Ipe coastal deck during Net-Trol application

How to clean untreated wood

If your wood has been left untreated it will probably have turned a greyish colour and be covered in dirt and grime!

Before attempting to apply any sort of finish to it you should definitely use a wood cleaner to remove all this dirt and restore the wood’s natural colour. This will also help the finish to penetrate as dirt and grease can prevent a good adherence and therefore lead to peeling and flaking.

What tools do I need to clean untreated wood?

You can use any of the following tools to use Net-Trol wood cleaner.

  • Stiff Bristled Nylon Brush/Broom
  • Synthetic Brush/Roller
  • Net-Trol

How do I use Net-Trol to clean my untreated wood?

  • Wet the surface with clean water
  • Apply Net-Trol wood cleaner with a synthetic brush or roller
  • Scrub the surface with a Stiff brush or broom
  • Leave it to work for 10-20 minutes
  • Scrub the surface whilst rinsing with water (you can use a pressure washer here if you wish)
  • Repeat if required

Aquanett on a deck

Please ensure that you allow your wood surfaces to dry for at least 48 hours before applying a finish.

Our video guide to cleaning untreated wood

Our Top Tips

  • Shake the container thoroughly before use
  • Cover areas you want to protect
  • Thoroughly wet plants and shrubs
  • Apply between 5ËšC and 35ËšC
  • Do not apply on a hot surface; product will dry too quickly.
  • If cleaning vertical wood, work from bottom to top to avoid streaking

Other uses for Net-Trol wood cleaner

Net-Trol is great for cleaning untreated wood surfaces and restoring their natural wood colour but you can also use it for a number of other purposes including:


We hope you found this post on how to clean untreated wood interesting. If you have any other advice or top tips, please feel free to leave them in the comments below. We love hearing from you!

You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest at @OwatrolUK or find us under the hashtag #OwatrolUK

Owatrol Team
About Owatrol Team

Our team are ready and willing to support you with your requirements whether it is protecting your newly laid deck or renovating a luxury yacht, whatever the application Owatrol has the solution you are looking for.

8 thoughts on “How to clean untreated wood

  1. Hello, I have a large area of Vertical Cladding Red Wood Cedar, grade A +better, which I treated with Sadolin Wood Stain approx. 3 years ago, which I was never happy with as it didn’t show of the natural beauty of the wood. I would like a product to strip, what’s left of the Sadolin, back to the natural wood and then treat it with a product that will show of the wood to its best and give it UV protection. Can you recommend which of your products is best for both jobs.
    Thanks in advance.

    1. Hi Mark,

      Firstly, apologies for the delay in response, your message was for some reason caught in our spam filter. We would recommend Dilunett for stripping the wood stain from your cladding. Be sure to try a sample first to work out the touch time before embarking on the whole job.

      In terms of a finish, Textrol HES is a clear protection specifically designed for cladding. It provides UV protection whilst showing off the natural beauty of the wood and requires maintenance on a 3 year cycle. If you’re looking for something with a bit of colour to it then we would recommend Textrol saturating wood oil – it protects the wood from within and still shows off its natural beauty but is available in a range of colours.

      Please let us know if you need any further help,
      The Owatrol Team

  2. Hi I have a log cabin/ Wendy house where flooring is like a deck. I’m afraid to rinse with water as it is on bricks and not on a cement slab so rinsing wood with water will wet the builders plastic beneath it. Does it have to be rinsed off?

    Also, what can I treat my floor with afterward?

    1. Hi there,

      Unfortunately yes, Net-Trol does need to be rinsed afterwards to remove it and the dirt etc. it has removed.

      In terms of treatment afterwards it very much depends on the type of wood and the look you’re going for. For example, if you’re looking for an opaque coloured finish we’d recommend Decking Paint, alternatively for a semi-transparent finish we’d suggest Aquadecks or for a penetrating wood oil with a natural finish we’d suggest Textrol for soft wood or D1 Pro for hardwood.

      If you can give a little more information about what your wood is and how you’d like it looking when finished then we can give more specific advice.

      Many thanks,
      The Owatrol Team

  3. Hi.

    I have 19m2 of American yellow pine purchased from the Manchester Deck company. Over the last 3 years I have cleaned the deck with a Ronseal deck cleaner and reviver and it came up clean but it has stayed a silver colour which I thought was the best I could get.
    I have read your website and cleaners and understand that Net-troll would get rid of the silver colour and bring out the original yellow colour.
    Is this right?
    How much liquid would I need for 19m2.

    1. Hi there Nicolas,

      Yes that is correct – Net-Trol is a powerful wood cleaner and brightener which restores greyed and weathered wood to its natural colour without damaging the wood’s fibres. It effortlessly removes both surface and ground-in dirt leaving the wood looking bright and vibrant. Net-Trol is fast-acting and can restore the original colour of your wood surface in as little as 15 minutes.

      Each of our product pages have a ‘how much do I need’ calculator to assist you with the quantities you would require.

      All the best,
      The Owatrol Team

  4. I have some wooden garden furniture that last time was treated with Danish oil. Some of the finish is still there and some of the wood has gone grey. I want to redo the finish with Textrol. Should I use both Netrol and Aquanett to make sure I treat the grey wood and strip the Danish oil. If so which should I use first?

    1. Hi there Chris,

      Yes, you are correct. For the removal of the Danish oil you would first need to use Aquanett. After this, you will then need to apply Net-Trol as this will neutralise the Aquanett to stop it from continuing to work, as well as clean and brighten the wood.
      Once both these steps are complete you can then apply the Textrol wood finish.

      I hope this was helpful.

      All the best,
      The Owatrol Team

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