What’s the Difference Between Wood Cleaning and Wood Restoration?

When you talk with a customer about exterior wood care, start by asking whether they want you to simply clean the surface or fully clean and restore wood deck and fences. This distinction affects your process, your pricing, and the final results.

Wood cleaning means you are washing the surface to remove dirt, mold, mildew, and other organic growth. To clean at a basic level, this can be done with a pressure washer or a soft washing system, such as the efficient ProTool Mix Station Mobile. However, customers need to understand that simple cleaning may remove some prior coatings, slightly depreciate the wood, and will not make it look like brand-new lumber or freshly stained boards.

Wood restoration goes further and is the process professionals use when they truly want to clean and restore wood deck and fences back as close as possible to their original appearance. This can include stripping old stains or sealers, correcting discoloration, and preparing the surface for a new, long-lasting coating. Because restoration involves more chemistry, time, and skill, the price difference between basic cleaning and full restoration should be significant.

Why Bleach Is Not the Best Option to Clean and Restore Wood Deck and Fences

Many in the soft washing industry are asked to clean and restore wood deck and fences, but a lot of them rely too heavily on sodium hypochlorite (bleach). While bleach is common in soft washing, it is rarely the best primary cleaner for wood.

Chlorine bleach is designed to remove color and kill organic growth like mold and mildew, and it works well on non-porous surfaces such as vinyl siding and roofs. Wood is porous, so bleach does not clean evenly and can damage the substrate if the mix is too strong or left too long. It can bleach tannins, dry out wood, damage lignin (the “glue” that holds wood fibers together), and cause fuzzing, degradation, poor stain adhesion, and premature coating failure. Bleach may also void warranties on composite decks and some stain systems.

Bleach still has a limited role when you clean and restore wood deck and fences, but it should only be used at household-strength levels (around 5–7% SH) strictly to kill organic growth on the surface, followed by thorough rinsing—not as the primary restoration chemistry.

Best ProTool Products to Clean and Restore Wood Deck and Fences

ProTool Oxy Wood Cleaner

Protool Oxy Wood Cleaner

$26.05

ProTool Oxy Wood Cleaner ProTool Oxy Wood Cleaner effectively removes mold, mildew, dirt and light grease spots. It can also help brighten wood and is...… read more

ProTool Oxy Wood Cleaner is an excellent starting point when you want to clean and restore wood deck and fences safely and effectively. It is formulated to clean and prep new or grayed wood, removing mold and mildew to help bring the wood closer to its natural color.

• Unique, professional oxygenated formula

• Safe and effective on exterior wood decks, siding, lattice, fencing, and other natural wood structures

• Safe for use on composite decking

• Environmentally friendly

• Contains no chlorine compounds or hypochlorite bleach

ProTool Deck and Fence Cleaner

Protool Deck and Fence Cleaner

$22.60

ProTool Deck and Fence Cleaner ProTool Deck and Fence Cleaner is used to clean and brighten wood, particularly decks and fences. Effectively remove mold and...… read more

For tougher projects where you must both clean and remove old coatings, ProTool Deck and Fence Cleaner is designed to help you clean and restore wood deck and fences in fewer steps. It combines strong cleaning with the ability to remove many weathered and transparent coatings.

• Provides superior cleaning performance

• Removes many existing coatings in a one-step process

• Safe and effective on exterior decks, siding, lattice, fencing, and other natural wood structures

• Safe on composite decking

• Environmentally safe formula

ProTool Wood Brightener and Neutralizer

Protool Wood Brightener and Neutralizer

$31.75

ProTool Wood Brightener and NeutralizerProTool Wood Brightener and Neutralizer is commonly used as a step 2 after cleaning with ProTool Oxy Wood Cleaner or ProTool...… read more

ProTool Wood Brightener and Neutralizer is the go-to product for professionals who truly want to clean and restore wood deck and fences to a high standard. It not only brightens but also neutralizes and lightly strips in one step.

• Oxalic acid–based cleaner and neutralizer

• Restores weathered wood to a more natural, even color

• Removes stains from mold, mildew, and moss

• Contains no sodium hypochlorite (bleach)

• Coverage varies with dilution rate and substrate

Why Use a Wood Brightener After You Clean and Restore Wood Deck and Fences?

Wood brighteners are an essential finishing step when you clean and restore wood deck and fences, and they serve four important purposes:

1. Neutralize high-alkaline cleaners so the wood’s pH is brought back into balance.

2. Neutralize and remove iron and metal stains that can show through coatings.

3. Open the wood’s pores so stains and sealers bond more effectively.

4. Lighten and brighten the surface, making the deck or fence more visually appealing.

After cleaning, applying a brightener such as ProTool Wood Brightener and Neutralizer (oxalic acid plus a proprietary blend) helps “reset” the wood. It is often called “wood bleach” because of how it reacts with tannins, pulling out rich natural color and removing metal stains like nail bleeds that would stand out once you restain.

Four Core Steps to Clean and Restore Wood Deck and Fences

1. Apply products to wet wood surfaces.
   Pre-wetting is standard when you clean and restore wood deck and fences. Wetting the wood first helps the cleaner work closer to the surface, improves mold and mildew removal, and prevents chemicals from soaking too deeply into the fibers.

2. Let the cleaner, stripper, or brightener do the work.
   Apply the appropriate product—cleaner, stripper, or brightener—and allow proper dwell time so it can lift contaminants, coatings, and discoloration. This approach allows you to restore wood with the least amount of pressure, instead of “blasting” with water and relying only on PSI, which is not true restoration.

3. Rinse wood surfaces thoroughly.
   After using any chemical, rinse, rinse, and rinse again. Thorough rinsing removes residues that can dry out the wood, leave salt deposits, or cause coating failure. This is critical if your goal is to truly clean and restore wood deck and fences for long-term results.

4. Apply a protective coating or stain.
   Once you clean and restore wood deck and fences, always follow up with a quality stain or sealer, whether done by the contractor or homeowner. Coatings lock in your restoration work, extend the life of the wood, and enhance the overall appearance.