To clean smaller surfaces areas, pH-neutral soap, a little water, and a brush are suitable. If you want to clean larger areas of natural stone efficiently, you can reach for the electric patio cleaner or work with the pressure washer and a surface cleaner.
In fact, one of the most effective patio cleaning products is good old-fashioned washing-up liquid mixed with warm tap water.” “White vinegar is also safe to use as a patio cleaner – in fact, it has many benefits as it is environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and non-chemical.
'A homemade cleaning solution for your patio can be made by mixing equal parts water and white vinegar,' says Zak. 'This natural cleaner is effective in removing dirt, mildew, and algae. For stubborn stains, you can add a few drops of liquid dish soap to the mixture. '
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.
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.
One of the best things for household stains is white vinegar, and the same can be said for how it targets stubborn garden dirt. 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.
Bleach is very powerful and can be particularly great for cleaning patio slabs and creating an appealing finish at the end of the process. Done with care, using bleach should not be a problem but it can be harmful to you and your garden plants especially.
However, if you want to use bleach or vinegar, you need to be aware of the mixture and their drawbacks. With bleach, you want it to be a 5:1 (water:bleach) mixture and only use it on natural paving slabs such as stone. It will damage porcelain and other man-made materials.
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.
Vinegar or baking soda: These natural cleaners work well to clean cement patios with stubborn charcoal or rust spots. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, scrub the patio with the mixture, then give it a good rinse. If stains don't dissolve, try undiluted vinegar.
While you may think of dish soap only for washing your dishes, it actually works well for keeping your concrete floor clean. Dish soap, when mixed properly, removes all dirt and buildup without leaving behind any film or residue.
Cleaning patio slabs with bleach
It is important for us to mention that it may be more environmentally friendly to use detergents than bleach. The bleach will get into the cracks and dramatically improve the look of your patio by killing things like weeds, moss, and algae.
Cleaning patio slabs
You can give them a good clean by scrubbing with soapy water – washing up liquid will do. Swill the soapy water onto the surface of your paving then scrub with a brush to loosen the dirt. You can also use a power washer, but take care as excessive use can damage paving slabs and jointing.
Water and mild dish soap is a popular cleaning solution because it's easy to find at home and it won't damage brick, but it will tackle stains. The BIA recommends using hot water for surface cleaning with a detergent. White vinegar and water, another common household cleaner, can also be used on mildew.
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.
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.
On the other hand, baking soda is useful because it is slightly abrasive, which is excellent for the rough surfaces of paving slabs. When it is mixed with water, it can dissolve dirt and grease, and like vinegar, you'll only need a brush or broom when cleaning.
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.
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.
Scrub and Rinse
Scrub the concrete with a nylon-bristled brush and then rinse thoroughly with the garden hose. For extremely heavy stains, a power washer provides a much stronger stream of water to blast away the grime. Use a hose to rinse greenery after the patio is clean.