mark b

Will efc-38 or oxallic/citralic brightener harm glass?

A woman called me the other day and wanted to know if I could wash her deck. She said she just wants to wash the mildew , dirt etc. off and that she wasn't thinking of re-sealing it. I mainly wash houses, trucks, cars so I need a little help so I don't ruin this deck. It's 24 x 24 with plenty of railing, ballisters. PT wood stained 6 years ago, with what I don't know, neither does she. I do have some hd-80 and some citralic acid that i've used on concrete. If I want to wash this without stripping what would I use and what would be the procedure or process. Again it's mostly black mildew, mold etc. I'm using 4.6 gpm, 3400 psi. Should I use hot or cold water? Help a deck illiterate guy out boys. I'd like to get more deck jobs but have stayed away untill now.

Thanks for the help Rod. I got another call today for "just cleaning a deck". the guy said he wanted the 5/4 board only done but depending on price MAYBE the whole thing. We'll see. i have to go see it tomorrow and give him a price. This time I'll be pushing hard for stripping and brightening. I hope I've learned my lesson with the first deck- don't get caught unprepared and try and sell the complete job. Not only would selling the whole job ( which for me is stripping and brightening ) benefit me, but the homeowner would benefit from it too.

okay- I talked to the woman about her deck and she still says no stripping! She just wants it clean. Like I said: mold, mildew, the black stuff. Anyway I don't have any efc-38. She wants it done thursday. I am afraid that some of the stain will come off during cleaning. Whats the best stuff to use? If I had the efc34, I'd use it but Ill have to wait for the next deck. Can I use the citralic acid that I got from you or will it take the stain off? Sincerely, Mr Deck Illiterate!!!