STEP 1: #1 Deck Wood Cleaner

Description

Getting ready to use a semi-transparent or solid color wood stain on your deck? When you’re looking for high quality, long-lasting finished deck, you’ve got to start with a clean slate. This means cleaning the wood of your deck with a powerful wood cleaner. When cleaning your deck, you must use a cleaner that’s gentle enough to protect the wood’s natural beauty, but tough enough to remove mold, mildew, dirt, and natural discoloration that can happen over time. #1 Deck Wood Cleaner is the only choice for people who know a thing or two about keeping their deck in tip-top shape.

Over time, it’s natural for your deck to experience a buildup of foreign substances. This is especially true if you live in an area with a humid climate, or if you have pets that have left stains on your deck. Your deck isn’t meant to stay in pristine condition- it’s meant to be used by you and your family, and that means that it’s going to experience some wear and tear. While this is normal, it’s important that you don’t trap in stains and debris when you’re going through the process of applying a semi-transparent or solid color stain to your deck. Before you begin the staining process, you’ll want to get your deck wood as close to its original state as possible. This means using high quality, gentle cleaner that’s safe for your deck.

When you start with a clean, debris-free surface, you’re ensuring a long-lasting, smooth, beautiful stain at the end of the process.

 

Product Description: #1 Deck Wood Cleaner

#1 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. #1 Deck Wood Cleaner will not harm wood fibers, pets, grass, or most plants.

#1 Deck Wood Cleaner removes dirt, grime, mold and mildew stains, and weathered graying from horizontal and vertical wood surfaces. For best results use #1 Deck Wood Stains.

 

When to Use Wood Cleaner

Step 1: Clean/Strip | Step 2: Wood Brightener | Step 3: Stain

This product is step 1 of a 3-step system. It is recommended for surface preparation prior to application or reapplication of wood stains.

Note: It is not necessary to use both the cleaner and the stripper. Choose whichever is appropriate for your situation.

For new wood surfaces or surfaces where the previous finish is no longer present, use this product.

For weathered wood surfaces or surfaces where the previous finish is present, use #1 Deck Stain Stripper instead of this.

 

Where to Use Wood Cleaner

Use #1 Deck Wood Cleaner on any wood that needs to be cleaned of algae, mildew, mold, dirt, or silver-gray aging. This product is perfect for decks, wood furniture, playsets, and any other wood.

 

How to Use Wood Cleaner

Mix wood cleaner:

Mix 6 ounces (3/4 cup) of cleaner with each gallon of water and stir thoroughly until powder is mostly dissolved. Powder dissolves faster in warm water. Solution should be used within six hours of mixing.

Wet the wood:

Dampen surface with water before application.

Apply wood cleaner:

Apply #1 Deck Wood Cleaner solution with pump sprayer, brush, or the #1 Deck Push Brush (or any car wash type brush). If applying with a pump-up sprayer, we recommend pouring the solution through a paint strainer first to filter out any undissolved granules that can clog the sprayer tip. Work on small areas, (20-30 sq. ft.) at a time. For vertical surfaces, begin at the bottom and work to the top.

Brush the wood:

Let solution stand approximately 15-20 minutes, keeping area wet with additional #1 Deck Wood Cleaner solution. Thoroughly scrub with a stiff, short bristle broom or brush. #1 Deck Wood Cleaner will open wood pores and some raising of wood fibers may occur.

Rinse wood:

Rinse thoroughly with water from hose or pressure washer using lowest pressure that cleans without damaging the wood. Rinse cleaned area of vertical surfaces to avoid streaking as work progresses.

Repeat as needed:

Heavily weathered or soiled surfaces may require a second application.

After cleaning, brighten:

While still wet after cleaning the entire project, neutralize the wood with #1 Deck Wood Brightener. This is an essential step before staining.

Coverage:

One container of #1 Deck Wood Cleaner will make 5 gallons of cleaning solution and cover approximately 500-1,000 sq. ft. depending on surface porosity and method of application.

Clean up:

Clean tools and equipment immediately after each use with soap and water.

 

Advantages:

• Removes stains caused by mold and mildew
• Removes wood graying caused by UV rays
• Removes existing, weathered stains
• Removes dirt and debris

Limitations:

#1 Deck Wood Cleaner will darken redwood. Use #1 Deck Wood Brightener to restore redwood to its original color or as a neutralizer to further brighten other wood species that have been cleaned with #1 Deck Wood Cleaner.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: I’m having trouble getting the powder to completely mix with the water.

A: Use warm water to solve this problem. Be careful not to use hot water. This will cause the ingredients to activate too quickly which will shorten your working time. 

 

Q: Do I have to use this product with a deck stain?

A: Nope! You can use #1 Deck Wood Cleaner on its own if you’d like to clean up the appearance of your deck, even if you’re not getting ready to apply a wood stain.

 

Q: Do I have to scrub, or can I let the product sit?

A: If you’re using a pressure washer, then you don’t have to scrub. Just be careful not to get the nozzle too close to the wood deck, as it can damage the wood fibers. Rinsing with a pressure washer is the best way to get a clean deck surface.  If you don’t have access to a pressure washer, then you’ll need to use a stiff bristle scrub brush with a little elbow grease.

Q: Can I keep unused cleaner for later?

A: Due to the chemical reaction created by mixing the cleaning powder with water, it’s important that you discard any cleaning solution that isn’t used within six hours of mixing. To make your cleaning powder go the extra mile, it’s a good idea to mix a bit less than you think you’ll need and make more as you clean your deck. Our cleaner is powerful- a little goes a long way.

 

Q: Why does the cleaner foam?

A: As the cleaner penetrates the wood of your deck, chemical reactions that allow deep cleaning to occur. The more debris, mildew, algae, and dirt in your deck, the more foaming will occur.

 

Specific Projects

Children’s playset

Using #1 Deck Wood Cleaner to give your kids a wooden play area a facelift? Smart move. Just make sure to spray off the area after it’s cleaned. The ingredients in the cleaner won’t harm kids, pets, or even most plants. If you’ve got teeny tiny spaces you need to reach, an old toothbrush can work wonders in removing hard-to-reach dirt.

 

House siding

Cleaning mold or mildew off the side of your home? #1 Deck Wood Cleaner is a great choice. Use a pump-up garden sprayer or a car washing brush with an extendable handle to be sure you’re getting into the small spaces in your siding. Apply the cleaner, give it a good scrub, and then rinse.

 

Wood furniture

Restoring some household wood furnishings to their original beauty? Your best bet: take them outside, lay on them on an old sheet or piece of cardboard, and get to work. While it’s unlikely that our cleaner will harm your grass, it’s a good idea to give it a layer of protection just in case. After you’re done scrubbing your furniture, give it a rinse, let it dry in the sun, and bring it back inside, good as new. You won’t notice any unpleasant odor with our cleaner, so it’s safe to bring cleaned products inside immediately after they’re dry.

 

Manufacturer

SaverSystems
800 S 7th St. Richmond, IN 47374
800-860-6327
1deck.com

 

For more information about #1 Deck Wood Cleaner, see the datasheet.