Yes, should not harm. Sorry for the typo.
Built new 18×18 deck in Nov 2017. In July 2018 I cleaned, brightened and stained with one coat of TWP Pecan. Yesterday(Sept 8 2019) I cleaned deck with Defy and wood looks like it’s back to it’s natural color. How many coats of TWP do I need to apply this time around? If one coat, ok. If two coats, should I stain entire floor before applying 2nd coat or do a few boards at a time? Thanks
If bare wood, apply two coats wet on wet. Doo all the floor and then repeat.
Can I apply the cleaner and brightener with a mop if I dont have a sprayer?
Best to use a sprayer for aproper application.
My new decking boards are 5 months old and the hot dipped galvanized nails that the contractor used are rusting with stain marks on the treated lumber.. so I tested the RAD cleaner by mixing one tablespoon of crystals in a 32 ounce spray bottle. Waited 15 minutes and scrubbed with a brush, then power wash with 1500 psi spray. Did not remove stains. Appreciate your recommendations!
Thanks Dan Sethner
Brightener will help to remove rust, not the cleaner. The rust will come back though as soon as it rains.
I’ve recently stained(oil based) the railings around my deck. Will the cleaner damage this job?
Possibly it could “clean” or lighten the stain but that would really depend on the stain brand and type of stain. Hard to say for certain if an issue or not.
Wondering if you can apply the solid stain with a roller. I noticed you have pads on sale but I have never had good luck with a pad applicator?
For a solid stain, brushes and rollers are best.
I just got done using the cleaner. Do I need to use the brightener as well? I ask because I ran out of time to apply the brightener today. If the brightener is needed, is there any issue with applying the brightener the following morning?
Yes, brighten as soon as you can.
The aluminum railing is only a year old
Will the RAD cleaner harm aluminum railing? Thanks
It shouldn’t but it would depend on the condition of the aluminum. Old aluminum oxidizes and chalks very bad so the Cleaner would potentially clean off the oxidation.
I’m doing maintenance on my deck. I used restore a deck a year ago, but there are places where the stain is ‘peeling’. Can I just clean and stain or do I need to use the brightener again?
Clean only.
The cleaner instructions state to mix about a cup per gallon. How many dry ounces are there in a cup?
8 oz.
It seems that some people have had issues with raised wood fiber after applying RAD cleaner & brightener. How do you prevent this, and if it happens, what do you have to do before applying stain?
This issue is not related to the RAD Cleaner or Brightener but the oxidation of the wood. When wood heavily oxidizes/grays you will have this happen no matter what brand of cleaner you use. Basically, the more gray or oxidation you have of the wood that needs to come off, the greater the chance of this happening. Lightly sanding to the floor will remove the fuzzies. Typically it also will not show when stained as the stain enhances the wood color.
Lightly sanding before or after staining? What grit would you recommend?
After prep, before staining. 60-80 grit. You can also use a floor buffer with a sanding pad. Fast and easy to do.
I have nearly 900 sq ft of floor alone (not counting rails and spindles), so no sanding is going to be fast. How about hand scrubbing and hosing off the cleaner (instead of using a power-washer) as a way to eliminate “the fuzzies”?
Sounds like you’re saying that “the fuzzies” occur whenever there’s heavy oxidation/graying that has to be removed, so what if I already sanded (to eliminate splintering) and I don’t wait too long before I prep – say just the minimum 3 months or so. In that case the oxidation/graying will be minimal, and so should “the fuzzies” after applying the cleaner and power-washing. Agree?
Pressure washing does not create the fuzzies, it is oxidation of the wood and cannot be avoided when the wood is heavily oxidized. Waiting 3-4 months after install will have a lot fewer issues or no issues. It is usually related to decks that are left untreated for a year or more.
I thought sanding closed the wood pores, affecting its ability to accept stain?
Buffing off works much better. Do an internet search for wood fuzzies and how to fix. You will see some good advice.
