This post was updated on June 22, 2024
Hi, I am Scott Paul. I have been prepping and stripping exterior wood decks since 1993. I have tried them all and have compiled a list of the top wood and deck stain strippers. My reviews and help tips are based on my history as a wood and deck restoration contractor and actual hands-on testing, all designed to present you with the top product choices. See here for more info about me.
The Best Deck Stain Strippers 2024
With over 30+ years of restoring decks as a contractor, I have done extensive research to find the best deck strippers and compared the positives and negatives of each brand and product. However, if you’re still not sure which deck stripper is best for you, I can help. Just post a comment or question below, and I’ll reply as soon as possible.
Without further ado, here’s a look at my four best deck stain strippers of 2024:
- Restore-A-Deck Deck Stripper with Booster/Thickening Gel Additives: My top-rated deck stain stripper features a special blend of pre-mixed solvents with 5 gallons of the original Restore-A-Deck Stripper. It provides an effective solution for even the most stubborn deck stains.
- Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain Stripper: The Restore-A-Deck powder is consistently considered one of the best deck stain removers and easily removes old stain or varnish, along with dirt, mildew, mold, and mill glazes.
- R-A-D PaintStrip Stripping Gel: Stripping deck paint instead of stain? Eco-friendly R-A-D™ PaintStrip works fast and removes up to 5 layers of deck paint in 45 minutes or less.
- Defy Exterior Wood and Deck Stripper: Defy Stripper’s biodegradable formula restores wooden decks to a like-new appearance while removing transparent and semi-transparent deck stains.
Read on to learn more about the best deck strippers available and tips on choosing a deck stain stripper and how to use it effectively.
Choosing a Deck Stain Stripper
Scott’s Steps to Stripping a Deck Stain
The best deck stain stripper for your project can vary depending on the type of stain or paint you need to remove. Here are a few things to consider and steps to take when buying deck stain removers.
1. Gather Your Deck Stripping Equipment and Materials
- Water! You need a water source for pressure washing and rinsing
- Pump Sprayer for applying your deck stripper
- Deck scrub brush to help agitate the stripper
- Pressure Washer – Not 100% needed, but it will help remove coatings
- Gloves, goggles, and masks
- Tarps to cover plants and your home
- A Premium Deck Stripper!
- A Wood Brightener to neutralize when done
2. What to Look for in a Deck Stain Remover
Before you select a deck stain stripper, consider the following to ensure you select the right product for your job:
- What are the application requirements? Some deck stain strippers require special equipment to be applied to or cleaned off your deck. Make sure you’re aware of the requirements before making a purchase.
- What type of stain do you need to remove? Certain deck stain strippers work best with different types of stains. Make sure you know whether your deck is covered in a solid, transparent, or semi-transparent stain, then find a compatible stain remover to ensure a job well done.
- Is the deck stain stripper biodegradable? Finally, make sure your deck stain remover is biodegradable. This will ensure a safer stripping process and keep harmful residue from entering your yard or nearby waterways.
3. Why Use a Deck Stain Stripper?
Whether your current deck stain has seen too much wear and tear or you’re just ready for a refresh, a deck stain stripper can make it easier to remove old stain by softening the old coating down to the bare wood. The best deck strippers will help remove built-up dirt, mold, mildew, and grime from the wooden boards. Once removed down to the bare wood, you can use any deck stain type you choose. Using a deck stain stripper will make pressure washing easier and with less potential damage to the wood.
4. How I Use a Deck Stain Stripper
I will guide you to deck stain and paint removal and provide a walkthrough of the process. However, the basic steps are as follows:
- Remove all furniture from the decking and place it 20-30 feet away.
- Cover plants, landscaping, furniture, windows, and anything else that isn’t getting stripped.
- Make sure you’re wearing proper gloves and eyewear.
- Use a brush or sprayer to apply an even layer of stain remover to the wooden deck.
- Let the deck stain stripper sit for at least 10-15 minutes for thicker coats of deck stain.
- Use a pressure washer or garden hose to remove the coatings and stain remover.
