RAD CLEANERdefaultRestore 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!

Ask a Question or Post a Picture...
You are guest ( Sign Up ? )
or post as a guest
Loading comment... The comment will be refreshed after 00:00.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    RAD Products · 07/12/2014
    Glen Sewell:
    Hello,
    I applied your deck cleaner and noticed the following:

    1. I did not see any bubbling or soapy film on the surface of the wood as per your website.

    2. After power washing i noticed that there is still white/greyish areas.

    Is the above normal with your product?

    thank you,
    Glen

    It is possible that you have an old clear sealer or stain that is preventing the cleaner from working correctly. If you do then you would need the RAD Stripper not the cleaner for prep. Brighten after as well.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Glen Sewell · 07/11/2014
    Hello,
    I applied your deck cleaner and noticed the following:

    1. I did not see any bubbling or soapy film on the surface of the wood as per your website.

    2. After power washing i noticed that there is still white/greyish areas.

    Is the above normal with your product?

    thank you,
    Glen
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    RAD Products · 06/27/2014
    David Standerfer:
    We have a redwood deck in good condition that we want to clean. Would you advise reducing the amount of cleaner (i.e., adjusting the strength down)? What about the brightener? Thank you.

    If not very dirty than yes you can reduce the cleaner concentration down to 2-4 oz per gallon of water. Brightener should stay at about 6 oz per gallon of water.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    David Standerfer · 06/26/2014
    We have a redwood deck in good condition that we want to clean. Would you advise reducing the amount of cleaner (i.e., adjusting the strength down)? What about the brightener? Thank you.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Gunny · 06/22/2014
    2 years ago I put up an 8' cedar board on board fence. Before installing the pickets we sealed all the rails with Thompson (oil) water seal. Then each picket was brushed on all sides with the same product prior to installation. We took the time to do this so all wood would been sealed. Now the pickets do not have the same luster as they did when we were finished. We have decided to seal them again, but this time using the 'Armstrong Clark" Cedar. With all that said now will cleaning the fence with Restore-A-Deck be appropriate or do I need to do something else since we treated it previously with the Thompson? Thank you.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Wanda · 06/19/2014
    IS THERE A VIDEO ON HOW TO USE THE RESTORE A DECK KIT THAT I CAN WATCH
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    RAD Products · 06/17/2014
    Barbara Pelzer:
    Just wondering how much shipping would be on 2 gallons of stain and a RAD cleaner/brightner kit?

    Also, what is the ship time to central NY?

    Thank you

    Shipping to NY is 2-3 business days. About $15-$20 for shipping costs.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Barbara Pelzer · 06/16/2014
    Just wondering how much shipping would be on 2 gallons of stain and a RAD cleaner/brightner kit?

    Also, what is the ship time to central NY?

    Thank you
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    RAD Products · 06/11/2014
    Jon Rex:
    I have a new deck that is 12' feet above grade. I want to clean, brighten and stain both the top and bottom of the deck. I plan to clean the bottom and then the top, then brighten the top and then the bottom. What could happen if the bottom dries a little after the cleaning before I get to the brightening? If I just re-wet it before applying the brightener will the process work correctly? Or is it better to clean, brighten, and stain the top now and do the bottom later?

    Yes you will be fine with this order and if it dries some.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Jon Rex · 06/10/2014
    I have a new deck that is 12' feet above grade. I want to clean, brighten and stain both the top and bottom of the deck. I plan to clean the bottom and then the top, then brighten the top and then the bottom. What could happen if the bottom dries a little after the cleaning before I get to the brightening? If I just re-wet it before applying the brightener will the process work correctly? Or is it better to clean, brighten, and stain the top now and do the bottom later?
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    RAD Products · 06/02/2014
    Yes that should be fine to do. Make sure you sweep or blow off deck with leaf blower first to get rid of any dirt.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Mary Johnson · 06/02/2014
    The instructions state that you should allow the wood to dry 1-2 days before applying the wood deck stain or sealer, but what is the longest time you can wait between using the cleaner/brightener and the stain? (i.e., could you use the cleaner/brightener one weekend and apply the stain the following weekend?)
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    RAD Products · 05/30/2014
    Cindy&Brutus:
    I have a couple areas under my table and soffit that I need to remove stain. So I am thinking I need the stripper, but then most of the rest of my deck needs cleaning. How do I use all 3 of your products: stripper, cleaner and brightener in this scenario?

