And, while it may be tempting to use household bleach for a quick clean, Beril says that this can ruin the patio stones and leave them looking patchy. 'There are many specialist patio cleaning products on the market including brick acid,' she cautions.
Cleaning your patio with bleach provides a little extra “oomph” over soapy water. Bleach gets into all the dirty cracks and helps to improve the appearance of your patio slabs dramatically. It can help you get rid of moss, algae and weeds.
Cleaning a patio with bleach is easy.
Fortunately, a little Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach or Clorox® Outdoor Bleach can help make your patio refresh an easy afternoon project.
Use Bleach
But that's not all; chlorine bleach can also be used for cleaning the concrete driveway. Of course, you should dilute it with equal parts of water or a 1:1 ratio. With the mixture ready, spray it on the driveway, allowing it to sit for 10 minutes. Then, use a stiff brush before rinsing with clean water.
As a gentler cleaner, bleach can't harm concrete's durable material. Aside from being an effective cleaner and stain remover, it also acts as a disinfectant to the concrete surface.
In fact, vinegar removes mold from concrete better than bleach. Bleach will only remove the top layer of mold, causing the mold to return.
Bleach is commonly used to whiten concrete and is very effective at doing so if the initial stain is removed beforehand. Bleaching stained concrete white prepares it for any additional coloring treatments that you may wish to apply in the future.
After disinfection with bleach solutions, surfaces should be rinsed and dried. Bleach can be irritating to skin and mucous membranes, so any residue should be removed prior to returning animals to the environment.
Although the concrete is disinfected after just 5 minutes, lightening it will take a little longer. Leave the bleach solution on the concrete for about 20 minutes, then sweep briskly with the stiff broom to dislodge the softened grime. Use the scrub brush to tackle stubborn areas. Rinse off the patio.
Sodium Hypochlorite Patio Cleaners are used for more stubborn stains as you need the EXTRA strength solution, which is 50% stronger than the heavy duty solution and may be diluted with up to 6 parts water and 1 part Sodium Hypochlorite 15%.
Apply the bleach and water to the wet paving slabs
Brush the solution to make sure you get an equal coverage of the cleaner. Make sure you brush the cleaner into all corners of the paving slabs. Once applied leave the cleaner on the surface for 10 -15 minutes.
Use a mild grease-cutting detergent such as Dawn or Ajax dishwashing liquid mixed with water and a natural or synthetic bristle scrub brush to help brighten the patio surface. NOTE: Never use a wire brush as it can leave rust stains and scratch the concrete surface.
Bleach: This alkaline solution may be effective for other household uses, but it can discolor concrete pavers that have been colored or stained.
Clorox Concentrated Outdoor Bleach makes it easy to tackle outdoor stains, dirt and grime on patio furniture, decks, fences, driveways, house siding and more with this outdoor bleach cleaner.
'A homemade cleaning solution for your patio can be made by mixing equal parts water and white vinegar,' says Zak. 'This natural cleaner is effective in removing dirt, mildew, and algae. For stubborn stains, you can add a few drops of liquid dish soap to the mixture.
What happens if you don't dilute bleach? You might damage what you're trying to clean, according to Johnson. Full-strength (non-diluted) bleach can be damaging to the surface and be harsh on your skin.
Dilute product with water in a plastic container or bucket. Scrub heavily soiled surfaces. Rinse treated and surrounding areas thoroughly with a garden hose when finished.
For lightly soiled concrete, you can remove dirt by using bleach mixed with water. Add 1/8th cup of liquid dishwashing detergent to the solution and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto the surface, and let it sit for a few minutes. Scrub with a nylon-bristled brush.
Bleach needs to be heavily diluted when used in cleaners and is only safely mixed with plain water. It is critical to note that bleach and other ingredients combined can put off extremely dangerous, toxic fumes. This is why when we make our own cleaning products, we nearly always avoid bleach as an ingredient.
Answer. When mixing up a bleach and water solution for sanitizing or disinfecting of hard, non-porous surfaces in your home, it's a good idea to use cool tap water to mix the solution.
Vinegar or baking soda: These natural cleaners work well to clean cement patios with stubborn charcoal or rust spots. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, scrub the patio with the mixture, then give it a good rinse. If stains don't dissolve, try undiluted vinegar.