Here's what you'll need for your prepping

• Clean cloth
• Garden pump sprayer
• Scraper
• Scrub brush or power washer
• Ladder
• Safety glasses
• Rubber gloves
• Cabot® Problem Solver™ Wood Cleaner
• Cabot® Problem Solver™ Wood Brightener

 

Make sure the wood is dry Before staining, check to see if the wood is moist or dry. Stain that's applied to damp surfaces won't adhere well and will crack or peel. Moisture can also cause premature wood erosion, rot or decay. So you'll want to make sure the wood is dry before staining it.

Look for surface problems For the best possible results, never stain wood that's eroded, decayed, rotted, contaminated, dirty or stained. If you notice any of these problems, you should either replace the wood or clean it, depending on the problem:

• Eroded, rotted and decayed wood should be replaced
• Contaminated, dirty or stained wood can be cleaned

How to remove contaminants Over time, the surface of wood can become contaminated with a wide range of substances, such as mildew, soot, rust and tannin bleed. Each of these contaminants has its own tell-tale signs—and each one requires a different treatment.

• Cabot Problem Solver Wood Cleaner is specially formulated to remove dirt, mildew stains and other foreign matter from all painted, stained, unfinished or weathered wood surfaces.
• Cabot Problem Solver Wood Brightener is ideal for removing discoloration of wood caused by rust and tannin bleed.

For more information on how to identify and treat common surface contaminants, see our article How to Remove Surface Contaminants before Staining.

Test for flaking stain and loose fibers Flakes of old stain or loose wood fibers can cause problems when staining, so they should be removed before you begin your project. Fortunately, it's easy to check for this problem: Just press a piece of household tape firmly against the wood. When you tear it away, look for flakes or fibers. If you see any, you'll want to sand, scrape or power wash your wood surface to remove loose debris before you stain. (Always follow manufacturer's directions when using a power washer.)