Before staining a wood deck it must first be cleaned properly to ensure lasting results. Wood and deck cleaners are designed to clean wood and prepare the surface prior to stain application. The purpose of a deck cleaner is to remove contaminants such as dirt, grime, graying, mold, mildew, and algae. In some instances, a very faded old stain can be removed as well using a wood cleaner.
There are many different types of exterior wood cleaners to choose from. Typically, deck cleaners aid in the scrubbing or power washing of the wood during the cleaning process. Most deck cleaners consist of caustic soaps that raise the pH level of the wood leaving it in need of a deck brightening application that will neutralize the cleaner by lowering the pH level and brightening the wood.
Some of the best deck cleaners on the market today are the oxygenated deck cleaners. They consist of an active ingredient known as Sodium Percarbonate. This is an EPA registered ingredient for removing mold and mildew. Sodium Percarbonate blended with other power boosting detergents make up one of the best deck cleaners available for cleaning exterior wood prior to staining.
Restore-A-Deck comes in the form of a concentrated powder that mixes with water for effectively cleaning exterior wood. It can be applied with a pump up sprayer or scrub brush then rinsed off or power washed. The concentrated powder formula also results in a smaller, less expensive container.
Restore-A-Deck oxygenated deck cleaners are professionally tested and used by most deck cleaning contractors. Many professionals report excellent cleaning results over the older bleach based deck cleaners. Bleach cleaners have been proven to actually damage the wood fibers and jeopardize a deck's structural durability.
After much investigating, the research reveals it is hard to beat the power, convenience, price, and overall effectiveness of the oxygenated deck cleaners. Restore-A-Deck deck cleaners make the prep process easier overall and give you professional like results.