Wood Fence Cleaning in Bourbonnais, IL: Our Two-Step Fence Restoration Process

Yesterday in Bourbonnais, our Green Pro Services crew restored a weathered wood privacy fence with a two-step wood cleaning process. Clayton Karnes, co-owner of Green Pro Services, washed the fence between steps so we could clean the surface, rinse the loosened buildup, and then brighten the wood back up with oxalic acid.

This was not a quick “blast it with pressure” fence cleaning. Wood needs a different approach. Too much pressure can scar the boards, raise the grain, and leave wand marks that do not go away. For this fence, we used a controlled process built around chemistry, soft washing, and low pressure rinsing.

In the video above, you can see Clayton washing the fence in between steps. That middle rinse matters. The cleaner does the hard work first, then the rinse removes the loosened gray oxidation, algae, dirt, and organic buildup before we brighten the wood.

Step 1: Cleaning the Fence With Sodium Percarbonate Oxygenated Wood Cleaner

We started with an oxygenated wood cleaner made from sodium percarbonate. Stain & Seal Supply lists the EXPERT Eco Cleaner as a 100% sodium percarbonate formula designed as Step 1 in their wood restoration system. It targets mold, mildew, algae, and organic stains on exterior wood.

That bubbling action you see during this type of cleaning is part of the cleaner doing its job. It helps lift organic growth and dirt from the wood fibers without treating the fence like concrete.

After the cleaner had time to work, Clayton rinsed the fence with controlled pressure. The goal was not to gouge the boards. The goal was to flush off the loosened material and get the wood ready for the brightener.

Step 2: Brightening the Wood With Oxalic Acid

After the cleaning step, we followed with oxalic acid wood brightener. Stain & Seal Supply lists their EXPERT Wood Brightener as 100% oxalic acid and describes it as Step 2 in the wood restoration process. This step helps neutralize the surface after alkaline cleaning and brings back a more natural wood tone.

This is the part many homeowners skip when they try to clean a fence themselves. The fence may look cleaner after the first step, but the color can still look dull, uneven, or darker than expected. The brightener helps correct that.

On a privacy fence like this, the brightening step can make a major visual difference because you are looking at long runs of vertical boards. If the pH stays off or the boards dry uneven, the finished look can suffer.

The Products We Used

We used products from the EXPERT Clean & Bright line from Stain & Seal Supply. You can view the full Clean & Bright collection here: Stain & Seal Supply Clean & Bright products.

Step 1: Oxygenated Wood Cleaner

We used sodium percarbonate oxygenated wood cleaner to loosen organic staining, algae, dirt, and gray weathering before rinsing the fence.

View the Eco Cleaner product page

Step 2: Oxalic Acid Wood Brightener

We followed the cleaning step with oxalic acid wood brightener to neutralize the wood and bring back a cleaner, brighter tone.

View the Wood Brightener product page

Note: The product images above come from the same EXPERT Wood Care product line. The product links point to the Stain & Seal Supply pages used for this job.

Why We Do Not Treat Wood Like Concrete

A lot of fence damage happens because someone grabs a pressure washer, gets too close, and starts cutting lines into the boards. That might make the fence look cleaner from the street for a day, but it can leave permanent marks.

Wood fence cleaning takes more patience. We want the cleaner to loosen the buildup first. Then we rinse with the lowest pressure that still removes the contamination. That keeps the fence safer and gives the brightener a better surface to work on.

That is why we call this a restoration process instead of basic pressure washing. The cleaning step removes the buildup. The brightening step improves the color and resets the wood after cleaning.

Fence Cleaning and Deck Cleaning in Kankakee County and Will County

Green Pro Services offers wood fence and deck cleaning in Bourbonnais, Kankakee, Bradley, Manteno, Frankfort, Mokena, New Lenox, and nearby areas across Kankakee County and Will County.

If your fence looks gray, green, black, or dull, we can look at the wood and tell you if it needs a maintenance wash, a two-step cleaning, or a full restoration prep before stain.

For full fence restoration cleaning, pricing starts at $2 per linear foot. Final pricing depends on the height of the fence, condition of the wood, access, amount of buildup, and whether you need one side or both sides cleaned.

FAQs About Wood Fence and Deck Cleaning

Can you pressure wash a wood fence?

Yes, but you have to control the pressure. We use the cleaner to do the work first, then rinse with care. High pressure can scar wood and leave permanent lines.

Why use oxalic acid after cleaning wood?

Oxalic acid helps brighten wood and neutralize the surface after an alkaline cleaner. It can improve the color and help prepare the wood for future staining.

Do you clean decks the same way?

We use a similar two-step process on many decks, but we adjust the method based on the wood type, coating, age, and condition. Deck boards can scar fast, so testing and pressure control matter.

How much does fence restoration cleaning cost?

Full fence restoration cleaning starts at $2 per linear foot. The final price depends on fence height, condition, access, and whether we clean one side or both sides.

Do you offer fence cleaning in Frankfort and Will County?

Yes. Green Pro Services cleans wood fences and decks in Kankakee County and Will County, including Bourbonnais, Kankakee, Bradley, Manteno, Frankfort, Mokena, and New Lenox.