How to clean the gray from my front porch wooden floor?
by
Nancy Bay
+5
I have a nice wooden front porch, and I love the wooden look. It has been water sealed when built about 5 years ago, but due to the weather it now looks gray, I have tried cleaners safe for wood, but nothing helps. I can not afford a new porch every 5 years !
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I would sand it down and restain it the color you want then seal it again with multiple coats. It sounds like the sealer may have worn off and it's actually the wood that has turned gray. (Said the amateur who's never done it before but has read a lot on Hometalk.) Someone with more professional experience may have additional advice.
To maintain a wooden porch outside requires cleaning usually with a power washer, and restaining or oiling with a good wood product every 2 years.
Try baking soda with vinegar, and scrub with scrub brush, it worked for me.
If you can rent a power washer or borrow one from someone use that. It will make your deck look brand new, then seal it.
https://www.repcolite.com/how-do-i-clean-an-old-gray-deck/
Depending on how large it is....... I would stain it. Or you could sand it and then apply Tung oil or similar.
The oil will darken the wood somewhat but it won't need to be sealed.
Clean it as best you can, but it sounds like the color you're describing is the actual wood, perhaps cedar? If you don't like the color, but it's not soft or brittle when you walk on it (so the wood is still in good shape), try a semi-transperent sealer. A few coats should do the trick. I like Behr's semi-transparent deck stain personally, it washes up with water but lasts a while.