- If needed, repeat the process, then rinse thoroughly.
- Apply Wood Brightener to neutralize.
Scott’s Pro Tips for Stripping a Deck
To get the best results using a wood stain stripper, let the product sit for several minutes after applying it to the wood. This allows the stain stripper to penetrate and break down the old stain. The dwell time depends on the type of existing stain. For instance, most semi-transparent oil-based stains will be removed more easily than semi-solid deck stain.
For hard-to-remove stains such as acrylic or silicone-based stains, several applications and longer dwell times may be necessary. In extreme cases, such as when dealing with a solid deck stain or paint, some sanding may be needed to remove the existing stain fully.
Once the failing deck stain seems to have softened, it is best removed with a power washer using light to moderate pressure. The caustic stripper raises the wood’s pH level during the stripping process, causing it to appear very dark. This darkening is why a Wood Brightener is needed to restore the pH balance and lighten the wood.
5. What is the Best Deck Stripper?
This is a very popular question that I get here at Deck Stain Help, and it varies based on the condition of your deck and the type of stain you are trying to remove from it. Not all stain strippers will work for all deck stain types. For Example, a regular deck stain stripper will not remove a solid-color stain or paint entirely. To remove a solid-color stain or paint, you will need a Paint Stripper and possibly some power sanding.
My Top-Rated Wood Deck Stain Strippers
#1 Best Wood Stain Stripper/Remover | #2 Best Wood Stain Stripper/Remover | #3 Best Wood Stain Stripper/Remover |
 |  |  |
From: $89.97 each *Booster, Gel, and Stripper. Makes 5-Liquid Gallons. | From: $39.99 *Ships Free. Makes 5-Liquid Gallons. | From: $69.99 *Ships Free. Removes Solid Stains. |
#1 Restore-A-Deck Deck Stripper with Booster/Thickening Gel Additives
- My go-to stain stripper for difficult-to-remove stains such as Behr and Olympic water-based wood stains.
Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper Booster Additive is a special blend of solvents added to 5 pre-mixed gallons of the original Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper. The Restore-A-Deck Stripper Booster will raise the effectiveness of the stain stripper up to 300% by helping break down the surface tension of difficult-to-remove wood stain finishes.
Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper Thickening Gel is a special blend that is added to premixed 5-gallons of the Restore-A-Deck Stain Stripper. With a longer dwell time, Restore-A-Deck Stripper Thickening Gel will increase the effectiveness of stain stripping by adding the ability to cling to vertical and horizontal surfaces for up to 1 hour. It works especially well in improving the stripping performance on vertical wood, such as wood railings, wood fences, and wood-sided homes.
Manufacturer: Restore-A-Deck
Product Type: Deck Stain Stripper Additives to boost overall effectiveness.
Available Sizes: 16oz. Add these into 5 Liquid Gallons of RAD Stain Stripper.
Consumer Star Ratings:
My DeckStainHelp.com Review (On a Scale of 1-10): 9.8
See My Review Article Here: Restore-A-Deck Booster & Gel Additives Review
#2 Restore-A-Deck Stripper Rating
Note: This rating is without the Booster and Thickening Gel Additives
- My everyday wood deck stain stripper. We used this on 100s of decks annually.
Restore-A-Deck Wood Stain Stripper is a biodegradable, powdered concentrate that quickly removes worn finishes to restore wood surfaces. It removes transparent, semi-transparent, and most semi-solid stains with collected dirt, mold, mildew, and mill glaze.
Manufacturer: Restore-A-Deck
Product Type: Powdered Concentrate Deck Stain Stripper
Available Sizes: 2 Pound Container Makes 5 Liquid Gallons
Consumer Star Ratings:
My DeckStainHelp.com Review (On a Scale of 1-10): 9.4
See My Review Article Here: Restore-A-Deck Stripper Review
#3 RAD PaintStrip Stripping Gel Rating
Note: This product is designed to remove solid color deck stains and paints. While it will remove all other stain types, it is not always needed.
- This is what I use to remove solid-color deck stains.