I built a new cedar deck ( about 300 sq. ft. ) and would like to stain it before our long Minnesota winter starts. This will only give me about 3 months of weathering. Can I use restore a deck to remove mill glaze and speed up the process. Also would I use both the cleaner and the brightener or just one or the other. Or do l have to wait till next year. It would probably be next June if you know Minnesota. I plan on using TWP 100 stain.
TWP wants 4-12 month of weathering and prep with both a cleaner and a brightener. Just one coat of the TWP first time applied.
Here is another photo that may help show you what I am seeing now.
That is from the graying/oxidation from leaving your wood unstained for a year. Typically does not show when stained. You can also buff this off with a floor buffer.
Is there anything else I can use besides renting a floor buffer? Like how about a pole sander with 220 grit?
You could try that but not sure how effective hand sanding will be.
I used both the cleaner and brightner all in one day on a new deck. The deck was built last year so it had plenty of time to dry out. I followed the instructions on both bottles (the cleaner and the brightner) and this website but now after applying my stain, I have some wood fibers that look a little weird. It looks like peach fuzz. Any ideas what this is from and how I fix it? I saw it before I applied my stain but thought my stain would cover it. Thanks.
Is it necesssary to use Brightener when the stain will be a solid stain and the wood won’t show?
Not from an appearance standpoint but it will be needed to neutralize after using a stain stripper.
Can I just use the Cleaner instead of the Stripper…for Solid stain?
The stripper will remove more of the loose solid stain.
Will runoff from cleaning my upper deck with Restore-A-Deck brightener & cleaner affect my recently-stained (TWP 200 series) lower deck?
Thank you
It shouldn’t.
Hi, can you tell me how long the deck stripper is effective, once it is mixed?
thank you
The RAD Stripper does not have a shelf life. It will stay active for many months. The Cleaner does and needs to be used within hours of being mixed.
Can this product be applied over other stains
Are you asking about the stains or the cleaner? This page is about the cleaner.
My deck was installed June 29 2018, do I need to clean brighten then stain,
Yes, that is correct. Use the Restore A Deck Cleaner/Brightener Kits for prep: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/RAD-Kits-Best-Prices.html
I am going to stain a brand new cedar gate. It is temporarily installed (hanging) in my garage so I can stain it without worrying about rain. Therefore I cannot use a power water in the garage. How should I go about using your cleaner and brightener? Do I have to use a tank sprayer? Do I have to scrub it? I’m really just trying to get rid of the mill glaze before I stain it.
See this about new wood: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/Deck-Cleaning-Reviews-and-Tips/restore-a-deck-stain-for-new-wood.html
You should install it now, wait 3 months, and prep and stain outside.
I cleaned and brightened my fence, but a few boards that get the most sun are still gray. Do I need to clean again, or only brighten?
P.s. Suggestion for your website: add a search if the questions/comments. There’s lot of great tips, but they’re hard to find.
Reply with a picture.
Clean again, right?
Unfortunately, I ran out of cleaner. Most of the boards are the top rail of the fence. If we stain the rest of the fence and go back later to clean, brighten, and stain the top, will it mess up (gravity being what it is) the fence we’ve already stained?
Hi, no pictures were added. Please upload. We would not suggest staining part and then prepping above that later.
It’s the top horizonal piece that’s still gray. Fence is about two years old and never been stained. What happens if we go ahead and stain it as-is? My concern is if we don’t stain this weekend, we might not get another weather window until fall.
Do a test spot on the top and if it looks decent, then go ahead and stain. It will not harm the coating and is more of an appearance issue.
I am going to apply RAD cleaner and brightener on my deck. Deck consists of some older wood (~10 years) and some new wood (<1yr). I do not have a pressure washer and was wondering if I could get by with just scrubbing? I know it’s a bit more work, would rather not have to purchase pressure washer. Thanks in advance for your advice.
You can scrub, just a lot more work. You can rent pressure washers.
