Clean Cedar Siding Before Staining

Do not attempt to power wash your cedar siding.

Clean cedar siding before staining.

Only difference between cleaning new and old wood is new wood does not require much cleaning as old discolored wood sometimes does. If cedar is aged having grey weathered and or ugly black mildew all over the best cedar cleaner by far is oxi clean laundry detergent saving time and money and is also a must before staining. Before staining replace rotting or decayed wood and remove loose stain and eroded wood fibers by sanding scraping or power washing the problem surfaces. One of the most thorough methods when staining is to use a thick natural bristle brush.

Cedar shingles can also grow moss and algae or develop iron staining which requires periodic cleaning. Prepare your cedar siding by washing it with soapy water to remove any dirt or dust if any has accumulated. Department of agriculture s forest services laboratory recommends cleaning cedar shingles with an oxidizing bleach as opposed to a household bleach to avoid damaging the wood. Now the cleaned and brightened cedar wood siding is ready to stain.

Staining the restored cedar siding. In the past he had used oil based wood stain products but found the mold and mildew returning within a few years each time. Cedar siding after mold removal cleaning and brightening. Dealing with surface contaminants once the surface is in good condition re inspect for dirt mildew stains cedar bleed chalkiness and other foreign substances.

After you have washed it wait for it to dry before applying any stain to the cedar. Use a thick brush when staining. Power washing can damage the wood and bleach can damage a power washer.