If your deck boards have gone gray and the shady spots have picked up mildew, you might be tempted to pick a darker stain and cover it all up. Clean and brighten the wood first. Once you see what the boards look like after prep, you’ll have a better idea of which stain color you actually want.
Make sure the bundle fits your deck
The DIY Deck Cleaner + Brightener Bundle is a good starting point for bare, weathered wood with dirt, mold, or mildew. If you can still see patches of old finish that need to come off, check out our Cleaner/Remover + Brightener Bundle for many weathered or transparent coatings. For a stubborn finish or multiple coats, look at DRP Stripper Plus.
Step 1: Clean the wood
Move the furniture and planters, sweep off loose debris, and pick a small, inconspicuous test area. A board near the edge with the same dirt or mildew as the rest of the deck will tell you more than a spot that’s already clean. Mix and apply the Cleaner according to its label. The bundle lists a deck brush, roller, or plastic tank sprayer as application options.
Step 2: Brighten while the wood is still wet
After cleaning and rinsing as directed, apply the Brightener to the wet wood according to its label. This step helps bring back the natural tone of gray, weathered boards. If you’re working on a larger deck, plan your sections so the cleaned wood is still wet when you’re ready to brighten it.
Plan for the whole surface before you order
The bundle lists each powder batch as making five gallons of solution, with approximate coverage of 100–125 square feet per gallon. If you’re prepping the stair treads and wood railings too, measure those separately so they don’t get left out of your estimate. The bundle covers prep; stain is sold separately. Once the wood is prepared, test your chosen color on a small spot before staining the entire deck.
Ready to tackle that gray deck? Shop the DIY Deck Cleaner + Brightener Bundle and browse deck stain colors for your finish.
