Each Container Makes 5 Liquid Gallons to cover 750-1000 sq. feet
- Restore-A-Deck Wood Cleaner removes dirt, mold, mildew, and weathered graying from all exterior wood surfaces, restoring their original appearance.
- The powdered concentrate is extremely cost-effective, making 5 liquid gallons when mixed with water for less than $6 a gallon.
- As Step 1 of the Restore-A-Deck system, it preps surfaces and improves absorption before applying Restore-A-Deck Wood Stains.
DESCRIPTION
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. This product also cleans weathered composite lumber, removing mold, mildew, and algae along with the silver-gray color that can develop over time. Restores all wood surfaces to their original appearance Restore-A-Deck Wood Cleaner will not harm wood fibers, pets, grass, or most plants.
This product is Step 1 Cleaner of the Restore A Deck system.
USES
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
- Neutralizes stain strippers
- Brightens and restores wood surfaces
- Restores pH balance of wood
- Powdered formula makes 5 liquid gallons when mixed
- Extremely cost-effective. When mixed, the cost is less than $6 a gallon.
- Eco-Safe formulas
- Improves absorption of wood stains
- Safe to use on all exterior wood surfaces, not just decks
Restore-a-Deck Step 1 is a wood cleaner and preps stains for 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.
Coverage: 750-1000 sq.feet per container.
Weathered deck previously stained several years ago with Armstrong Natural Oak semi-transparent oil stain.
Want to redo with Oxford semi-solid. How do I apply Restore-a-Deck Cleaner and will this be efficient enough prep?
When switching, the best and easiest prep is to strip and brighten: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper
New deck was built 2020 Natural Oak Semi-Transparent Oil was applied , just some cleaning of mold /dirt from the tree leaves I think is necessary , What product do you recommend before applying the Natural Oak Semi Transparent Oil again ?
The RAD Cleaner and Brightener Kit for prep: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
How essential is it to pressure wash? Usage would initially be for overhead soffit and beams, new construction raw wood (pine, doug fir) that has aged 6+ months, a small cabin build, fully off-grid with limited water and power – infrastructure not fully in place yet. Can we effectively rinse the RAD cleaner off using a pump sprayer rather than pressure washing it off? (Albeit, that will be slower.) How essential is the brightener step if the wood hasn’t really discolored? We will be using AC Amber.
It is not about rinsing off the RAD Cleaner, it is about removing oxidation and mill glaze. You will need to heavily scrub and rinse well if you do not have a pressure washer. Pressure washing is much easier and more effective. You need the brightener to neutralize.
OK thank you for clarifying and explaining. We’ll look into an off-grid model pressure washer.
We applied A-C Natural Oak stain to a new pine deck three years ago. Worked great … time for a new coat (of the same stain). I had the deck pressure washed about two months ago (but not with RAD cleaner … just whatever they normally use). If deck looks good and clean, will I get good results if I skip the RAD cleaner step and just proceed with stain?
Best to redo the prep since it has been 2 months since it was washed, and using the RAD Cleaner will give better results.
Hello, is your stain appropriate for 3 cedar Adirondack-style outdoor chairs? They are 4 years old, I Penofin on them originally, but it’s faded to black with mildew, etc, but have nothing on your website about using AC products for chairs.
i have used Ipe oil on my tiger wood deck in the past, it has been about 5 years since i last applied it, it has obviously turned grey and looks old and weathered. is it ok to use restore on it and then coat woth the hardwood mahogony semi oil?
You would need to strip and brighen for prep to remove the remnants of the IPE Oil, not clean:
https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper
Our pressure treated deck was completed late last spring. Do we need to use the cleaner and brightener prior to staining? The folks who installed our deck want to pressure wash it on Wednesday (not using any of the RAD products) and stain it on Thursday and Friday. They’ve never used AC products before.
Yes, You need the prep products.
Reading the directions, it says that we can use a pressure washer instead of scrubbing. Does this mean use the pressure washer to apply the cleaner or to rinse it off? I’m not sure how the pressure washer is being utilized in the “scrubbing” step. Since the folks who built our deck don’t have any experience with AC products, I feel a little bit panicky that they want to start all of this tomorrow.
You apply the cleaner with a pump sprayer and then pressure wash off. Rinse well when done, and then apply the brightener. Rinse that after 20 minutes.
