Deck and Fence Washing Before Staining: How to Get the Wood Ready

If you are looking for deck washing New York homeowners can trust before a new coat of stain, start with one simple idea: stain does not hide problems, it seals them in. Gray boards with green corners and peeling old stain need a proper wash first.

Most people know Green Choice for family-run green rug cleaning in NYC, but the same company, in business since 2005, also washes decks, fences, siding and driveways across the city and the suburbs. This guide walks through what the wood needs, what never to do, and how to time the job around our weather.

01. Why a deck has to be washed before staining

Pollen, leaves, grill grease and yard dirt settle into the grain of a deck, and mildew grows in shady corners. Stain brushed over all of that grabs the dirt instead of the wood, leaving patchy color and a finish that peels within months.

Cleaning does not add color. In its guide Finishes for Wood Decks, the USDA Forest Products Laboratory explains that cleaners remove mildew and dirt so the natural color of the wood can show. That is what the new stain should sit on.

02. Signs your deck or fence is ready for a wash and a new coat

Walk the deck on a dry afternoon and look closely. It is time to wash and refinish when you see:

• Gray, dull boards where the old color has faded away in the sun.
• Green or black spots in corners, under planters and near the house wall.
• Old stain peeling or flaking on the steps and in the main walking path.
• Water that soaks into the wood right away instead of sitting on top in drops.

For that last check, sprinkle a little water on a few dry boards. If it soaks in fast, the old finish is not protecting much anymore.

03. Why high pressure is the wrong way to clean wood

Many people rent a pressure washer, turn it all the way up and spray until the deck looks bright, but up close the boards are often damaged. The Forest Products Laboratory guide warns that aggressive scrubbing with a caustic cleaner or power washing can remove wood from the surface, particularly on softer wood such as western redcedar.

Too much pressure leaves wood “fuzzy”: torn fibers stand up and the new stain soaks in unevenly. The same guide notes that the silvery look of weathered wood comes from empty wood fibers, which absorb stain well and do not all need to be stripped away.

04. Low-pressure washing, blasting and scrubbing compared

The method matters more than the machine. Here is how the common approaches compare on wood:

05. How a professional deck and fence wash works

Our crews treat a deck as a gentle wash, the same careful approach we use on every power washing service job. A typical visit looks like this:

1. Walk around and inspect. We check the wood, old stain and loose or soft boards, and tell you if something needs a carpenter first.
2. Clear and protect. Furniture, grills and planters come off the deck. Plants, lawn edges and fence-line beds are soaked with clean water so the cleaner does not sit on them.
3. Apply the cleaner. A wood cleaner is spread evenly over the boards, rails and steps and given a few minutes to loosen dirt and mildew.
4. Rinse at low pressure. A wide spray, kept moving with the grain, carries the dirt off without tearing the surface.
5. Final rinse and check. Plants and walkways are rinsed again, and we show you the result.

06. How long to wait before staining

Wet wood cannot take stain. The Forest Products Laboratory guide says that if a deck will be finished after cleaning, it should get at least two warm, windy days to dry. In a Forest Products Laboratory interview, deck expert Sam Williams suggests at least one day in the sun, says two to three days are probably better, and notes you can even wait two to three weeks before adding a finish.

Shaded decks, low boards and fence sections behind shrubs dry the slowest, so give them the extra day.

07. Late fall or spring: when to do it

Staining needs dry, mild days, and our winters do not give many. Late fall is a good time to wash: leaves are mostly down, and summer grime and mildew come off before snow season.

Many homeowners then stain in spring, once the forecast shows a few warm, dry days in a row. After a fall wash, a light rinse in spring is usually all the deck needs before staining.

How often? Williams says a water-repellent preservative lasts only about a year on most decks, and that he refinishes his own deck every year or two.

08. Fences, rails and the house wall next to the deck

A fence is cleaned the same gentle way, with extra care for what grows along it: garden beds, lawn edges and the neighbor’s side are wet down first and rinsed after. The north side and the bottom boards hit by sprinklers are usually the dirtiest.

The wall behind the deck usually needs help too. If the siding has a green film, our soft washing for house siding can be done on the same visit, and our guide to green streaks and mildew on vinyl siding explains why it grows. Patios, front walks and the drive leading to the backyard can get driveway and walkway washing at the same time.

09. Deck and fence washing in your area

On Long Island we serve homes across the Nassau County service area, from backyards with power washing in Rockville Centre on the South Shore to Oyster Bay power washing on the North Shore. Out in Suffolk we serve towns like Patchogue, with power washing in Patchogue, and the East End, with East Hampton deck and house washing.

North of the city, our Westchester County service area includes Tarrytown power washing, and our Queens service area covers detached houses and backyards with power washing in Flushing. You can see every borough and county on our service areas page.

Inside work keeps going all year. In early November our crews cleaned carpets in Patchogue and a sofa in Brooklyn, and the same week can include area rug cleaning with non-toxic products that are safe for kids and pets. You can read more about our family business.

Every job starts with a free quote, the price is confirmed with you before any work begins, and you pay by card or cash when the job is done. Call 1-800-589-4364 or use the form below and tell us the deck size and when you plan to stain.