In a previous post we promised we’d get around to talking about the best wood brighteners, just as we once took the time to tell you all about the best oil-based fence stains.
We’ve found four brands we feel pretty comfortable recommending based on reviews we’ve read and from what customers have told us over the years.
Restore-a-Deck
This deep cleaner can even break down grey wood cells, making it the perfect product for restoring grey cedar fences. It’s also a killer product for removing mold.
Deckwise Wood and Deck Brightener
This is a highly rated biodegradable concentrate. When you buy it, however, you should be aware that there’s a Part I and a Part II. They’re meant to be used together, and if you don’t you may not get very good results.
Superdeck
This wood brightener is a great alternative for people who don’t want to pressure wash. It’s capable of cleansing a mildly dirty fence (if you’ve let the fence go for years, however, you’re just going to have to break out the pressure washer).
Olympic Oxy-Deck
This is a powerful foaming cleanser. Some reviewers do say it cleans exceptionally well but doesn’t actually brighten the wood any. If you’re just looking to keep your wood from going grey before applying a good layer of stain, however, this product may be a great choice.
Cabot Problem Solver Wood Brightener Olympic
This is sort of the King of wood brighteners as far as we can tell. It takes on tannin stains and rust stains alike. It comes ready to use, which means you’re not going to have to deal with any additional substances in the wood brightening phase of your project (though you’ll still have to stain the wood afterward). This is the one we generally recommend to our customers, though we’ve showcased the others because we like to provide lots of (good) options.
Of course, if you don’t have a beautiful fence yet then wood brighteners won’t do you any good at all. If you live in Fox Point, Mequon, or anywhere else in the Milwaukee metro area, give us a call for a free estimate.
What about you? Have you found a wood brightener you really love that’s not on the list yet?
