Pressure washing removes the chalky residue, moss and stains, and leaves your pavers looking new again. Once your pavers have been cleaned, it is a good idea to check the condition of your pavers. Make sure they are level and intact, as any repairs should be done prior to moving to the next step.
A paver sealer will help to protect the pavers from weather damage, stains, and general wear and tear. It can also make the pavers look shiny and new again. Paver sealers come in different types, so be sure to read the labels carefully before purchasing one.
If you still think they need to be enhanced, you could use paver sealant to bring out the color of faded pavers. The use of paver sealant is a bit controversial because it blocks water from evaporating on the surface of the pavers. This could lead to problems down the line if you're in an area with heavy rainfall.
The acetic acid in vinegar is a little stronger than acid rain, so exposing your pavers to this substance can lead to bleaching, corrosion and the loss of protective sealant.
Wash with soapy water
The classic and easiest method is to wash your paving slabs with warm water mixed with dish soap, rubbing it in with a brush before rinsing it with water and allowing it to dry fully.
Over time, the continuous high-pressure blast of water will erode the layer of color on the pavers and expose the stone and aggregate contained in them. Oftentimes, the stone and the aggregate do not retain the color of the pigments used and will appear dull.
Cleaning your pavers with bleach has a lot of benefits: Disinfecting the Surface: Bleach is an effective disinfectant and can kill any bacteria or mold on the surface. This will help to prevent any health hazards from occurring. Removing Tough Stains: Bleach is also effective in removing tough stains from the surface.
Whether your patio is sealed concrete or cement, or even sealed concrete pavers, a bleach and water solution makes it easy to clean away built up soil, stains from leaves and pollen, mold, mildew and algae.
Usually, hosing them down once a month is sufficient. Use soap and water, if the pavers are still dirty after sweeping and water hosing, make a solution of soap and water. You can use dish soap, laundry detergent, or any type of general-purpose cleaner. Never use bleach on your pavers, as it can damage the surface.
Yes, you can pressure wash your pavers. But while using a pressure washer at a basic level is simple, ignorant and inexperienced users can easily damage their pavers by using a stream that's too powerful, by holding the wand too close to the pavers, or by falling into any number of other rookie mistakes.
To clean paver slabs, you can use a detergent, such as Dawn, or a vinegar-water solution that is gentle enough to effectively clean without causing damage to your concrete pavers.
Baking soda is an amazing household cleaner, and it can work really well on your pavers too.
Applying a sealant can prevent stains and other signs of aging plus it makes it far easier to wash away the dirt, grease, and grime that they're regularly exposed to without leaving behind residual effects. Sealers also offer some degree of moisture resistance.
Most contractors and manufacturers recommend sealing pavers for the many benefits. Both concrete and brick pavers are porous materials that can change quality and appearance when they absorb liquids.
For optimal results when staining concrete pavers, a concrete stain with a high pigment concentration is recommended. A prime example is Portico™ Paver Stain, which is a highly saturated exterior concrete stain designed specifically for coloring concrete pavers.
Although bleach is great at the whitening effect, you can use peroxide to achieve this. Hydrogen peroxide is an oxygenated bleach. It is safe for plants, so when you rinse this solution, it won't harm anything. It works together with the dish soap and baking soda to remove dirt and whiten dirty concrete.
Simple Green is one of the best cleaning products for dirty pavers. It doesn't have any harmful chemicals that could possibly warp your precious driveway. Less chemicals mean there's a less likely chance your paver stones will change to a weird-looking color.
Remove limescale buildup with a 50:50 ratio of water and white vinegar. Spray the solution on the surface of your pavers and let it sit for a good 30 minutes before scrubbing with a scrubber brush and rinsing the pavers off.