If your white landscaping stones are still not completely clean after hosing them down, there are a few natural solutions you can try. A mixture of white vinegar and water can help remove any stubborn dirt. Baking soda can also lift dirt, and is best used with warm water and an abrasive brush.
There are a variety of cleaners you can use to clean your retaining wall blocks. 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.
Add regular dish soap to the sprayer reservoir, apply to the prepared wall, and use a toothbrush or similar soft-bristled brush to scrub areas that require greater attention. Rinse afterwards with clean water.
Wet them with your garden hose, then brush them vigorously with a scrub brush or push broom. When you're finished, rinse them off with clean water. Using a sprayer attachment on your hose may make this job easier. If the rocks are really dirty, you'll probably need the deeper cleaning power of a pressure washer.
White vinegar can be useful for removing mold or fungus. Wearing gloves, pour it over the area, scrub well, then rinse. A quarter cup of bleach mixed with two gallons of water can also be used instead of vinegar, says Rocks Stones & Pebbles.
A mixture of white vinegar and water can help remove any stubborn dirt. Baking soda can also lift dirt, and is best used with warm water and an abrasive brush. Avoid using harsh cleaning products like bleach around plants, and make sure you rinse your landscaping rocks thoroughly before placing them back in your yard.
The safest liquid to try first is water with a little dish soap. Soak your finds in soapy water for a day to loosen any packed-in dirt, and wipe or brush them clean. An abrasive toothpaste can also dislodge grime from smaller surfaces. Many collectors choose to remove calcite from rock and mineral specimens.
Use a 1/2 cup of any of the following: ammonia, bleach, or hydrogen peroxide and a gallon of water. Reminder: do not mix bleach and ammonia. On light colored stones, clean with bleach or hydrogen peroxide. On dark colored stones, clean with lacquer thinner or acetone.
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.
In most instances, using a basic mixture of soap and water will be enough to clean any dirt and debris off your natural stone. To do so you, mix a bucket of warm water with an acid-free washing-up liquid to avoid any staining or discoloration.
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.
Cleaning your paving slabs with bleach and water is an effective way to remove algae, moss, or other unwanted substances from the surface.
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.
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 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.
Whilst vinegar will not directly dissolve concrete itself, but it will degrade the cement that binds your concrete slabs or flags together. Extended exposure to vinegar will also cause any polish or sealant on your pavers to erode over time, leading to bleaching, stains and weathering.
When using Dawn Powerwash, you should avoid cleaning porous surfaces such as marble and other soft natural stones or untreated wood. It is also best to keep Dawn Powerwash away from painted surfaces, too.
Clean stone surfaces with a few drops of neutral cleaner, stone soap (specific products from Lithofin for example), or a dishwashing detergent and warm water. Use a clean soft cloth for best results. Too much cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause streaks.
It's essential to only use cleaners which are appropriate for natural stone surfaces. This means avoiding using vinegar. Stones like limestone, marble, or travertine will react to vinegar because it's an acidic cleaner with harsh effects.
Just get the water a bit sudsy and brush as hard as you can. Use a nylon brush initially, there are very few stones that can be damaged with a normal scrub brush. I like to use a big brush initially and then an old toothbrush to get the smaller spots afterward.
Cleaning Rocks with Baking Soda
Baking Soda is a good option to try if you have stains on your rock, and I find it works best when combined with vinegar. If you want to try this method, dissolve some baking soda in a bowl of warm water, and soak the rock in the water for 15 minutes.
Toothbrushes and toothpicks work well for soft rocks and minerals. Use a toothbrush to remove material from the surface and a toothpick to remove dirt and mud trapped in small cavities. Wire brushes and dental picks work well for hard stones. Brass brushes are slightly softer than steel brushes.