R-A-D™ PaintStrip is the right choice for almost any paint or sealer stripping project. R-A-D™ PaintStrip is eco-friendly, works fast (starts working within 5 minutes), and removes up to 5 layers of most paints in 30-45 minutes and up to 15 layers in 24 hours.
Manufacturer: Restore-A-Deck
Product Type: Solid Color Deck Stain and Paint Stripping Gel
Available Sizes: 1 & 5-Gallons
Consumer Star Ratings:
DeckStainHelp.com Review (On a Scale of 1-10): 9.2
See My Review Article Here: RAD PaintStrip Review
#4 Defy Wood Stain Stripper Rating
Good stripper that may be found locally in stores.
Defy Exterior Wood and Deck Stripper is designed to remove transparent and semi-transparent exterior wood and decking stains. It is a biodegradable deck stain remover that restores the wood to a like-new appearance and will work on both water-based and oil-based stains.
Where To Buy: Select Stores and Purchase Here
Product Type: Liquid Wood Deck Stain Stripper
Available Sizes: 1 Gallon Pre-Mixed Liquid (Not Concentrate)
Consumer Star Ratings:
DeckStainHelp.com Review (On a Scale of 1-10): 8.25
See My Review Article Here: Defy Stain Stripper Review
6. Common Questions About Wood Deck Stain Strippers
Do You Have to Strip a Deck?
Before staining a wood deck, it is necessary to prep the wood properly for the best results. Removing all the dirt, mold, mildew, and graying will help the new deck stain penetrate better and last longer.
A simple wood cleaning is insufficient when dealing with an old, failing deck stain. In this case, a deck stain stripper must be used to emulsify and soften the old stain so it can be removed more easily. Wood stain strippers are more aggressive than a typical wood cleaner.
What are the Active Ingredients in a Deck Stain Stripper?
Some of the best deck stain strippers I have found contain a mixture of Sodium Hydroxide and other surfactants. They typically come in pre-mixed liquid formulas or a concentrated powder formula for cost savings. Once mixed with water, they can be applied using a pump sprayer.
Do I Have to Brighten After Using Deck Stain Strippers?
Following the stripping process with an application of a wood deck brightener will restore the pH and brighten the wood while neutralizing the deck stripper. This brightening process should not be skipped. It is crucial to get optimal results from the new deck stain and a more natural appearance.
Using a quality wood deck stain stripper will give you the best chance of removing the existing deck stain. Once the old stain is gone, the new deck stain can fully penetrate the wood for maximum protection and lasting results.
The Best Deck Strippers Video – DeckStainHelp.com
Best Deck Stripper Reviews
When using restore a deck stripper do I need to worry about covering/protecting adjacent vinyl siding? Thanks
It should not harm vinyl but we always prewet any areas nearby and rinse over spray rigt away if it happens.
Scott, After the miserable performance of SW SuperDeck solid stain, I am skeptical of what to put on my deck after stripping. I will use the Restore A deck stripper with additives but am considering staining with TWP 1000 in a solid. Am I asking for more trouble or should I be considering another oil based product? Done with water based stain.
TWP does not come in solid stains. It does have semi-solid colors. TWP is a great stain and will work very well for you.
I would like to understand more about how to use a stripper without damaging the wall of my house which is painted stucco and is right next to my deck and plants growing nearby. I can cover up plants so that they don’t get sprayed with the stripper, but will the stripper harm the plants growing in soil that the water running off the deck will drain into? I don’t think there is a way to redirect the run off somewhere else. Do I need to cover my house’s wall with a tarp or plastic?
Deck stain strippers do not remove paint. We would prewet and rinse immediately any overspray on the house while working. We have never seen strippers kill the roots of plants, but they can burn leaves or foliage, so we would cover while working.
I have read that pressure washing a deck is a big no-no because it can damage the wood. But you recommend it. I think you said low pressure – 1600 psi but as you’ve also noted, the amount of pressure depends on how far away on holds the nozzle. Can you give me some specific instructions for pressure washing? And can you tell me how to know if I’ve damaged the wood? I have a small redwood deck that was built about 5 years ago.
