Similar to cleaning pavers with muriatic acid, avoid an intense concentration of bleach, as it can damage the pavers.
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.
Cleaning pavers with bicarbonate soda and vinegar
Fill the bucket with lukewarm water and then add the bicarbonate soda, making sure it dissolves properly. Then add a little bit of white vinegar. Pour the solution onto the stained areas on your paver surface and use the scrubbing brush to apply it thoroughly.
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.
Saturate any surrounding garden or lawn. Using a stiff broom, apply a 10: 1 solution of water and sodium hydrochloride (liquid pool chlorine) to the effected area. Scrub pavers well. Once all affected pavers have been covered and scrubbed, leave for approximately 20 minutes.
Use ordinary bleach or calcium chloride followed by sodium hypochlorite dissolved in water (1kg in 5 litres) then scrub with stiff brush. Use ordinary bleach then scrub with stiff brush. Apply undiluted liquid detergent for 15–30 minutes, then scrub and wash with hot water.
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.
Bleach: This alkaline solution may be effective for other household uses, but it can discolor concrete pavers that have been colored or stained.
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 bleach for heavy-stained slabs
Dilute half a bucket of bleach with equal parts water, applying evenly to your green-tinged patio. You should leave the solution to work for ten minutes before rinsing thoroughly with clean water, repeating the method for stubborn algae.
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.
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.
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.
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.
If your deck is made from concrete, pavers travertine, brick, stamped concrete or composite decking, you can clean and refresh it for summer using OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover.
Be sure to rinse away all traces of the sodium hypochlorite solution. Allow the patio to dry: Allow the patio to air dry completely before replacing any furniture or other items.
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.
Additionally, baking soda is absorbent, allowing it to absorb oils from the surface of the pavers, especially freshly oil spill on concrete pavers. Since it's a natural cleaning agent, baking soda is one of the safest materials you can use to remove oil stains.
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.
Make up a 50:50 vinegar and water solution, and apply to the paving – using a watering can will help you get even coverage. Leave the solution to soak for around 20 minutes, then use a stiff brush to remove stains. Once you're done, mop with clean water. Leave to dry before you put anything back on to the patio.
Depending on the material of the paver (non-coloured concrete is safe), CLR may be suitable. Always spot test in an inconspicuous area first. Make sure the pavers are not coloured, stamped, sealed or coated.