How to Clean a Fence Before Staining: A DIY Guide

Knowing how to prep your fence for staining is essential to maintaining a functional, beautiful property fence. Proper fence cleaning prior to staining ensures a long-lasting, even finish that protects your fence materials from harsh weather, rot and pest infestation.

This guide teaches you how to clean your fence before staining in 5 easy DIY steps. You’ll ensure optimal protection, excellent resistance to color fading, and extend the lifespan of your fence by an average of 3-5 years.

Here’s what you need to know about DIY fence cleaning before staining:

• Properly assess your fence’s age, current finish and existing damage. Your fence’s existing finish and condition directly inform the cleaning method you choose.
• Clear debris, overgrown plants and weeds before cleaning. Once your fence area is clear, use a low-power pressure washer with a wide-angle tip for optimal results. Follow up with manual washing with a DIY solution or professional fence cleaning product.
• Mold and mildew are easily treated with a DIY bleach solution. Use one part bleach per three parts water, and use a brush to apply the solution.
• Remove old finish before final fence preparation for staining. Then, sand your fence to remove rough spots and splinters, and fill in holes with wood filler.

Why Cleaning a Fence Before Staining Matters

Gaps in your fence stain create entry points for weather damage, rot, mold, mildew and infestation from termites and other pests. Create a clean, even surface for stain application, and you’ll avoid unexpected fence damage between staining and sealing projects.

The average wood fence lasts 15-20 years with proper care and maintenance. Proper prep work prior to staining ensures your property fence enjoys the longest possible lifespan.

Most fences need to be stained and sealed every 12 to 18 months. This estimate relies on proper adhesion and coverage of your new stain — a dirty or unprepared fence prevents complete coverage.

How to Assess Your Existing Fence

Evaluate the current condition of your fence before you begin prep work. There are 3 factors to consider when evaluating your existing fence before cleaning:

• Age and Material: Determine the age of your fence and its material (type of wood). Older fences may require more intensive cleaning with a power washer.
• Damage: Check for any significant damage, such as rot, warping, or broken boards. Repair these issues before cleaning.
• Current Finish: Identify the existing finish, if one exists. This will influence the cleaning method you choose. 

The Right Cleaning Method for Your Fence’s Existing Finish

It’s important to clean your fence with the proper tools and materials. If your cleaning methods are too harsh for your fence’s current condition and existing finish, you may cause more damage.

Here’s how to determine the right cleaning method for your fence:

• Unstained, unpainted fences: New or unstained fences are susceptible to weathering from harsh cleaning and heavy power washing. Apply mild detergents or cleaning solutions with a brush, and avoid power washing unfinished fences.
• Painted fences: Choose cleaning solutions that are compatible with the type of paint on your fence. Don’t use harsh chemicals that strip paint off wood surfaces.
• Stained fences: Pressure washing is okay, but use a wide-angled tip to avoid heavy direct streams of water — this can remove the stain. Use cleaning products specifically marked as safe for use on stained wood.

Before You Start: 8 Tools You’ll Need

You’ll need 8 key tools and materials when starting your DIY fence cleaning project:

1. Stiff-bristled brush
2. Garden hose
3. Detergent (wood cleaner works best, but mild dish soap also does the job)
4. Bleach (to remove mildew and mold)
5. Wood stripper
6. Safety goggles and gloves (especially if using bleach solutions)
7. Drop cloths
8. Pressure washer

Resi Report Note: Pressure washing your fence is optional. If you do, be sure to use a low-pressure setting with a wide-angled tip to avoid direct water pressure. A garden hose with wide-angle stream works for most fences

5 DIY Steps to Clean Your Fence Before Staining

Follow these 5 simple DIY steps to prep your fence for optimal stain adhesion and performance.

1. Remove Obstacles and Debris

Clear the area around your fence of any plants, furniture, or other obstacles that could interfere with the cleaning process.

This step creates a safe work environment to clean your fence without injuring yourself. It also ensures any cleaning solutions don’t accidentally damage your outdoor furniture, and that the entire surface area of your fence is properly cleaned.

2. Power Washing Your Fence

Power washing your fence isn’t always necessary — use a power washer if your fence is heavily soiled, extremely dirty or weathered. If you don’t own a power washer, be prepared to thoroughly scrub dirt off your fence.

Avoid high-pressure settings on your power washer or pressure washer. Direct, sustained water pressure strips your wood fence of stain and paint. It also strips cedar of its natural oils which help combat insect infestation and pest damage.

Use 500-800 PSI for softer woods like cedar or untreated pine.

Use 1200-1500 PSI for harder woods like redwood or white oak.

Use these 3 steps to ensure proper use of a power washer when cleaning your fence before staining:

• Choose the right nozzle: A wide-angle tip is generally safer for wood fence materials — especially softer woods.
• Maintain distance: Keep the pressure washer nozzle 18-24 inches from your fence to avoid damaging the wood. 
• Work in sections: Clean small areas at a time, rinsing thoroughly as you go. This ensures you power wash your fence evenly and remove all necessary debris and grime.

3. Manual Scrubbing

Manual scrubbing is preferable to power washing for untreated, unstained fences. It’s also better for painted fences that you wish to keep as intact as possible. Use a stiff-bristled brush.

