First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Epoxy on skin: use a waterless skin cleanser on the resin, then wash the hardener off with soap and warm water.
- Never use solvents on skin.
- Epoxy on clothes: change them right away, and don't keep wearing them if they can't be fully cleaned.
- Epoxy or wet foam in the eyes: flush with water for 15 minutes and seek medical attention if discomfort persists.
Wet epoxy on a deck is manageable if you catch it early, before it hardens into the grain of the boards. Cured spots are harder to lift, and how far the wood cleans back depends on its age and on any stain or sealer already on it. Weathered gray boards can be brightened, but if all their natural color has leached out, they will stay silver when dry.
Wipe up any wet epoxy with a damp cloth before it reaches the grain. Removing sealant from an old deck is the step to do before you choose between deck sealant and deck stain. If the old finish is flaking or the wood feels soft, a professional should check it before you pick a product.
Before you start
What decks & wood fences can take
Safe to use2
- Water
- Oxygen bleach
Use with care5
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
6 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Paper towelsBlot up wet epoxy before it cures. (opens Amazon)
- Garden hoseRinses the boards before and after scrubbing.
- Mild dish soapGentle cleaner for the first wash. (opens Amazon)
- Stiff synthetic-bristle brushScrubs along the grain. Wire brushes and steel wool are out. (opens Amazon)
- Plastic drop clothProtects nearby plants from cleaner and overspray. (opens Amazon)
- Oxygen-bleach deck cleanerTreats mildew on bare wood. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Wipe up wet epoxy first
Blot or wipe up any wet epoxy on the boards with paper towels before it sets. Once it cures it's much harder to lift, so don't wait to see whether it settles. Throw the towels away once they're loaded with resin.
Step 2 of 6
Clear debris and cover plants
Sweep away leaves and loose debris so the cleaner can reach the wood. Lay a plastic drop cloth over nearby plants, then spray them with water so any overspray is diluted.
Step 3 of 6
Test in a hidden spot
Choose a corner or a spot under furniture and test the cleaner you plan to use there. Do the same for any pressure washer setting before it touches the open boards.
Careful. A cleaner or pressure setting that's too strong can mark wood that looked fine.
Step 4 of 6
Rinse, then scrub with dish soap
Rinse the boards with a garden hose, then scrub with mild dish soap mixed in water. Use a stiff synthetic-bristle brush and work along the grain, not across it.
Step 5 of 615 minutes
Treat mildew with oxygen cleaner
If the boards have mildew or other organic growth, apply an oxygen-bleach deck cleaner one section at a time. Keep each section wet for about 15 minutes, then scrub along the grain before you move on.
Careful. Oxygen cleaners aren't safe on painted surfaces, so skip this step on painted boards.
Step 6 of 6
Rinse well before cleaner dries
Rinse each section with the hose as soon as its time is up, until no cleaner or soap is left on the boards. Move through the deck in sections so nothing sits and dries while you work elsewhere.
Careful. Cleaner or soap left to dry on the deck will leave its own marks.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for epoxy on decks & wood fences
Buy by product type rather than brand, and check the label against your wood before you open the can. Choose a product only after the cleaning is finished and the boards are dry.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on decks & wood fences, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The boards should look even in color once they've dried, with no soapy film or cleaner residue left behind. A dark spot that stays after a full rinse is worth a second look before you repeat any cleaning.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your decks & wood fences
Weathered gray boards
Boards that have gone gray need a restorer, not harder scrubbing. A commercial deck cleaner, brightener or restorer removes the mildew and dirt so the wood's own color can show through.
If all the natural color has leached out, the wood will stay silver when it dries, and those fibers should be left in place. Start with the gentle wash before you reach for a restorer, so you don't overwork the boards.
Mildew on bare wood
Mildew is the spotty growth the oxygen cleaner is for, and it's the main reason to use it on bare wood. If the spots are black, test a small patch first to confirm it's mildew before you treat the whole deck.
Work one section at a time, and move on only when that section has been rinsed clean. Repeat only the spots that still look dark once the boards are dry.
Old stain or sealer
Old stain or sealer doesn't come off with the wash; it needs a stain and sealer remover. Once it's off, neutralize the wood with a brightener and let it dry.
