For any type of block, experts recommend a standard garden hose with a sprayer attachment. Cover any plants that could be negatively impacted by chemicals or moisture, and then gently spray the retaining wall until it is thoroughly soaked. You can just soak a small section that needs cleaned, or the entire wall.
Apply A Cleaner
A pressure washer with a detergent attachment is often the best option, but you can also use a garden hose with a spray nozzle or even a bucket of soapy water.
Wet & Forget Concentrate is ideal for treating fences and retaining walls where a precise application is essential. Applying Wet & Forget Concentrate is quick and easy. In other words, just mix with water in a tank sprayer and spray the surface! That's it!
Using a dish soap solution and a toothbrush, carefully scrub at stained areas. Spray off the soap with a power sprayer, and let the wall dry. * If you are cleaning concrete blocks and soap does not remove the stains or dirt, fill your garden sprayer attachment with bleach.
Mild detergent and water.
Mix some mild dish soap with water in a bucket to create suds, then use a brush or a sponge to scrub the surface of the pavers. If your pavers are textured or have intricate designs, this cleaning method can be gentler than a power washer.
Dilute white vinegar with water in a bucket, at Walmart (a 50:50 solution is fine), and apply this natural, eco-friendly cleaning solution to the paving slabs with a firm brush and rinse thoroughly.
Small Blocks
Dunk repeatedly and soak in Block Wash or antibacterial dishwashing soap. Rinse with clean water and air dry in a single layer. Dispose of water appropriately. Put the Blocks into the Small mesh bag and place in the top rack of dishwasher for a cycle.
Fill a water sprayer reservoir with water and household detergent. Spray the retaining wall and allow the entire area to soak in this solution for 10-15mins. Use a wet brush to remove problematic areas. Use a high-pressure water blaster (ONLY use fan jet) to clean the retaining wall, from the top to the bottom.
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.
White vinegar is good for cleaning pavers, though it's also acidic enough to erode the stones' surface. Diluted vinegar can be used safely to clean paving stones, though it should be used sparingly and infrequently to protect your paving from damage.
Wet a masonry sponge with warm water. Carefully clean the brick, rinsing the sponge as you go. Use a nylon-bristled brush to gently scrub as needed. Follow with a final warm water rinse with a clean sponge.
There are useful tools for cleaning paving stones, such as joint scrapers, sweepers, and pressure washers. In addition, pavers can be cleaned with a small pickaxe, broom, and garden hose.
A power washer provides high-power jets of hot water to remove contaminants such as dirt, grime, moss, lichen, and algae from a block paved surface. Power washing is generally more effective than pressure washing, but it's also more likely to cause damage if not carried out by a professional.
Mix Solution of dish soap and water, and use a brush to scrub the pavers clean. Make sure to rinse the pavers thoroughly afterward. This process may need to be repeated for tough stains. A recommendation is to do this every few months.
This white substance is called Efflorescence. It generally shows up on surfaces like concrete, retaining walls, stone and even stucco. Efflorescence is a crystalline or powdery deposit of salts. It occurs when water leaves behind salt deposits on the masonry surface.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, recommends that homeowners use liquid dish detergent and water to remove mold. A cleaning solution of chlorine bleach and water will also kill mold. Removing mold requires scrubbing it with cleansers, rinsing the mold away and drying with a soft cloth.
A good wipe with a clean wet cloth after each use should keep them squeaky clean. For deep cleaning, take a cup of warm water and add two drops of dish-washing soap. Dip a clean washcloth in the water and wipe your foam blocks to get rid of surface bacteria and other gunk that builds up over time.
Start by mixing a solution of 1 part muriatic acid to 10 parts water in a bucket or spray bottle, then soak the stained area. Wait about 10 minutes and then spray the area with a solution of 1 cup of ammonia to 1 gallon of water to neutralize and clean the acid.
Simple Green Oxy Solve Concrete and Driveway Cleaner can be used with a power washer or for manual cleaning of concrete surfaces including driveways, sidewalks, patios, and walkways.
Baking soda has low-abrasive properties, making it an excellent cleaning material for stuck-on grime and tough stains. Additionally, baking soda is absorbent, allowing it to absorb oils from the surface of the pavers, especially freshly oil spill on concrete pavers.