Before doing deck stain, make sure you clean, restore and protect your deck so you can get the most out of it during the spring and summer months ahead. Here are some deck prep tips from the experts at Wolman Wood Care Products.

Tips to maintain deck:

Clean the deck thoroughly to remove embedded dirt, fungus stains and gray surface wood with a formulated deck cleaner like Wolman Deck Brightener. The weathered gray wood left behind from last year's sun exposure, black or green stains from mildew or moss and algae or brown-black tannin bleed common on new Cedar can ruin the look of deck. Even newly built decks can require cleaning to remove invisible surface barriers like mill glaze on new Cedar or excess wax on pressure-treated wood. These invisible barriers can prevent the adhesion of protective coatings that including colored stains and clear sealers. Wolman Deck stain removes surface barriers, gray wood surfaces and even the toughest of stains and restores the wood to its natural beauty without bleaching or yellowing like chlorine bleach can. Strip any deteriorating or unwanted finish. If the colored stain on deck has seen better days - or if you want a different look - now is the time to strip the deck's finish. Products like Wolman Deck Strip Stain & Finish Remover remove both oil and latex solid or semi-transparent stains and clear finishes and prepares the wood for the reapplication of protective finishes and stains. Many water repellents, including products like Wolman Raincoat, also contain a mildewcide that will impede the growth of mildew on your deck during the warm months ahead. Look for products like Wolman Raincoat that offer a guarantee on water-repellent longevity, as they will provide longer lasting protection.

Restore and Protect Your Deck:

Here's some advice from the experts at Wolman Wood Care Products: Clean away dirt and gray weathered wood with an acid-free, biodegradable deck cleaner like Wolman Deck Brite. Deck Brite is tough on ground-in dirt, mildew and algae stains yet it's gentle to handle and safe to use near grass, plants or shrubs. Its fast acting foaming action loosens and lifts dirt, stains and weathered gray discoloration in 10 minutes or less. Protect deck against mildew attack, water damage and graying with a powerful finish and preservative like Wolman F&P Premium Wood Finish and Preservative. As a preservative F&P contains twice of other products to prohibit decay-producing fungal growth including mildew and mold - other leading products simply resist mildew on the coating film. Bring out your patio furniture and enjoy your deck this spring and for many seasons to come.