If your fence is extremely dirty, give it a once-over with manual cleaning after using a pressure washer to ensure all small particles and dirt are removed.

If you notice existing mold or mildew on your fence, do not wash it by hand. You’ll risk transferring harmful bacteria and mold onto your skin. 

Here’s a simple set of 4 DIY instructions to manually clean your fence:

• Mix cleaning solution: Combine detergent with warm water in a bucket. For heavy mildew or mold, add bleach to the solution.
• Apply the solution: Use a stiff-bristled brush to apply the cleaning solution to the fence boards.
• Scrub thoroughly: Work in small sections, scrubbing with firm but gentle pressure.
• Rinse completely: Use a garden hose to rinse off the cleaning solution. Let your fence materials dry before moving onto the next step.

4. Treating Mold and Mildew

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Once again, do not touch mold or mildew with bare skin. Contact with mold or mildew can cause allergic reactions, skin irritation or a serious infection. Always wear gloves and goggles when cleaning mold or mildew off your fence.

If your fence is heavily affected by mold or mildew, a bleach solution may be necessary. Mix one part bleach with three parts water to create an effective solution to clean mildew and mold off fences without severely damaging the wood.

Apply the bleach solution with a stiff-bristled brush. Take care not to apply bleach to unaffected areas, when possible. After 5-10 minutes, rinse the fence with clean water using a garden hose on a low-pressure setting.

5. Removing Old Finish (uncommon)

If your fence has multiple layers of old paint or stain, it’s best to strip these off before staining. Removing old finishes from your fence before applying new stain has 4 benefits:

1. Adhesion: New stain will adhere better to bare wood. Old finishes create a barrier that prevents proper penetration of the new stain.
2. Even Color: Removing the old finish ensures even color application of your new stain.
3. Durability: The cleaner your wood, the longer your stain will protect it. Proper prep work means you’ll only stain and seal your fence every 12-18 months.
4. Protection: Old, peeling paint or stain can hide underlying wood rot or damage. Removing the old finish allows for proper inspection and repair.

Once you’ve removed the old finish, it’s important to neutralize the wood stripper. Use a wood cleaner designated for your fence’s wood type to neutralize it properly.

3 Extra Steps for Damaged Fences

Once your fence is clean and dry, take 3 final DIY steps to ensure your wood is ready for optimal stain application.

• Sanding: Lightly sand the fence to remove any rough spots or splinters. This will also help the stain adhere better.
• Repairing damage: Fill any cracks or holes with wood filler. Allow the filler to dry completely before sanding.
• Allow drying time: Ensure the fence is completely dry before applying the stain. The drying process may take several hours, or overnight if it’s a humid day.

Fence Cleaning Solutions: DIY vs Store-Bought

Our research revealed several popular DIY fence cleaning solutions that you can make at home. We find each of these solutions offers varying degrees of effectiveness — but ultimately, none of them quite match up with the 2 eco-friendly fence cleaning products we recommend below.

Here are 2 DIY fence cleaning solutions we think work relatively well compared to other DIY suggestions:

Basic Detergent Solution:

• Ingredients: Mild dish soap, warm water.
• Instructions: Mix a few drops of dish soap with warm water. Apply to the fence with a brush, scrub, and rinse thoroughly. 
• When to Use It: This mild DIY fence detergent is okay for fences that aren’t extremely dirty. If you notice grime, mold, mildew or heavy dirt, you’ll need more than this.

Vinegar Solution:

• Ingredients: White vinegar, water.
• Instructions: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water. Apply to the fence, let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub and rinse. 
• When to Use It: Vinegar is surprisingly effective against mold and mildew. If you don’t like the idea of using bleach, vinegar is a fair substitute.

Environmentally Friendly Fence Cleaning Products

Most people get greater benefits from using environmentally friendly fence cleaning products than from homemade cleaning solutions. 

The cost difference between DIY solutions and store-bought products isn’t massive, and you’ll never need to personally mix bleach or other chemicals in your home.

Here are 2 excellent fence cleaning products that offer strong cleaning power while limiting environmental impact.

• Simple Green OxySolve Deck and Fence Cleaner: This product uses the power of peroxide to clean without harsh chemicals. It effectively removes grime, oils, grease, and stains from mold, mildew, algae, moss, mud, and clay. 
• Wash Safe Industries Cedar Wash: This eco-safe and organic wood cleaner is specifically designed for cedar but can be used on other wood types. It removes stains from moss, mold, algae, lichen, and mildew without the use of bleach.

Note: Simple Green OxySolve is designed for pressure washers, it can also be used manually.

Conclusion

These 5 DIY steps ensure a safe, simple roadmap for how to clean your fence before staining. Be sure to use all products as recommended, and opt for a low-pressure setting on your power washer and garden hose attachments for optimal results.

Here are 3 key takeaways to remember when prepping your fence for stain:

• Clean your fence in small sections to ensure all dirt and grime is properly removed. You’ll also do a better job of noticing problem areas like infestations, mold and rot.
• Always allow ample drying time between each step. Your wood must be completely dry before applying new stain or sealant to prevent accidental moisture damage.
• Lightly sand your fence before staining, then patch any small holes with the proper wood filler. You’ll create a smooth, clean surface for even application and optimal fence stain performance.

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