Restore-A-Deck Wood Cleaner: The BEST Deck Cleaner
Restore-A-Deck Wood Cleaner is a powdered concentrate that is mixed with water. It safely cleans and restores the natural beauty of exterior wood commonly found on decks, stairs, and fences. This product also cleans weathered composite lumber, removing mold, mildew, and algae along with the silver-gray color that can develop over time. This product restores all wood surfaces back to their original appearance. Restore-A-Deck Wood Cleaner will not harm wood fibers, pets, grass, or most plants.
Restore-A-Deck Wood Cleaner has consistently been rated the best wood and deck stain cleaner year over year and is used by pros and homeowners alike.
The Restore A Deck system is a multistep deck cleaning system, and best results are achieved when using all 3 products. This product is Step 1 Cleaner of the Restore A Deck system.
When & Where to use Restore-A-Deck Wood Cleaner
Restore-A-Deck Wood Cleaner removes dirt, grime, mold and mildew stains, and weathered graying from horizontal and vertical wood surfaces. It is recommended for surface preparation prior to application or reapplication of wood stains. For best results use Restore-A-Deck Wood Stains.
ADVANTAGES
- #1 Rated Wood and Deck Stain Cleaner
- Designed specifically for all Exterior Wood and Composite Decking
- Prep new wood, weathered wood, and maintenance coats
- Powdered formula makes 5 liquid gallons when mixed
- Extremely cost-effective. When mixed, the cost is less than $6 a gallon.
- Eco-Safe formulas safe for DIY deck cleaning
- Removes stains from wood caused by mold and mildew
- Removes wood graying caused by UV rays
- Removes dirt and debris from decks, stairs, and fences
- Safe to use on all exterior wood surfaces, not just decks
Note: Restore-A-Deck Wood Cleaner will slightly darken the wood. Use Restore-A-Deck Wood Brightener to restore all wood to its original color and as a neutralizer to further brighten other wood species that have been cleaned with Restore-A-Deck Wood Cleaner.
Coverage: 750-1000 sq.feet per container.
Restore-a-Deck Step 1 is a wood cleaner and preps stains for the reapplication of a stain. It is not a stain stripper or remover of old stains. Please see Restore-A-Deck Stripper if you are trying to remove a semi-transparent stain.
I used a semi transparent decal stain on my porch. Id like to reapply the stain as it has started to fade. Can I use the clean or do I have to strip the prior Restore A Deck semi cedar.
You clean and recoat.
How3 long does the cleaner last when mixed?
A few hours. Only mix what is needed.
We stained our deck for the first time about 3 years ago with RAD Semi-transparent stain. I want to re-stain the deck now but I’m not sure if I need to strip the old stain or if I can just use the cleaner again like I did the first time. Attached are some photos. Can you please advise?
Since it has worn unevenly, use the Stripper and then the Brightener Kit:
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/restore-a-deck-stripper-brightener-kit.html
Question about re-staining kids playset. In 2020 playset was new, cleaned with RAD cleaner and stained with RAD semi-transparent light walnut stain. Planning to restain next month. Planning to do RAD Cleaner and then restain with same stain type. Is this sufficient? Or need to do Cleaner+Stripper?
It would be easier to use the stripper first and then brightener afterward. There is no need for cleaner if you use the stripper.
Will this product affect freshly painted deck post and rail
No, it should not harm paint.
What happens if I leave the cleaner or brightener on longer than recommended before rinsing off? I am thinking 30 min to an hour as oppose to 15-20 minutes.
There is no benefit to doing this, but no issues if you do as long as you mist it to keep it from drying out.
Hi, I last stained my deck in 2022 from a 5 gal container of TWP 116 and had around two gallons left over. I put both gallons in a new gallon paint can when I was done. Is this stain still good to use?
Thanks
Shelf life of opened TWP stain is 12 months.
I stripped, brightened and stained my deck in 2013. Cleaned, brightened and recoated in 2015 and again in 2019. I use TWP 100 Cedertone. I am ready to redcoat this summer. Can I use cleaner and brightener before recoating? For the third time?
We would strip and brighten this time. It’s the same amount of work, but it just gets you down to the bare wood.
Thanks!
Hi, I cleaned and brightened my cedar deck Friday as shown in the attached pictures. The deck was cleaned, brightened and stained with TWP 116 in 2022. It appears that the cleaning has almost stripped the stain (it looked pretty good before the cleaning). Should I use just one coat or two coats wet on wet (I plan to use TWP 116 rustic again)? Thanks for you assistance!
One coat.
I forgot to ask – I last stained my deck in 2022 from a 5 gal container of TWP 116 and had around two gallons left over. I put both gallons in a new gallon paint can when I was done. Is this stain still good to use?
Hard to say. Shelf life after opening is 12 months.
