Deck Cleaning and Staining – Washing the Deck
- Apply a Wood Cleaner Before you start the actual washing, apply potent cleaning products to clean a deck for staining purposes, or even if you want to leave it unfinished. ...
- Rinse the Deck with a Pressure Washer ...
- Check the Wood for Old Stain and Other Issues ...
What do you need to know before staining a deck?
- Stir the stain thoroughly before applying and pour into a paint tray.
- Apply the stain to a test patch of wood to confirm that you're satisfied with its color and appearance.
- Begin by staining the railings, posts and balusters with a paint brush or hand-held paint pad. Use long, even strokes.
- Stain the inner and outer sides of the deck stair handrails.
Does deck have to be dry before staining?
When you powerwash your deck, the wood will retain some moisture in it. If you do not allow it to dry completely, the stain may very well trap the moisture inside the wood. Under perfect drying conditions, forty-eight hours are good enough to dry the wood sufficiently for staining.
Do you need to power wash your deck before staining?
So use your pressure washer with care and don’t get in a hurry (the fan tip will probably be your safest choice). It is not compulsory to pressure wash your deck before staining, but it will make for a better stain job in the long run. 1 What is Staining a Deck?
Do you need to use primer before staining a deck?
Use an exterior high quality slow drying oil based primer. If you tint the primer towards the finish color, one coat of stain may look just fine on top of the primer. Do not expect primer or paint to fill sanding swirls.
Should deck be cleaned before staining?
Before you apply stain, make sure the surface is clean (no dust, dirt, wood fibers or grease), dry and free from mildew. When a surface is not clean, stains and other finishes have trouble sticking and may end up peeling. 1. Thoroughly sweep the deck to remove all leaves and other debris.
How do I prepare my deck before staining?
PREP - Wait 4-8 weeks after new deck is built. Sweep away any leaves or other debris.WATER DROP TEST - Deck is ready when droplets are absorbed.STAIN - Apply even coat with wood grain. Work in with brush. Wait 4 hours between coats. Wait 24-48 hours before enjoying.
Can I use Dawn dish soap to clean my deck?
Liquid dish soap (ammonia-free) is safe for use on cleaning your deck when mixed with a little warm water.
Can you use Dawn to clean deck before staining?
Mist the area with a hose. If you encounter grease or oil stains, add a few drops of Dawn and scrub vigorously.
How long after power washing Can I stain my deck?
48 hoursWood Deck Staining Overview Let's start by answering the question: how long should you wait for your deck to dry after you power wash it? The short answer is 48 hours. You should wait at least two days after pressure washing your deck before you consider staining it, to give time for it to dry.
How do you clean weathered wood before staining?
0:303:04How to Clean and Prep Wood or Deck for Staining - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd mold olympic deck brightener is a more gentle cleaner designed to clean cedar and redwood.MoreAnd mold olympic deck brightener is a more gentle cleaner designed to clean cedar and redwood.
What's the best way to clean decking?
To avoid damaging your decking, create a gentle cleaning solution with warm water and liquid dish soap. Alternatively, you can use a speciality wood deck cleaner. Saturate the surface and scrub the deck with a stiff-bristled brush or sponge until the cleaning solution starts to lather.
How do I make my own deck wash?
Mix two gallons of water, two cups of oxygen bleach, and one cup of borax.Stir the recipe until everything dissolves.Add 1/4 cup of dish soap and stir.Apply the cleaning solution and scrub with a brush.Hose off the solution. Source.
How do I naturally clean my wood deck?
To clean your deck, combine 240 ml vinegar with 3.8 litres of water. Sprinkle baking soda on any mildewed timber and use the vinegar and warm water to scrub over all the boards. Borate is also a natural cleaner and versatile for indoor or outdoor cleaning. Use a ratio of 240 ml of Borax to one gallon of water.
Can I use vinegar to clean my wood deck?
Deck cleaning with vinegar is perfectly safe. It is a natural cleaning product, most commonly mixed with baking soda and then applied to the decking. Unlike some harsh chemicals, vinegar is non-toxic, so it doesn't pose any viable health risks.
How do you clean pressure treated wood before staining?
Wash the Wood Allow it to dry before staining. Wash the pressure-treated wood with a deck cleaner, scrubbing the wood surface with a brush while wet. Use a pressure washer if the wood has tough stains. Allow the wet cleaner to soak into the wood for about 10 minutes or to manufacturer's directions.
Can you use Simple Green on wood decks?
Simple Green Deck and Fence Cleaner is ideal for both manual and pressure washing your entire deck, lifting dirt, grease and sap from wood and composite surfaces. If using a pressure washer, avoid using a maximum pressure setting, as too much force can damage the wood fibers.