I have a deck that has remaining semi transparent stain in some spots, mildew in others with very little to no remaining stain. Would there me any need to use both a cleaner and a stripper…or will the stripper be enough to do the job?
Stripper than the brightener.
I have an older deck that has a little wear. Customer does not want to strip deck. Question is since stain will be left should I use brightner?
No need.
We have a balcony deck and ground level deck. The ground level deck is stripped/brightened. 1 section is stained. We need to clean/brighten the balcony deck. The run off from washing the cleaner and brightener will flow onto both sections of the lower deck. Will they be affected?
Possibly. No way to say it will not be harmed.
I ordered the cleaner and stain from Amazon and I have hired a man to clean the deck and stain it tomorrow. The pressure treated deck is quite clean already and there is no mildew. Since I missed the part about restoring PH with the brightener. Will the stain fail if I go straight from cleaning to staining?
The stain will not fail.
Should cleaning and brightening be completed in the same day? Or can cleaning be done one day and brightening the next? If so, what the longest period you can wait between cleaning and brightening?
Clean and brighten the same day.
Hi! We have an old deck that was completely neglected. When we moved in last year, we stripped, cleaned and brightened using Defy. We added several new boards and did not stain to let the new boards age. This year, I used RAD cleaner, brighter and stain. We should have used a solid, but went with Light walnut. Stained yesterday and now many of the newer boards have grey film over them. Did we not get all the cleaner brightened off? How do we fix? It hasn’t cured completely yet. Sprinkled a little at 5am but no rain. Thanks!!
Looks like you left some soap residue or the brightener in the wood? Did you rinse the brightener for 20 minutes after you were done? Looks like something is leeching out of the wood. Try a test spot of stain in an area where you have this issue and see if it darkens up the wood correctly.
Want to apply your product to a 6 month old PT deck… replaced a horrible dark brown deck from the previous owner and want the most natural look. Does your natural color have a yellow tone? Secondly, I have read you don’t recommend sanding, but some new wood has lettering on it from the manufacturer… shouldn’t this be sanded or what do you recommend? Thanks
Natural is a golden tine but the final color will vary based on wood type and age. The ink stamps will have to be sanded off but you will then need to let those sanded spots weather for another couple of months before prepping and staining.
I have a new cedar deck that I built last year and I finished laying the cedar deck boards in October of 2018 so they have been weathering since then.
I’m starting to plan the stain so I will need to clean and brighten first. I have the RAD kit.
After I apply the cleaner with the pump sprayer and wait the 15 minutes, should I scrub with a brush first and then use the pressure washer? Or can I skip the scrubbing and go right to the pressure washer?
I will be using Sikkens cetol srd stain..
No need to scrub, just pressure wash.
Great thanks!
will the cleaner and Brightener be an issue for the surrounding guard rails and posts which are already stained? It won’t remove or fade that stain will it? Any issue with it coming into contact with the black metal balusters?
How close should the pressure washer nozzle be from the surface? Should I run approx 1500psi?
It may lighten the vertical wood some. It should not harm the metal spindles but always do a test spot first. Wash 8-10 inches away with the nozzle.
Cleaner and brightener worked great. I had fuzzies after but I used a floor buffer followed by 5″ random orbit sander with 60 grit, I gave everything a good rinse and let dry.
first two pictures are after all the prep work and cleaning. Third picture is the stain going on.
Looking good! Do not forget to enter our contest: https://www.restore-a-deck.com/Deck-Cleaning-Reviews-and-Tips/restore-a-deck-prep-stain-contest-2019.html
I will definitely enter!
Here is the third pic of the stain being applied:
Hi there I have a pool that has an ipe deck surrounding it. Are the cleaner and brightner safe to use around the pool? Also do you need to scrub and power wash or can you just power wash the deck? Thanks
Try not to get the prep products in the pool. if you do, worse case is you will have to clean all the dirt and grime from the pool and balance the pH of the pool.
