Sweep away leaves and debris to prevent staining in winter. Backfill any holes around your patio: look at the edges of your lawn or garden around your patio. Any spot where the soil has eroded is a place for water to pool, freeze, and potentially damage your patio. To avoid this, backfill any crevices with soil.
Always take care in winter, as snow and ice can make your patio slippery. Keep up the maintenance throughout the winter and sweep snow and water off your paving, preventing it from freezing over, and preventing you from safely enjoying your garden winter landscape.
If you're looking to keep your paving safe to use over the winter months, this £10 patio cleaner will 'transform' your paving slabs 'from green to white', keeping them clean and slip-free. Removing and preventing the build-up of algae, mould and dirt from paving, the Patio Magic!
Patio Materials for a Cold Climate
As far as which of these materials (natural stone, pavers, or concrete) stands up best to the cold weather, it goes in the same order: Natural stone will stand up best, followed by pavers, and lastly by concrete.
Use a detergent such as Dawn or Ajax dishwashing liquid mixed with water to brighten a concrete patio that hasn't been cleaned in a while. Just as you would regularly vacuum the floor and dust your furniture inside your house, you should keep your patio clean so it's ready at a moment's notice to entertain.
One of the best things for household stains is white vinegar, and the same can be said for how it targets stubborn garden dirt. This eco-friendly solution is made up of equal parts vinegar and water, which is then left to soak into the patio to correct any discolouration and also remove tough marks.
To clean smaller surfaces areas, pH-neutral soap, a little water, and a brush are suitable. If you want to clean larger areas of natural stone efficiently, you can reach for the electric patio cleaner or work with the pressure washer and a surface cleaner.
When is the best time of the year to pressure wash a patio? Spring and summer are the best seasons to pressure wash patios.
Use a specialist cleaner
Try a specialist cleaner like Wet & Forget, at Walmart, which you spray onto the surface of the paving and leave. It can also be used on steps, fountains, patio umbrellas and other smaller outdoor areas. It's bleach-free and non-acidic but will remove mold, moss and grime without any scrubbing.
An easy way to protect your concrete surfaces from winter freeze-thaw cycles is to apply a sealer to them on a regular basis. There are two main types of concrete sealers: film-forming acrylic sealers and penetrating sealers.
Soapy water method. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need any fancy products to clean a patio without a pressure washer. In fact, one of the most effective patio cleaning products is good old-fashioned washing-up liquid mixed with warm tap water.
Giving your patio a power wash at the start of the warm weather season will rid it of any dirt, mildew or algae growth and have it looking good as new. That first power wash should keep your patio clean throughout the summer and is best to be repeated each year at the start of the Spring.
Before cleaning, we recommend decluttering and sweeping your patio so it is clear of any debris or dirt. Once your patio is clear, pour the vinegar solution over the areas that need cleaning and leave for 20 minutes. Once the time is up, give it a good scrub with a gardening brush and rinse it away.
Make this simple homemade patio cleaner to get your concrete or pavers looking brand new. Make a paste with two parts of baking soda to one part of vinegar. Spread the paste on the patio surface and scrub with a brush (we like a long-handled one so you don't have to bend over).
Since vinegar is non-toxic and biodegradable, it is one of the best ways to clean your paving slabs if you don't want to harm your garden plants, your pets, or the soil.
Simply fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and vinegar (or water and baking soda), and add a little bit of liquid dish detergent. Spray the mixture on your concrete surface and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then scrub and rinse your concrete.
In fact, vinegar removes mold from concrete better than bleach. Bleach will only remove the top layer of mold, causing the mold to return.
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.
Pavers are a popular choice for outdoor patios. Low-maintenance and easy to repair, they're usually made from natural materials such as clay, stone, or brick. Pavers also come in a variety of colors. Brick itself has a timeless look that adds to the charm and character of your property.
What is the most durable outdoor patio material? Gravel is the most durable outdoor patio material, followed by natural stone and brick. Gravel patios can stay in great condition indefinitely with proper care. Natural stone has a lifespan of at least 75 years, while brick can last 50 years or more.
Whether you sweep or blow it once a day or once a week, a paver patio is much less labor intensive than a wood deck. Even better, it will keep its good looks far longer.
Store inside if possible, either in a shed or a garage. At the very least, use fitted outdoor furniture covers to protect your patio furniture from the elements. Take care of your patio furniture this winter.