How much should I sand my deck before staining?
Many homeowners recognize this but wonder how to sand a deck for the best results. To open the wood grain so it absorbs stain or paint, sand the deck using 20 to 50 grit sandpaper on the first pass and 60 to 80 grit on the second pass on a belt sander or orbital floor sander.
How do you clean deck before sealing?
To clean and brighten your wood deck before resealing, follow these steps:Step 1: Sweep the Deck. ... Step 2: Wash Away Dirt and Debris. ... Step 3: Apply a Cleaner. ... Step 4: Scrub Tough Areas. ... Step 5: Brightening the Deck. ... Step 6: Allow the Deck to Dry Completely. ... Step 7: Inspect the Deck. ... Step 8: Apply the Sealant.
Should I wash deck after sanding?
After sanding, power-wash the deck and allow it to dry for at least 24 hours before staining. Sanding exposes porous wood that's ready to soak up the stain, but this isn't possible if the wood is full of water.
How do you prepare a deck for sealing?
Step 1: Check the Weather. ... Step 2: Remove Furniture. ... Step 3: Sand the Deck. ... Step 4: Sweep the Debris. ... Step 5: Cover Your Plants and Siding. ... Step 6: Stir the Sealer or Stain. ... Step 7: Apply the Sealer or Stain. ... Step 8: Repeat Step 7 for the Entire Deck.More items...
What to look for when inspecting an old deck?
As you inspect the old deck surface, check for loose or warped planks and missing nails. Look for splinters and other free items, as well.
Can you stain a wood deck?
By Joan Clark. A wood deck adds beauty and class to your yard and makes your home a more valuable and attractive place to be. Deck staining won’t last forever, though, and you’ll likely find yourself preparing to re-stain your wood deck at some point. Knowing how to clean a deck before staining helps ensure that your experience with deck ...
Can you stain a deck with a solid color?
Once you’ve taken care of any discolorations and final trouble spots, have gotten the planks back to a solid color, and let the deck dry, you’re ready to start staining!
Can you stain wood with old sealer?
Your cleaned wood is just about ready for the new wood stain, but you still need to do some final checks before you proceed. If you’re re-staining the deck, the wood fibers have to soak up the new stain. Planks with old sealer can prevent that from happening, though, so check for spots where the water beads up on the wood grain.
Can you stain a deck with a transparent stain?
Any project you undertake will rely on your advance work for it to succeed, and your deck staining is no exception . A thorough inspection of your decking, especially an older deck, ahead of time allows you to nip any troubles in the bud before they arise and helps you get your deck as ready as you can make it for the semi-transparent stain.
What is the best way to clean iron stains off a deck?
Oxalic acid is also a great chemical to talk about in this matter. This can basically help you get rid of iron stains. Those who have redwood and cedar decks may suffer from brown-black tannins. This chemical can help with it as well. However, for mildew removal, oxalic acid works poorly. You can go for a bleach-based cleaner along with it for better cleaning.
What is the best way to remove mildew from a deck?
The first one is Sodium hypochlorite. This is basically fantastic for decks that are suffering badly from mildew. It’s a chlorine bleach that can very well remove mildew. However, for stain or dirt removal, it isn’t as powerful as other options.
How many sq ft can a one gallon of deck cleaner cover?
While the same one-gallon quantity of different deck cleaner can cover almost 500 sq. ft. Make sure you check this detail on the label of cleaner. Apart from the deck cleaning solution, you’ll need pretty plenty much elbow grease. And to work this mixture into the wood, you also need to get a stiff-bristle brush.
How much bleach do I need to remove mildew?
One mildew and dirt removal DIY solution is what I’ll be talking about in this segment. You need one-quart household bleach (also known as sodium hypochlorite solution), a one-three cup of powdered laundry detergent, and three quarts lukewarm water.
What is the best bleach to use on wood?
The next one is sodium percarbonate. It mixes with water and creates a detergent-like thing. Basically, it forms sodium carbonate. Also, it creates hydrogen peroxide, which is an oxygen-based bleach. If you want to target weathered wood as well as remove mildew and dirt, this is your best bet to go for.
Is it confusing to clean a deck before staining?
As simple as it sounds, the process itself isn’t very confusing. However certain segments to it can make an impact on how everything turns out later on. For example, the matter of what to use to clean deck before staining. Because through cleaning you also want to let the surface have best condition for staining, ...
Can you use chemical cleaner on a deck?
You get integral applicators with these. These are hook-able with your garden hose. So that you can easily use it on your deck. While a few need to be mixed inside a bucket before you use it in the deck.
How to Clean a Deck Before Staining?
