If the summer has taken a toll on your deck - or if you've just invested in a new one - now is the time to clean, restore and protect the wood from possible moisture damage during the winter months ahead. Here are some tips for "winterizing" your deck from the experts at Wolman Wood Care Products:

* Clean the deck thoroughly to remove dirt, fungus growth and gray surface wood with a formulated deck cleaner like Wolman Deck & Fence Brightener. Weathered gray wood, rust spots and stains from mildew, moss, algae and tannin bleed can ruin the look of your deck. Even newly built decks can require cleaning to remove invisible surface barriers that prevent the adhesion of stains and sealers. Wolman Deck & Fence Brightener, removes surface barriers, ground-in dirt, gray wood surfaces and even the toughest of stains and restores the wood to its natural beauty without bleaching or yellowing, like chlorine bleach can.

* Strip any deteriorating or unwanted finish. If the colored stain on your deck has seen better days, now is the time to strip your deck's finish. Products like Wolman DeckStrip Stain & Finish Remover remove both oil and latex solid or semi-transparent stains and clear finishes and prepare the wood for the reapplication of protective finishes and stains. For really stubborn, hard-to-strip acrylic or latex stains and paints, Wolman makes a product called DeckStrip A&L, which can strip multiple layers in as little as 15 minutes.

* Use a wood sealer on your deck with a water repellent finish before the onslaught of winter. Water repellents stop rain, sleet, snow and ice from penetrating the wood surface, which can cause warping and cracking. Look for products like Wolman RainCoat or F&P, that offer a guarantee on water-repellent longevity, as they will provide longer lasting protection so you won't have to apply a new coat every year.

"Winterizing" your deck will protect it from the elements, while protecting your investment in it. For more information on Wolman wood cleaners, strippers and water repellent finishes, call the company's technical service department at (800) 556-7737. Or, visit the Wolman web site at www.wolman.com for more helpful deck care tips.