    Thank you

    Spot strip first, clean the rest, brighten all when done.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Cindy&Brutus · 05/29/2014
    I have a couple areas under my table and soffit that I need to remove stain. So I am thinking I need the stripper, but then most of the rest of my deck needs cleaning. How do I use all 3 of your products: stripper, cleaner and brightener in this scenario?

    Thank you
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    RAD Products · 05/27/2014
    D&M, yes the cleaner does remove the algae.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Doug&Michael · 05/27/2014
    KUDOS:

    We have a 2007 Southern Yellow Pine deck, about 650 sqft, in CT. The previous owner used Cabot's Australian Timber Oil in some dark tint, several years ago. The wood was checking and grey, also lots of algae growth in shaded areas. Time for a rehab.

    Spent two weekends power washing (carefully), stipping and brightening (with RAD products). Wow! The wood looks newer than new. The grain is very open so the new stain (Defy Extreme Redwood) should soak in easily. Thanks for the great products and helpful website.

    ---

    QUESTIONS:

    We also have teak deck furniture from the previous owner, also stained dark with Cabots (grrr!) and with algae growth on most of the feet/legs.

    Question: will your cleaner remove the algae? We're not up for stripping/restaining the furniture at this time, just want to clean it up. Suggestions?
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    RAD Products · 05/24/2014
    Mark M:
    I don't have a question, I just want to praise your product. It did a fantastic job on a 1-year-old unfinished cedar deck with some fairly severe blackening. The wood looks new again after a single stress-free application. Thank you!

    Awesome!
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Mark M · 05/23/2014
    I don't have a question, I just want to praise your product. It did a fantastic job on a 1-year-old unfinished cedar deck with some fairly severe blackening. The wood looks new again after a single stress-free application. Thank you!
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    RAD Products · 05/18/2014
    Stan Saya:
    New pressure treated deck built 10/13, Deck is off 2nd floor so underside is exposed, any special tips on cleaning and staining underside?
    NY Weather this year gas been wet, and cool, seems like it rains every third day and nights have been cold...so far it will have been difficult to get the deck cleaned and stained without some rain or cold night in between...if the deck gets rained on after cleaning and brightening but before the staing, do I need to do anything?

    If it rains between prep and staining just maker sure to sweep of blow off dirt. Let dry for 1-2 days after rain as well. No easy way to do undersides. Just apply cleaner and lightly wash with a pressure washer. Apply brightener and rinse after 10 minutes.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Stan Saya · 05/18/2014
    New pressure treated deck built 10/13, Deck is off 2nd floor so underside is exposed, any special tips on cleaning and staining underside?
    NY Weather this year gas been wet, and cool, seems like it rains every third day and nights have been cold...so far it will have been difficult to get the deck cleaned and stained without some rain or cold night in between...if the deck gets rained on after cleaning and brightening but before the staing, do I need to do anything?
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    RAD Products · 05/14/2014
    Ron Radke:
    I used your two part system and got the cleaner on my glass doors. I now have spots and streaks on the glass that is hard to get off. Any ideas on how yo remove?

    Soapy water and a green scrub pad.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Ron Radke · 05/13/2014
    I used your two part system and got the cleaner on my glass doors. I now have spots and streaks on the glass that is hard to get off. Any ideas on how yo remove?
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    RAD Products · 04/29/2014
    Use the Restore A Deck Stain Stripper and pressure wash for the prep. Use the RAD brightener when done. Stain with the Armstrong Clark in the Mahogany color.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    PJS · 04/29/2014
    Have an 800 square foot mahogany deck on Cape Cod MA, around a pool. Has a 5-6 year old Penofin oil stain on it and needs to be redone. suggestions? Thanks.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    RAD Products · 04/22/2014
    The brightener will help to remove rust spots as long as they are not support deep into the wood. The brightener also neutralizes the cleaner and lightens the wood grain.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Tom.Dobson · 04/22/2014
    My deck is still in pretty good shape. It was stained 2 years ago and other than a few places where is has flaked off the seal is still good. My question is, there are some places on the deck that have rust spots from the deck furniture. Can I use the brightener to remove theses spots? is there a benefit to going over the entire deck with brightener following the deck washing even though I do not need to reapply the stain?
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    RAD Products · 04/22/2014
    Thomas, best to use the Restore A deck Kits for this to prep the wood after the sanding.
  • We will reply to your comment shortly
    Thomas · 04/22/2014
    We are in the process of re-staining a series of 5-year-old cedar deck posts and a handrail. The previous stain (Australian timber Oil)has been sanded off and will be replaced with a TWP 1500 stain. How should the existing cedar material be prepared?