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.
We have reviewed some of the best-selling paving cleaners you can buy here. Give your patio or driveway paving a winter clean to make it less likely the dirt will penetrate deep into the paved surface over the colder months. This will keep your paving cleaner for longer into the spring.
When is the best time of the year to pressure wash a patio? Spring and summer are the best seasons to pressure wash patios.
If it's in a sunny spot, apply between once a year and once every two years. At my previous property, which had a large patio area, I sprayed Patio Magic onto the surface once a year in the spring, and I had excellent results.
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.
Mop and sweep regularly
“Try sweeping with a stiff broom and spot cleaning with a long-handled scrub brush as needed,” Barnard says. “Always scrub with the grain to avoid scratching or damaging the surface of your deck,” she adds. Mopping once a month helps remove stubborn dirt, debris, and cocktail spills.
Ultimately, you can do so at any time throughout the year. However, it is generally best to pressure wash your home between March to November. Pressure washing should be completed before the really cold winter months arrive.
Vinegar can be applied directly or in a 1:1 ratio with water. In the case of bicarbonate soda, dissolve 1 to 5 tablespoons in 10 litres of water, depending on the degree of soiling. The mixture must now soak in for 15 to 20 minutes. The patio is then cleaned with a scrubber and finally rinsed with clean water.
Wash patio slabs with white vinegar
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. You should first move all plants and furniture out of the way, then sweep the area to remove any moss.
You can use a pressure washer on wooden decking, stones or brick paved patios which are bound together with concrete. However, we don't recommend using it to clean a block-paved patio, as it will simply wash away all the sand and dirt which binds the bricks together.
Cleaning a patio with bleach is easy.
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.
Do I need to seal my patio and pavers? By using a patio sealant, you can help protect your paving stones from stains such as dirt and oils, plus give it a UV resistance to help maintain the natural stone colours.
Experts say they can do the trick for the patio as well. 'You can remove black spots easily from patios in an eco-friendly, low-cost way, with white vinegar,' says Laura Harnett, Founder, Seep. 'It has antifungal and antibacterial properties and will also stop the mould or lichen growing back.
Dirt and mud are probably the most common culprit behind a dirty patio, but they are also the easiest to clean. However, the organic growth that populates the rest of the above list can be pesky and pervasive. Algae, mold, mildew, lichen, and moss thrive in damp environments.
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.
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.
Wash with soapy water
Bruce Rodriguez, the owner of LAX Concrete Contractors says dish soap and water will remove any dirt, grease, or oil that has accumulated over time. 'However, don't rely on this alone. You'll need to give the patio slab a good scrubbing with a stiff-bristled brush, at Amazon, afterward,' he says.
3 – To Boost Curb Appeal
The exterior of your home is your guests first impression. If you have cobwebs hanging from your outdoor light fixtures, bug debris stuck to your siding, and dirt or grime along your home's exterior, these are signs that it's time to have it cleaned.
Lifespan of Patio Stone & Pavers
Most patio pavers, including flagstone, interlocking pavers and brick, have an extremely long lifespan that can be measured in decades rather than years. Stone can last for thousands of years in nature, so why would it not do the same as part of your patio?