How to Remove Red Chalk That Has Stained a Cedar Deck

Decks made of cedar may resist insects and rot, but not red chalk stains.

Drawing lines or doodling on a cedar deck with chalk can leave stains on the deck's surface. Typically, chalk marks on a cedar deck wash away with the rain or the spray of a hose, but some types of chalk, especially red chalk, contain dyes and pigments that are difficult to remove. Cedar surfaces absorb the red chalk and pull stains into the wood fibers. Red chalk stains are unsightly and ruin the visual appeal of a cedar deck.

Things You'll Need

• Broom
• Garden hose
• Plastic sheets or tarps
• Eye protection
• Rubber boots
• Rubber gloves
• Deck brightener
• Small paintbrush
• High-pressure nozzle
• Nylon scrub brush (optional)

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Instructions

1. Sweep the cedar deck to remove loose dirt and debris.

2. Spray flowers, shrubs and trees near the deck generously with a water from the garden hose. Lay sheets of plastic or tarps over the plants to protect them from the cleaner.

3. Obtain a commercially available deck brightener formulated for cedar decks that contains oxalic acid. Apply the brightener to the red chalk stains, using the small brush. Let the solution remain on stained areas for five minutes. (Some deck brighteners require dilution, while others come ready to use.)

4. Rinse the cedar deck thoroughly, using a hose equipped with a high-pressure nozzle. If red chalk stains remain on the cedar deck, reapply the deck brightener and vigorously scrub the stains with a stiff-bristle nylon scrub brush. Let the deck brightener remain on the red chalk stains for an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Flush the area well with the hose.

5. Repeat the cleaning process as necessary to continue to lighten and remove the red chalk stains from a cedar deck.

Tips & Warnings

• If necessary, you can clean the entire deck with deck brightener to blend lighter sections with the rest of the deck.

• Consider applying a penetrating wood sealer to protect a cedar deck from stains.

• Wear eye protection, rubber boots and rubber gloves when working with a product containing oxalic acid.

References

• "Reader's Digest Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual"; Family Handyman Magazine Editors; 2005
• "New Fix-It-Yourself Manual: How to Repair, Clean, and Maintain Anything and Everything In and Around Your Home"; Reader's Digest Editors; 1996