Before slathering another lovely coat of deck stain, paint, or penetating oil; it's important clean off your deck and start anew! Here are some quick, simple steps on how to clean a deck before staining.
What is the best way to clean a deck?
Deck cleaners, such as the Wood Deck Cleaner and Brightener by DeckWise or the TimberTech Deck Cleaner, will lift and remove any stuck-on grime from your wood deck boards. These deck cleaning solutions will soak down into the dry wood. Then oxygen ions will deep clean the wood deck surface by breaking apart dirt, algae and mildew molecules.
What to do with leaves on deck?
As the leaves start turning into their golden autumn tones, it's time to give your home's outdoor living space a protective and rejuvenative coat of deck stain. Deck stain and paint not only delivers a fresh new look for the changing seasons and the year to come, but also prevents moisture from damaging the lumber throughout the rough winter ahead.
How long does it take for deck boards to dry?
Once everything is washed off, allow the deck boards to dry in the sunshine. Wait at least 2-3 days for the wood decking to fully dry before applying any deck stain or paint.
What is the best way to clean a deck?
There are four main types of cleaners to choose from to deep clean the dirtiest decks: Sodium hypochlorite: If mildew is your deck’s biggest enemy, sodium hypochlorite is what you need. This solid white powder chemical is essentially a bleaching agent that kills mildew — but it won’t do much to eliminate other stains.
What happens if you stain a deck without cleaning?
If you stain a deck without cleaning and prepping it first, the results will look blotchy, uneven, and, well, amateur. Any time you save skipping the cleaning stage, you’ll spend twice over repairing the botched job.
What is the best way to remove iron stains from a deck?
Products like Penofin’s Pro-Tech Wood Cleaner combine these agents to remove dirt and mildew from your deck. Oxalic acid : If your deck is made from cedar or redwood, you can remove iron and brown-black tannin stains with oxalic acid.
What kind of stain is best for aging wood?
Restoration stains: Restoration stains apply well on aging wood because the formula is thicker, filling in the cracks and imperfections. The downside is that this stain type allows little of the natural wood grain to shine through.
What is semi transparent stain?
Semi-transparent stains: Also known as a translucent stain, many homeowners prefer this type of stain since it adds color and hides imperfections, yet still allows the natural wood grain to shine through.
How to get wood to darken?
Wood cleaners and strippers increase the pH levels in your wood, causing it to darken or even blacken. A brightener lowers the pH level to restore the wood to its natural color. It also acts as an agent to open the wood’s pores so that the surface is more receptive to the stain.
How long does it take for a deck to dry?
Even if you just use a regular hose to rinse down your deck after cleaning and brightening, you should wait at least 24 hours before using the deck to ensure it’s completely dry.
Testing the Wood
A water test is the easiest way to ensure that the wood can absorb sealer or finish. Sprinkle water on the deck. If it soaks in immediately, the deck can be sealed. If the water beads up or stands on the deck, your deck may not need sealing yet.
Applying Deck Cleaner
Ultraviolet (UV) rays penetrate wood, which causes graying. A wood deck cleaner can help remove dirt, nail stains, algae and mildew. If your deck isn't brand-new, always use a cleaner before applying finish. Lack of preparation is the most common reason why deck stains and sealers fail, so don’t skip this very important step.
How to Stain a Deck
When learning how to re-stain a deck, always read the manufacturer's directions for your deck stain and sealer. Drying times differ based on air temperature and humidity. Before you start, check the deck boards for needed repairs to splits or popped-up nails. Here are some additional tips to make the job go more smoothly.
What is the best stain for a deck?
Are sealers and stains the same thing? 1 Clear sealers are perfectly clear. They do not include stain which allows the wood grain to show. 2 Semi-transparent sealers have a light tint. The wood grain will still show, but the tint covers imperfections and gives the deck a uniform appearance. 3 Solid (or opaque) stains almost always include a durable and long-lasting sealer. They cover like paint and completely hide the wood grain.
What is the best day to clean a deck?
The best day to clean your deck is on a cloudy one. The deck will be cool and the sun won’t evaporate the cleaner.You may want to cover plants growing by the deck before you get started. Use a paint roller or a stiff-bristled brush broom to apply the cleaner.
How do you seal a wood deck?
Deck sealers can be applied with a paintbrush, a roller, or a sprayer. Check the instructions on the product. If you roll the sealer on, you may need to follow up with a brush to make sure the sealer doesn’t puddle and coverage is even.
How often do I need to seal my deck?
To keep your wood deck in good condition, you’ll need to reapply sealer every year. To see if it’s time to re-seal your deck, just pour some water on the boards. If the water soaks into the wood, you need to reapply sealer. If the water beads up, the finish on your deck is fine.
