Caring for Exterior Wood Surfaces Tip Sheet #1: Deck Cleaning
We all work hard to keep our yards pleasant and appealing by trimming shrubs, mowing and planting flower gardens, yet many of us overlook the natural wood we have outdoors such as wooden decks, fences, siding and even wooden playsets and furniture. Many homeowners choose natural wood for its beauty, but think they must put up with the gray, weathered look that occurs over time.Even brand new wood can quickly become gray and dirty from exposure to sun, dirt and rain. CWF-UltraLast™ Premium Wood Cleaner is a gentle but hardworking cleaner that removes all dirt and natural contaminants while brightening the wood surface. CWF-UltraLast™ Premium Wood Cleaner not only cleans unfinished wood, it also revives and refreshes the color of an existing finish. Do the prep work. The sunny days of summer and ice and snow of winter wreak havoc on your deck over time, turning it gray. By cleaning the deck, you can remove the gray as well as nail stains and ground-in dirt. Tools you need to appropriately clean your deck are a long-handled bristle brush, bucket, gloves, and a garden hose. Be sure to choose a cleaner specifically designed for decks (don’t use soap, detergent or homemade cleaners as these can damage your deck.) Deck cleaners are designed to open the wood’s pores and prepare it for the stain.•Choose a fairly cool day to clean the deck so the product doesn’t dry too rapidly.•Cover any areas you do not wish to clean. •Application TipsoSweep off loose debris and clean between the cracks of the boards.oApply wood cleaner with a garden sprayer, roller or brush. Work cleaner into the wood with a stiff nylon or natural bristle brush using a scrubbing action.oWhen cleaning vertical surfaces, always work from bottom to top to avoid streaking. oAllow solution to stand on wood for 20-30 minutes.oScrub with a stiff bristle brush to lift finish off surface.oRinse area with plenty of water to ensure complete removal of product oAllow wood to dry 48 hours before applying a finish. •CWF-UltraLast™ Premium Wood Cleaner can also be used in annual maintenance of a wood deck.
About the Author
Flood products are designed to restore, protect and beautify natural woods and other challenging surfaces. The company’s brands and products are sold in more than 25,000 retail outlets throughout the world and include CWF-UV/CWF-UV5, Penetrol, Floetrol, E-B Emulsa-Bond, Restora and the CWF-UltraLast portfolio of products. Log on to www.flood.com for more helpful hints and “exterior design” ideas. Visit their website at: http://www.flood.com
Tell others about
this page:
Comments? Questions? Email Here