Depending on the wood’s surface, you will either need a deck stripper or cleaner. Old, dirty, and wood with mildew are good candidates for a good deck cleaner. However, a stain stripper is more heavy-duty and able to remove paints, stains, varnish, as well as dirt and mildew. Again, it comes down to understating what your needs are and what the wood surface requires.
Paint and deck strippers are also different from each other. Paint usually forms a layer over the wood, while a stain penetrates the wood. Each product is formulated to deal with the differences. Your deck strippers soften and dissolve a stain that has gone into the wood better than a paint stripper.
Deck stripper is a highly potent paint and dirt removing solution that is used to remove old stains, dirt, molds, and wood blemishes from the woods and makes the deck brighter.
It contains a very reactive chemical called sodium hydroxide or either sodium meta-silicate that when applied bonds with deck stain and breaks it down for easier removal.
To make it work effectively, you have to apply it on the wooden surface and then leave it for a couple of minutes for the chemical agents to react, and then clean it off with water. It’s handy as it does not require much effort.
Solvent-Based Deck Stain Stripper
These stain strippers work by chemically dissolving a stain or finish. Examples of solvents based strippers include:
- Acetone
- Toluene
- Alcohol
- Methylene Chloride
These are quite powerful cleaners that can easily remove old paint. The one major downside is that these strippers can be rather toxic. You will need to be careful when using, making sure you follow the product label instructions. Methylene Chloride has been made illegal in some countries; however, it is still available. So, to avoid this toxic chemical, it is best to check the label ingredients before purchasing.
Caustic Deck Stain Stripper
This stripper dissolves the old finish and changes it into another substance. These also require careful handling, as it involves potent acids or bases that are corrosive. Some examples of caustic strippers include:
- Lye – sodium or potassium hydroxide
- Oxalic Acid
Biochemical Deck Stain Stripper
These use more natural ingredients that are safer to use and are better for the environment. The biochemical strippers also tend to produce fewer odors. These are less potent when compared to the others and needs to remain on the wood for quite some time. Some examples of biochemical strippers include:
- Soy oil
- Lactic Acid
- Citric Acid
- Terpenes from citrus or pine
- Wood-pulp extract
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