Can I clean, seal, and stain my deck in one day?
Cleaning and sealing a deck is a two-day project. After washing your deck, it may need to dry thoroughly before applying a sealer. Once the sealer has been applied, it also needs to dry before you can use your deck. For some products, two coats are recommended. Read the instructions on the labels of the products you use, and allow plenty of time to do the job right.
How to use a wand to rinse a deck?
Turn on the water and practice using the wand for a minute. Squeeze the handle to start the water flow then adjust the stream of water by turning the dial at the top of the handle.Now begin rinsing the deck. Hold the wand about 6-12 inches above the surface of the deck so the water sprays a few feet in front of you.
Do clear sealers include stain?
Clear sealers are perfectly clear. They do not include stain which allows the wood grain to show. Semi-transparent sealers have a light tint. The wood grain will still show, but the tint covers imperfections and gives the deck a uniform appearance.
Why is my deck stain failing?
The number one reason we find that a deck stain started failing prematurely is that it was never prepped correctly. There is a common misconception that just pressure washing a deck prior to staining is all you need to do in order to prep your deck for stain. Pressure washing can help, but if you want your stain to last, ...
What if it is a new deck?
The answer is the same – simply pressure washing alone is not enough. Utilizing a good deck cleaner will also help to break up and remove any remnants of mill-glaze. Mill glaze forms during the milling process of the wood and prevents the stain from soaking into the new wood.
Do you need a deck stripper?
When to use a Deck Stripper. In every case, utilizing a deck stain stripper is also required in the event you’re re-staining your deck – just pressure washing will not get the job done. Most deck stains will not adhere properly and penetrate the wood if the old stain is not removed.
Can you clean a deck before staining?
Failing to clean your deck prior to any staining will only result in spending more time and money sooner than you anticipated. Following proper recommendations for cleaning and restoring your deck with quality cleaners, strippers, brighteners and pressure washing will result in a beautiful deck staining finish that will last.
Can you stain a deck?
The short answer to this question is – Yes. But that is not all you should do if you want your deck stain to last. Too often we receive estimate requests from a customer whose decks were stained less than 2 years ago. The number one reason we find that a deck stain started failing prematurely is that it was never prepped correctly.
Can you pressure wash a deck?
Pressure washing can help, but if you want your stain to last, using a good deck cleaner and brightener on the deck prior to pressure washing will provide you the best result. A good deck cleaner can remove the gray fibers, dirt, mold, mildew and other impurities deep in the wood. Also Read: 11 Common Deck Staining Questions.
How to get rid of a stain on a carpet?
Treat stains with oxygen bleach paste. To treat a stubborn stain, mix just enough warm water with a small amount of powdered oxygen bleach to make a paste. Apply directly on the stain with a stiff-bristle brush and leave it on for 30 minutes, then rinse. Sweep away dirt promptly.
Is Oxiclean safe for plants?
Make a homemade deck cleaner that is safe for plants. The use of harsh ingredients and toxic chemicals on an outdoor deck can poison nearby grass and other plantings, so it’s advisable to use only non-toxic cleaners. OxiClean contains sodium percarbonate, a hydrogen peroxide derivative, works well for removing a wide variety ...
Can you use bleach on a deck?
Allow this bleach-based cleaner to dry completely before applying treatments. Additional deck treatments , such as staining, painting, or sealing the deck, should be undertaken only when the deck is completely dry to prevent the bleach ingredients from reacting with other chemicals.
Can you mix bleach and ammonia?
Do not mix ammonia-based ingredients with bleach. Some products can be safely combined, but don’t mix a product that contains ammonia with a bleach solution. Combining these two ingredients creates toxic chloramine gas that can cause eye, nose, mouth, and respiratory irritation.
Is borax toxic to deck cleaner?
Cleaners and boosting agents, such as Borax, may cause skin irritation in high concentrations. Even though this DIY deck cleaning solution isn’t toxic, it’s a good idea to wear rubber gloves while mixing and applying the solution. If splashes do get on skin, simply rinse them off.
Can you use a power washer to clean a deck?
Do not use homemade deck cleaner with your power washer or pressure washer. Power washers and pressure washers have tiny nozzles that create intense water pressure, so any granular cleaner that doesn’t wholly dissolve can clog the nozzle, rendering the washer useless. With this DIY deck cleaner recipe, the active ingredients do all ...
Is homemade deck cleaner toxic?
Store your homemade deck cleaning mixture in a well-ventilated area. This DIY deck cleaner isn’t considered a toxic chemical but it will still create an odor, which some may find disagreeable. Since it’s designed for outdoor use, keep it outdoors until using it to clean the deck and then dispose of any leftovers.