Pressure washing only with water can damage wood. That is why you use the proper prep products so you can reduce your pressure.
How do I remove/strip One Time deck sealer?
Use the Restore A Deck Stain Stripper with both additives. Brighten when done:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/restore-a-deck-stain-stripper-booster-thickening-gel-review/
Can I use defy deck cleaner instead of brightner to neutralize ph? Or would baking soda work?
No, it must be a brightener.
Do you really need a power washer when using the RAD stripper solution?
Yes, this is normal. You cannot just rinse off the stripper and old coating with low pressure.
HI, Wish I found your site a bit sooner! I have a large 700 sq ft redwood deck that has never been stained or treated until a few days back. After washer down with a store bought deck cleaner and sanding I used Penofin transparent redwood oil. Less than pleased with results to say the least! Thinking, stripping for start in the least, followed by brighter and appropriate sealer.
Yes, you will need to strip and brighten to fix. Use the Restore A Deck Kits.
Hello, my PT wood with cedar gates fence was stained for the first time in 2017 with PPG Timeless transparent penetrating wood oil natural finish. I’m preparing to redo it myself this summer. Since they don’t make the same PPG product anymore, what is the best method to apply a different stain? Strip or clean, brighten, and re-stain? If so, will a 1800 psi 1.2 gpm pressure washer be sufficient with the RAD stripper/cleaner so I don’t have to use a scrub brush along the length of the whole fence?
Also I chose that stain then because I liked the look. Given how it looks now 7 years later, am I ok going with another transparent, maybe from Armstrong Clark? Do you have a better recommendation for a fence? Or should I do a semi transparent? I like the wood grain showing without too much color and the pics show how it’s held up after 7 years.
Finally, will summer be ok or do I need to wait until fall or spring? I live in the southeast. Thank you for your help.
We would strip and brighten this. Look at the Restore A Deck Kits. Armstrong Clark is an excellent stain. Using their semi-transparent colors will give longer UV protection and they do fully show the wood grain the same as the transparent colors. You can prep and stain whenever you want.
Thank you again. Is 1800 psi low enough for use on PT wood?
The PSI is okay but your GPM has less to be desired. It is low and will take you twice as long to wash. Is this eletric? Gas powered is much more efficient. 2400 PSI with 2.5-3 GPM per minute.
Yes, bought an electric one less powerful just for prepping a deck so as not to damage the wood. Is 2400 with 2.5-3 GPM safe for decks too? Held 6 inches away from the wood when spraying?
Yes, PSI is rated at the tip, when you wash 8-12 inhces away, the pressure drops in half. If you haven’t used the eletric yet, return it.
Our decks were stained with Sikkens (PPG SRD) Proluxe Matte finish after bleaching and power washing (since learned our contractor really doesn’t know decks). They subsequently came back and bleach/powerwashed to what we have now. (At this point I moved on from them)
I would like to remove this to switch to a better stain. The Sikkens fails within a year in sun/rain. Holds up well in the shade.
How can I remove the Sikkens? Stripping?
Will any stain in particular be helpful over it?
Strip and brighten with Restore-A-Deck Kits and the Booster and Gel additives for the stripper. When done, any of these stains would be better:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/best-semi-transparent-deck-stain-reviews/
Another picture to show better
Stain was applied using a roller.. obviously not correctly. How do I fix it
You will need to remove and start over. What stain did you use?
How long can you wait once you’ve stripped and brightened the wood before it may need brightening again? I’d like to strip and brighten the deck this coming weekend but might not be able to get to staining for another 1-2 weeks given my schedule. Don’t want to have to re-brighten if I can avoid it. I’ll be staining it with an Armstrong-Clark semi-transparent Rustic Brown.
BTW, I’ve used RAD products before with great results.
If it longer than 2 weeks I would redo the brightener. If less you should be okay. Just make sure it is clean from debris. Post some pics when done!
I have a 24 sq. ft. “Stoop” + one step, that needs attention. I bought the condo 7 years ago and have no idea what the previous owner put down. I’m hoping you can tell from the photo. I really don’t want to rent a power washer for such a small area. What would you recommend? Thank you!
