Even with a pressure washer, I'd still get some suds after going over the wood thoroughly several times (albeit on relatively low-medium pressure). Then if I went back and did the next section, the one I'd just done would suds up again when it got wet, and when it dried there would be little puddle marks where the wet area had extended. I worried about it quite a bit.

As it turns out, it didn't make any practical difference (with WoodZotic as the finish, anyway; not sure what a less pigmented stain would look like). Step 2 seems to pretty much neutralize Step 1, and the puddle marks disappear. My impression is that no matter how thoroughly you wash Step 1, you're not going to get a complete stoppage in the suds action (that said, it seems to be a good idea to wash more thoroughly rather than less).

I never got the impression, either in the (admittedly minimal) instructions or in practice, that Step 2 has to sit for any particular length of time. Just that you want to do Step 2 on the whole deck in one application after you've done Step1 on the whole thing (rather than Step 1 and Step 2 on a section, then 1 & 2 on another section). In practice, Step 2 seems pretty idiot-proof - put it on, rinse it off. Which is a good thing, because I can un-idiot-proof a lot of things. ;^)

I put up a lot of my experiences with this stuff, including photos, at the link below.

Agreed that Ken could make his instructions (or better yet, FAQs) clearer, and save himself a lot of time answering the same questions over and over here and on his message board... :^)

Here is a link that might be useful: Refinishing a purpleheart/ipe deck

Thanks so much! I did come in the house and check out your site while DH was hosing Step 1 off. It was very helpful. Then I had him come in and read it while I ran the hose. We can take the easiest operation and get started and mess it up royally! So we hate doing home projects.
That is why I ask so many questions on this home forum.
Now trying to decide what stain to use.