I just used Restore-a-Deck cleaner and brightener on our ipe porch -- two times through the process on the porch itself -- and a bridge leading up to it, and it hasn't turned out as I had expected ... but I guess I'm wondering what I should expect. After two times through the cleaning/brightening process, the place the mat lay on the porch still shows vividly, as you can see at http://www.manzanitapublishing.net/Porch/20111014-00017.jpg, http://www.manzanitapublishing.net/Porch/20111014-00018.jpg and http://www.manzanitapublishing.net/Porch/20111014-00020.jpg. Also, there still seems to be a lot of the previous color remaining -- a lot of variation that doesn't appear natural. I guess I was thinking that going through both the cleaner and brightener processes would restore it more to a new wood look. Or was that unrealistic to expect with ipe?

I'm planning to use TWP's Storm Shield (Rustic Oak) on it, so it's going to end up darker, but I'm wondering if, based on these pictures, there's anything you would first recommend I do to make the results more even?