We stained 2 years ago with AC and now want to touch it up with another coat, can i just use the cleaner and then do a coat of new stain in same color? i dont want to remove the current color /stain that iss there; do we have to? i was going to use your mildew cleaner first and then the RAD cleaner
No need for the mildew cleaner first. Use the RAD Cleaner for prep and then recoat after. If you are prone to mildew in your area, then use the mildew cleaner/preventer after the stain has dried and cured.
The cleaner worked great on our old gray deck!
I’m nervous about the amount of water needed to prep and am looking for suggestions or alternatives. The deck/porch of mahogany needs to be re-stained. This porch is on the second level and over top of a first level that has a finished outdoor ceiling with electrical (fans/lights). This mahogany deck is exposed to rain on the edges and more so with harder driving rains, but this is still far different from the hose or pressure washer prep that is asked for in the instructions. Anyone else air a concern? It might be fine, I’m just not sure the space was designed for that much water.
If it is outside it should be fine as long as the eletrical was done to code.
I have used Armstrong Clark Hardwood/Ipe Stain 1 Gallon for years with great results. I have also used the RAD Stain Stripper/Brightener Kit prior to application of the IPE stain to my Mahogany Deck. I have never used Restore-A-Deck Cleaner.
Am I correct in the steps used for the above three
Can the following be mixed in a One Gallon of IPE Stain Restore-A-Deck Booster Additive? Or is this necessary?I find taking all the previous stain off to get a great look for the deck.
Thanks
You do nto need all 3. You use either the cleaner or the stripper. Then Brightener. No need to the Booster. just use the Stripper and then the Brightener.
Restore-a-deck cleaner and Restore-deck brighter are the first steps before we apply wood stain?
How long we have to wait after brightner to apply wood stain? We have to clean again before we apply wood stain?
You wait 48 hours to let the wood dry after the prep to stain the wood
STAINED WITH THE CEDAR LAST YEAR AND WANT TO RECOAT AFTER THE POLLEN IS DONE ,SHOULD i USE THE POWDERED RESTORE TO CLEAN
Yes, that is correct.
thank you for the quick response,Il’ll order soon
I stained 2×4 cedar railing about a year ago with the semi-transparent rustic brown. I did a poor job with the prep/ didn’t prep at all and didn’t let the cedar dry. The stain didn’t absorb and looked powdery and would come off on your hands when touched. I sanded it all off with 60 grit to bare wood. The wood is bright and looks brand new. Do I still need to use the cleaner for prep? What should the final sand paper grit be before staining.
60 grit is good. Give a good water rinse to remove dust and then stain.
I stained my cedar fence with Armstrong Clark Natural Oak ST 5 years ago and it still looks amazing on one side but the other is fading somewhat so will restain. I unfortunately didn’t buy your RAD cleaner but am using another Gentle wood cleaner .
when I applied it and scrubbed as per the directions it is removing pretty much all the stain? which i didn’t think would happen with a cleaner. Do I need to remove all the stain now? What happens if there are some sections with some stain and bare wood? Will the new stain even out on the wood as I assume it won’t absorb as much in the areas with old stain still?
I had hoped I could just wash the wood well and reapply?
thanks!
Best to remove the AC fully so the new coating is applied evenly.
So…I should be using a stripper and not a cleaner? I am finding this all very stressful?. I had thought because I was using the same stain color I could just clean. In any case, I am up for the challenge! There are worse problems in this world. ? I assume that you would suggest a brightener also? Is it too late to use one now on the sections i have done? I haven’t used one so far because the product I am using is the Behr All in One Wood cleaner with oxalic acid that supposedly neutralises afterwards. If there are small patches of stain left in some areas is this going to matter? Is it best to scrub with a brush and power wash after?
You are awesome for answering all these questions so calmly!!?
Yes, strip and brighen for prep with this: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-stripper
You can post apply the stripper to the sections that you have done that have some remnants of stain. Make sure to brighen all wood to even it out.
Apply with a pump sprayer and then pressure wash off. No need to scrub.
My cedar deck has a three year old Thompson water sealer which is basically gone. Do I need to strip this or would cleaning with restore a deck and brightening work prior to applying a cedar semi-transparent stain.
Strip and brighten for prep is the correct way.
I have a deck that is nearly a year old – and I used Armstrong Clark stain (Cedar) last year 2 months after it was built. Used a single coat. It is in direct Florida sun and so has faded immensely. Do I need to just use the cleaner and do it again with perhaps 2 coats this year?
Use the cleaner and the brightener and you can apply two light coats wet on wet.