Pressure washing while using a stripper and brightener is the easiest solution. Other option is to power sand:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-to-sand-your-wood-deck/
We just had two decks stained with Cabot Semi Transparent Redwood stain. It seems like the stain was applied very heavily as it is shiny and tacky. It almost looks like paint. It makes the wood very hot and slippery. What is the best solution at this point? One of the decks surrounds a pool.
To fix you would have to power sand this all off.
Oof. Ok, is that what you would recommend given the photos?
If the stickiness does not go away then yes.
And can you explain why sanding vs any kind of stripper or a combination of the two?
Strippers will not work very well with a newly and over-applied stain like this.
If we have a stained deck with a painted coat which is the best stripper ti take care of both to eventually restain?
You will have to power sand to remove this.
I am so glad to finally find your site! I am a single woman with a home in a temperate rainforest climate with a large UNOCOVERED deck. I have only had the home for 2 years and the deck “looked” pristine when I got it. Now it has severely deteriorated – lots of cracks, peeling, lifting, etc. I believe the previous owner went over it with Valspar 1 Coat Exterior Stain and Sealant Opaque Solid (found leftover) without any prep to make it appear good to sell.. I have someone to refinish it for me but they want me to choose the process and materials.
The deck itself is pressure treated wood and approximately 10-12 yrs old.
With information from your site and other research, I think I would like to strip the floor, recondition it and apply a semi transparent stain in a redwood color to coordinate with the pickets and rails. The pickets look perfect and the rails have some splitting and mold but are otherwise in good shape. I would like to refinish just the rails with the Valspar product and leave the pickets alone.
Please help! (in the last pic, we tried a stripper as a test. we also pressure washed) Thank you!
See this for tips: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-to-remove-a-solid-color-deck-stain-or-paint/
What stripper will remove behr deckover acrylic based
It is not possible to remove a deck resurface stain with a stripper: https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-to-remove-rust-oleum-deck-restore/
I stripped and redid my deck last year with a lot of great help from this site. I’m very happy because this deck gets a lot of wear and rainy cold winters. What should I do this year. I need to clean it for summer and a few areas did flake. I’d like to fix those. Thoughts for my spring.
See these tips for recoating a solid stain:
https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-to-reapply-a-solid-color-deck-stain/
Looking for recommendations to strip and restain 800sq ft deck. Existing coating is Thompsons semi transparent. Deck is on second level supported by painted structural beams. Is stripper going to damage the painted beams. Will restore a deck do the job. Please advise
What you have on the wood is more of an opaque solid stain. Thompsons lies about their opacity. Problem is that a deck stripper will not remove this fully. You can strip off as much as possible but then you will need to sand to get it all off. You would have to do this if you want to use a proper semi-transparent stain. The other option is to remove what is peeling and then cover the rest with a solid color stain. https://www.deckstainhelp.com/how-to-reapply-a-solid-color-deck-stain/
Scott- very recently had a small deck restained with a Sherwin Williams oil-based stain to a cedar color (see 1st picture) that is too orange for my liking. Would like to remove that stain so i can reapply a more clear finish to get closer to the more natural cedar color (see 2nd photo). So 3 questions: (1) Will the restore-a-deck stain stripper and booster products do the trick for this job, or will I need to consider sanding as well? (2) Any recs on a clear stain product and color? (3) Will a clear stain, baked in Minnesota sun, evolve into a color I’m not expecting? So maybe the orange cedar I’m seeing today is not as undesireable as I think? Thank you!
1. It should remove all or most. Make sure to pressure wash.
2. Clear sealers = zero UV protection. It has to be tinted.
3. Clear will turn gray in months.
Very helpful. Thank you!
How long is too long? In early July I used Restore-A-Deck stripper and brightener on my 1000 sf redwood deck. (I built it in 1985 and re-finish it every year or so.) Did a good job and all looked great. Then life and vacation and rain and weekends on the river and repairing some soft areas and sanding the railings all got in the way — and I have not refinished it yet — the naked wood looks great when wet – the rest of the time it looks hungry. I have always refinished with transparent or “natural” finishes. Right now I have 5 gal of Cabot Australian Timber Oil finish, Natural, sitting here ready to go when things dry out. My question is: given the 2 months that have passed since the cleaning/brightening — am I still ok to apply the finish, or should I “brighten” it again? Thanks.