I cleaned, brightened, and coated a new pressure treated pine deck 12 months ago with your semi-transparent natural stain. I have read from your site that I should apply a “light maintenance coat” 12-18 months later. But there are other comments on your site that say I should do all three steps again, even though it’s only 12 months later on a new deck. The deck still looks great, and I want to keep it that way using your products. Do I need to use the cleaner and brightener again, or just a single step of applying the same stain as I used last time?
Hi Tom. If it still looks good then leave it alone this year and do the prep and stain next Spring.
Great, thanks!
I put a new deck up last year and used the cleaner and brighter before staining. Now I just want to clean the deck off after winter because it is just a little bit dirty. Can I use the restore deck cleaner only?
No, only use the prep products if you are recoating. Try warm water and some dish soapy for general cleaning.
Would it damage the existing stain I applied? It is sold as a deck “cleaner” so that is a little misleading if in actuality it is more of a stripper.
You cannot use any “deck cleaner” on the market for general cleaning off dirt on top of the stain. They are all for prep when applying a new coat of stain as it gives a deep clean and may lighten the current coating. This is normal.
Can this be used on outdoor teak furniture?
Yes.
Spent all day cleaning and brightening and used the pressure washer as recommended. It created “furry” connected wood fibers in all of the wood. Should I not have pressure washed or did I make the cleaner solution too concentrated? Very frustrating and took way longer than expected. I think solution and scrubbing would have been better. What to do now? Do I have to sand it with low grit sandpaper all over and brighten again? Or can I stain as is? Using RAD semi transparent stain – 5 month weathered untreated doug fir, 300 sq ft deck.
That happens when the wood is over-oxidized and the top layer of wood cells has to come off. It is not related to the prep products and typically not the pressure washer. See this for tips on why it sometimes happens. https://www.deckstainhelp.com/wood-fuzzies-furring-on-deck/
The easiest thing to do is rent a floor buffer and a sanding screen or pad and buff the floor. It will take 30 minutes for your sized deck. You can get this at any rental yard.
The wood turns grey and oxidizes as part of the weathering process, so I don’t see how this is avoidable. What will happen if I just stain it like this? Will it look bad or not be as protected? Will the furries eventually wear off? I have a strong preference for just staining, as renting a buffer and brightening again realistically adds another day to the project. Thanks for your help.
You can stain it like this, the stain will last just as long. As for looks, it may show slightly. You could try a test board to see.
I stained my deck with Armstrong Clark Semi-Transparent Sierra Redwood stain in 5-2022. The second picture is of an area in the sun that is not too worn, but darker. The third is in the shade and shows how it has weathered. Do I need to strip it first (and will it harm my house paint) or can I use the cleaner and brightener?
Strip and brighten for prep. No need for the cleaner. It does not remove paint unless the paint is already peeling.
I think I used your wood cleaner and brightener combination a couple of years ago to remove a transparent stain. I put on a semi-transparent stain that has darkened a lot. Can I use the same cleaner/brightener or do I need a stripper first? Your site doesn’t say whether the stripper will remove acrylic house paint since my deck is on the second floor and that would be impossible to protect.
Post some pics for help in the comments.
Last year, I used the stripper (sanded), brightener and 2 coats of stain. Looked great but will need a refresh this year. Can I just use the cleaner, brightener and 1 coat of stain?
Hello! I have a Cabot transparent cedar stain on a cedar entryway porch. The porch has gotten slipper due to moss and algae build up but the stain was in good shape last I checked. Can you further dilute the cleaner to use it to remove the moss/algae without damaging the stain? We plan to restain it in the summer, but wanted to clean it so it isn’t a trip hazard, but don’t want to leave it unstained over the winter. Thanks!
No, that is not possible. Only use a deck cleaner if you plan on recoating.
I have an Alaskan Yellow Cedar deck that is one year old, and it is raw wood (never had any finish on it). My main objective is to have the most time until I need to reapply more finish. I plan to use RAD cleaner and brightener before applying your stain. I am open to a solid or semi-solid stain and would like your opinion. Also, if I understand it correctly, solid needs two coats while semi only one. Can you explain why that is?
Have you considered a two-toned deck? They look great and it reduces maintenance in the future as you clean and recoat the floors every 2-3 years while the railings only need touch ups if anything for the first 4-6 years.
https://www.restore-a-deck.com/two-toned-decks-with-restore-a-deck-wood-stains
Please confirm coverage of the Cleaner. The description of the Cleaner alone says “Coverage: 750-1000 sq.feet per container.” However, the RAD 300 pkg says “(600-800 total sq. feet)”. I need to clean ~ 900 sf and don’t know how much to buy. Thanks.
Coverage will vary based on how dirty or gray the wood is. You are borderline with 1 package of the cleaner at 900 sq feet.