We had some of the flooring and rail tops of our 15 year old pressure treated pine deck replaced. I'd like to get it prepped and stain it with a semi-solid stain to get a uniform look (not really into too much wood grain appearance).

The new boards are blonde and the old are dark and gray. Should we use a stripper? A cleaner? A wood brightener?

There's a little of the original semi-transparent stain on the spindles but it's pretty worn away on the floor boards. We are in Raleigh, NC. Deck is on the northside, but almost 100% full sun all day during the summer.