Cedar deck and rails sat for a year before staining. What should my prep be? Do I need to sand or can I just use the cleaner? How many steps to the cleaning, and how long after can I stain? Don’t have a lot of five day stretches without any rain in our future forecast….
Use this kit for prep: https://www.armstrongclarkstain.com/restore-a-deck-kit
48 Hours after to stain.
Thanks for the reply. Is it ok if it rains between cleaning/brightening and staining?
Yes.
Also, how do I use a pressure washer for this? Directions on bag say it’s ok, but they also say to mix the cleaner and brightener with a specific amount of water. My pressure washer, and I think all units that I’ve seen, has a soap reservoir, but it dilutes the mixture as it forces more water through the system. Water comes into the soap reservoir, and then the mixture is forced into the pressurized part of the unit. The more water that goes in, and the more mixture that goes out, the more diluted the mixture gets… right? Will this be ok for the cleaner/brightener? Or am I missing something or misunderstanding how pressure washers work? Let me know.
ThanksChris
Oops. Embarrassing. Re-read the directions. Power washer is instead of scrubbing the cleaner off. Not for putting it on. I get it now. Sorry for all the messages. Just need to know about the rain situation.
Thanks
I just cleaned my deck with with restore a deck cleaner kit. my deck is being stained for the first time after a year. I ran out of time prior to getting the Brighter on. Is it ok to put the brighter on tomorrow?
Yes, it is still needed.
Hi, cypress shou sugi ban siding from Nakamoto Forestry that arrived prestained with AC black walnut. We want to add a maintenance coat this year (1.5 years after install) and they recommend cleaning with manufacturer’s recommended cleaner (which would be RAD cleaner), but we are worried it will strip the original stain and char, especially after watching the video in the “how to apply a maintenance coat” where it looks like all the original stain was removed from the deck. Please advise.
It may remove some but that is okay. It would only do this if the stain is starting to fail. Just prep and recoat as suggested.
Hi, new cedar deck sat for a year and we just cleaned and brightened over weekend. After I see Greyish spots and want to make sure we are ok to stain. Thanks
That is oxidation around the knots that did not come off when you cleaned. It is typically not an issue as the stain will darken the wood color. You can redo the prep if you want to get more off.
I have a bad area ( under the BBQ ) with grease … on my EPA deck
Grease cannot be cleaned out of IPE if deep in the wood grain.
Hello, we have a new IPE deck, installed a few months ago. We are ready to stain it with AC black
Use both cleaner and brightener.
Is it OK to clean and re-stain if day temps are in 70’s but nights are 50′ & mid 40’s ?
Yes.
I stained my new deck with Armstrong Clark last year. What should I clean with?
Warm water and dish soap unless you are planning on recoating. If so, use the RAD Kits.
I have a deck KDAT wood deck that was installed about a year and a half ago and stained with AC Amber stain. It has been holding up very well, but I want to be sure to stay ahead of the game in terms of re-staining. I believe the counsel you offered was to re-stain within 1.5 to 2 years, and then every 3 to 5 years thereafter (depending on the conditions).
1) Is this understanding correct?
2) If so, at this point, I would like to just clean the deck and handrail surfaces, and then perform the two-step prep process in about 6 to 9 months before re-staining. Can I just use the step one AC cleaner product, and then use both step one and step two just before re-staining later? I just want to be sure that the cleaner will not remove any of the original stains’ UV and other protections.
3) Will the cleaner and/or brightener harm painted metal spindles and post caps in the railing?
4) Also, will it be best to wait to do the cleaning until after all the leaves are down (to remove any staining caused by fallen leaves that are not removed immediately)?
Thank you for your advice.
1. Every 2-3 years thereafter or as needed.
2. You cannot just clean/prep the deck with the Step 1 without staining it. The cleaner is used only when reapplication is going to be done right away. Best to do both steps now and then stain or wait the 6-9 months and do it all then.
3. They shouldn’t.
4. You cannot use the cleaner to just remove dirt and leaf stains. See #2.
Thank you for your response. Is there another product you could recommend to simply clean the deck, without leaving it in a condition that requires re-staining right away? I just want to clean the deck, at this time.
Just warm water and some dish soap. Apply and lightly mop then rinse.
hi mi name is Aldrin, why is the 1 gln stain more expensive then the 5 gln stain per gln?
what is the weightb of the 1 gln and the 5 gln container?
5 Gallon pails ship free. Single gallons do not. 9 pounds per gallon for the weight.
Best Deck Cleaner for restoring wood!