Lightly sand the boards once they're dry, and test the remover in a hidden spot before doing the whole deck. Expect the sanding to be light, since the goal is a smooth surface rather than bare wood.
Cedar and other soft woods
Soft woods like western redcedar wear down easily, so the gentle wash is the most you should do. Aggressive scrubbing with caustic cleaners removes wood from the surface, and power washing does the same.
Keep to the hose, a little dish soap and a light touch with the brush, working along the grain. If the boards still look dirty after that, a restorer is a gentler next step than a harder scrub.
Old pressure-treated decks
Old CCA-treated decks need extra caution before anything gets wet. Wetting the wood raises surface arsenic, and bleach releases chromate, so keep children and pets off the wet boards.
Don't cut or burn old CCA lumber, since the sawdust and smoke contain arsenic. Replacing those boards is safer than cleaning or cutting them.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Stubborn old stains, such as reddish-brown tannin bleed or rust streaks from nails, call for an oxalic-acid wood brightener used according to its label. Rinse out the oxygen cleaner first, because the brightener neutralizes it.
Wait until the deck is completely dry before judging the results, since wet wood looks darker than it will end up. Weathered boards may only need one more pass with a restorer, and a light sanding can help once they're dry.
Cured epoxy that's still on the boards may not come off completely. Try a plastic scraper gently, and if it won't budge, accept that some marks may stay.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on epoxy on decks & wood fences?
Most household remedies belong to other stains, so only the ones with a real role on a deck appear in the steps. Each row says whether it's in the steps, is skipped, or should be avoided on this surface. Most of these remedies belong to other stains, so don't treat them as extra fixes for epoxy on a deck.
Works2Skip4
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use chlorine bleach on a pressure-treated deck
Chlorine bleach breaks down the lignin in the wood, corrodes metal fasteners and harms nearby plants. It also doesn't kill mildew spores, so the oxygen cleaner is the mildew option here.
Don't mix bleach with ammonia
Bleach mixed with ammonia, or with a detergent that contains ammonia, forms a toxic gas. Check the label of every cleaner you bring out, and rinse one product fully before you use another.
Don't scrub with steel wool or wire brushes
Leftover iron from steel wool or wire reacts with the wood's extractives and leaves stains. A stiff synthetic-bristle brush, used along the grain, does the job without that risk.
Don't use a narrow-stream or tornado pressure tip
Those tips concentrate the spray and can cut into the boards. Use a fan tip at the lowest pressure that cleans, and spray with the grain.
When to call a professional
Pressure washers can damage a deck in the wrong hands, so use extreme care or hire someone experienced. If the boards are old and the stain is stubborn, a deck professional can test and treat them without gouging the wood.
Questions
Deck sealant vs. stain: What’s the difference, and which is best?
A sealant and a stain are both finishes you apply after cleaning, and the label tells you what each one is built to do. Clean the boards first, let them dry fully, then pick the product type that suits your wood rather than a brand name.
Can cured epoxy come off a deck?
Cured epoxy on wood is hard to lift completely. Try a plastic scraper gently on the spot, and expect that some marks may stay.
Will cleaning make an old deck look new again?
Often it brings back the wood's own color, since deck cleaners and restorers remove the mildew and dirt that hide it. Boards that have lost all their natural color will dry silver, and those fibers should be left in place.
How soon do I need to act on wet epoxy?
As soon as you can. Epoxy hardens by chemical reaction, and paper towels are the simplest way to clean up spills before that happens.
How long should the oxygen cleaner stay on the wood?
Keep it wet for about 15 minutes in each section, following the label's dwell time. Scrub along the grain before rinsing, and work one section at a time.
Can I pressure wash the deck after cleaning?
Yes, if you use the lowest pressure that cleans and a fan tip, spraying with the grain. Test that setting first, since too much pressure is what damages the wood.
Is it safe to clean an old deck near kids and pets?
Old CCA-treated wood needs care, and wetting it is the part to watch. Keep children and pets off the boards until the wood is dry.
Epoxy on other materials
Other stains on decks & wood fences
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.