Clean and brighten again.
Customer used this thick ‘correct deck stain’. But he stained over top of a clear sealer ,of course it’s bubbling n flaking all over. Whats best stripper for this type job? I got half it off just pressure washing.
You cannot strip that coating type. Sanding is the only way and it is not easy.
Yep sanding my butt off , gottta be better way in life. Lol
Thompsons Deck stripper with sodium hydroxide. will it harm the deck hardware and concrete? and it will be rinsed into into the soil below it which will also down the slope of terraced rocks and plantings, and stream water. Is this OK? We will be using about 3 gallons.
Strippers will not harm concrete or deck hardware. The ground should be fine as well.
I read California states sodium hydroxide causes cancer and birth defects. In our case a stream runs under one of the decks through which the stripper will be rinsed. There is ground under the other deck adjoined to the home, but the stripper will soak into the ground and eventually through to the stream. WE live on an island.
Too much exposure to anything can cause issues. You will be fine when only stripping your deck once but you can always sand the deck if concerned.
I used Sikkens on my deck 4 years ago. There is only one coat on the deck. It’s looking pretty rough so I decided to restain it. I pressure washed it which removed a lot of the colour right down to the wood, but there is still enough colour on there to make the deck look brown as opposed to natural wood colour. After reading your posts, I think I want to switch to the TWP 100, 200 in semi-translucent or semi-solid stain. Do I have to remove all the Sikkens first? If so, is the Restore-a-deck enough to pull all the stain up and off? Or should I sand the deck? If I have to sand the deck, would you recommend an orbital sander (I’ve used before and it was a hassle as the pads kept slipping), or a drum sander? And is it important to sand or get Restore-a-deck in the cracks and along the sides of the boards (the space between the boards)? I live in Victoria, BC, Canada and we get A LOT of rain here. Which one of the TWP products do you recommend for our climate? Thanks! Attaching pictures – it had just started raining so it looks very deceiving and uneven but it’s all I got. Sorry. Also fyi, one deck is cedar and the other is pressure treated wood. Your website is so informative. Much appreciated.
Yes, you have to remove the Sikkens fully and this cannot be stripped. You will have to power sand to get this all off. For Canada, you will need the TWP 200 Series.
I have a deck from Hell…have a 300ft PT lumber deck built 5 weeks ago. The Builder hired a painter who only uses Sherwin Williams products. He told me he was going to us SW Deck stain (gray). He did a horrible job and when he said he would fix it, we said no…
I found another painter who came out to look at the deck. He asked what was put on the deck and I told him…H&C® COLORTOP™ WATER-BASED SOLID COLOR CONCRETE STAIN. The original painter and his Sherwin Williams Representative highly recommended it.
Immediately, the painter said that he didn’t think the stain can be used on wood. Sure enough, the application instructions state it cannot be used on wood surfaces.
Ended up speaking to the SW District Manager and was told that they would fix it.
So, can you tell me what needs to be done to get the stain off? Do you recommend sanding or a Solvent? If a Solvant, is there anything you recommend? I’m thinking they will use a SW product…
I’m going to eventually have it painted. If a Solvent is used, do you recommend a light sanding before the Primer?
Really appreciate any help you can give me.
You will have to sand it all off. A solvent will not do anything. You do not use a primer before using a solid color deck stain and never use a paint on a deck.
Thank you for your reply. I know a Primer would never be used before applying a solid stain. I was referring to it when using paint on the deck. After this experience and the fact that the deck looks horrible with the “stain” that was used, we are leaning towards paint. I understand and appreciate your point of view on paint though.
Paint peels on decks and should never be used.
I have years of solid stains applied to my deck. Time to remove but most strippers don’t strip solid stains. Help!!!
Sanding is the only effective way to remove a solid stain.