I think the title is so misleading. How about " Sodium Hydroxide breaks down lignin faster than Bleach" ? Does Sodium Hydroxide Kill mildew ?What kills mildew better Pre Carbs or Bleach ? In the wrong hands any solution can result in a problem ! Bleach is a tool for and in the Business of Wood Restoration. I have found that the Wood Biz has many many people who give opinions on worse case scenario's or have no experience using Bleach effectively. All it takes is Instruction and practice

I am not going to comment - he is welcome to his opinion. I have yet to come across anything that cleans wood yet doesn't make it fur up to some degree - you want lignan damage, I've seen plenty lignan damage with only the use of sodium percarbonate. Try cleaning a pressure treated deck with sodium percarbonate that hasn't accumulated an even layer of damage {typical of 4+ yrs} and you tell me if sodium percarbonate is still your favorite deck cleaner.

Read this article that Mark wrote. You can comment or ask a question here as well: http://www.thewoodpros.com/ask-the-pro/bleach-vs-sodium-percarb

I actually like using bleach to restore wood - the difference being is that I amend my bleach with extra surfactants and detergent builders. To date my downstream mix of simple cherry and bleach leaves cedar with the most natural color I have ever seen. You can 'neutralize' actually de-chlorinate your bleach solution with vitamin C - and the chemical reaction creates acid which neutralizes any caustic cleaners and brightens the wood. The advantage to this is you apply directly to the bleach cleaner without prior rinsing - just rinse everything at the end. However, because the industry has killed the concept of cleaning with bleach - I don't do it anymore. I don't do a lot of things now because of what the industry has sold as not professional. I've learned not to fight certain battles anymore - I really hate mixing percarbs now. I was downstreaming sodium hydroxide - but found myself running into a lot of homes with adjacent painted siding, which ruled out downstreaming strippers. At least with bleach, I could concoct something strong enough to downstream - yet wouldn't affect the painted siding. You can't downstream percarbs - and it's hard to dissolve fully. Chris tucker's 'apple' sauce recipe for roofs could clean the nastiest decks in 30 second flat - all you needed was like 10gpm's to rinse if off fast enough before it harmed the wood. I'd spray down nasty cedar fences covered with lichens and moss with that stuff - and wouldn't even rinse it. Just came back in 2-3 weeks - and the wood looked brand new after all the rainfalls.

Thompson's actually :)

Come on Scott, We all know that you take your Wolman's Certified Contractor designation very seriously!

Rick and Lyle, I was just poking some fun at the RS/Bleach users. I know they know how to use the Bleach properly.

Scott, That would probably be accurate on a bare wood situation with strong bleach cleaner. Rick, I agree, bare wood cleaned with bleach gives a dull and "milky" look as you said.

Scott, Lyle's post about bleach and exterior wood is predicated on concentration. I concur. At 1 - 2% along with some soap and a good rinse, no harm and it is a terrific organic killer and dirt remover. Been using the described cleaning method for years with Ready Seal with very good results and stain retention.

Rick, No reply to my comment?