Apply and pressure wash is what most do.
I stained my deck last year with TWP. I cleaned and brightened first of course. The stain has faded a bit and worn away in spots. I am certain I put the stain on to thin last year. Do I need to strip off last years stain or can I just clean and brighten and then apply a new couple of coats?
Just clean and brighten for prep.
Is a garden sprayer appropriate for the cleaner, stripper and brightener applucations?
Yes but do not mix in the sprayer. Mix in a bucket first and then transfer to the sprayer.
I stained my cedar deck last year with TWP 1500. Prior to staining I sanded the cedar to new. I used a recommended solution from TWP of 3 oz bleach 3 oz dish soap to one gallon of water. To remove mildew and service mold. The solution worked but lightened up areas that I used a brush on. Can I now put a coat on the light areas? Mel
You cannot spot apply the TWP and have it blend.
Here is a picture of redwood atop the gloss white painted frame
I am going to be cleaning and brightening a redwood deck, half new and half old wood. But the decking is on top of a painted frame. Will the cleaner or brightened affect the paint below?
No, it will not affect the painted rails
You say it’s good to use a pressure washer. But I can’t find instructions with exact details. Specifically, My pressure washer has an intake where cleaner can feed directly into the spray. Is this what we should do? Is there a different ratio or water to powder to use when doing this? Thx.
The RAD Cleaner cannot be injected through a pressure washer. You will need to apply with a pump sprayer and then pressure wash off.
After cleaning and brightening my cedar deck with Restore-A-Deck, which by the way looks like new and smells like cedar again, I noticed two quarter size spots that are sticky and maybe adhesive. What would you recommend to get rid of them? Could I use a product like Oops? Thanks for your help!
Picture, please.
Could it be pitch?
No idea what that is. Try to hand sand it off.
Hand sanding worked!
I have two more questions. First, I cleaned and brightened my deck three days ago and it has rained almost continuously since then. My deck is enclosed so no rain has gotten on it, however, it is very humid. Is it ok to stain it with TWP or should I wait for the humidity to drop? Secondly, how long after I stain my deck with TWP does the temperature need to be above 45 degrees? Thanks again for all your help!!!
Humidity is not an issue. Stay above the 45 for at least 24 hours.
Ken, did you use the Brightener after the cleaner as well?
Yes, I did. You have to use both, as I understand, as the brightener neutralizes the cleaner.
I was going to use the RAD cleaner and brightener on exterior wood beams above large picture windows. Instructions say do not let dry on glass or metal – will RAD damage glass? Worried now about using product. thanks
If you rinse well right away you should be okay. Letting it dry can create an issue with cleanup and or discoloration.
After a contractor applied 1 RAD kit to my deck there is still significant gray/silver fuzz that needs to be removed. Can another kit be applied back to back to remove the remaining gray/silver fuzz from the wood?
Yes, you can go over this again with the kit to remove the rest of the gray.
My deck is less than 1000 sqft. should 1 application have done it? They didn’t use a power washer, just brushes.
You will need a pressure washer and the coverage averages to about 750 per kit but can vary between 600-1000.
Hello, we are prepping a cedar deck that previously had TWP 1515. We used the stripper, then brightener on a weather-protected area under the porch because the previous stain was very thick. The stain was removed pretty well, but there are 2 boards that are significantly darker (see photos). They had a lighter color when they were dry yesterday, but today it is raining and I am concerned that the color when wet simulates the color we will see after we re-stain with TWP 1515. Do you know the reason why the boards are darker? Is there anything we can do to lighten them? Thanks.
Hello,
it looks like you missed the spot with the brightener. Try to brighten all the wood again but really saturate the brightener well in the one area. Let it dry into the wood without rinsing.
Thanks, for the quick response. Can I just apply the brightener solution with a rag or a paint brush or roller, instead of a sprayer?
No, it needs to be sprayed. Use a pump sprayer.