To achieve the best results, use a low-pressure stream and lots of detergent. A high-pressure spray pattern can force detergent to be absorbed into the brick, which can leave ugly stains. It's also helpful to divide your project up and work in sections.
You can use a stiff broom or brush to clean it, but a pressure washer makes cleaning brick pavers easier and more efficient.
1000 to 1500 psi pressure is easy to mange and will not cause damage to pavers and paving stone. A low pressure washer is also safe for mortared flagstone and slate patios and walls. You will have to be more careful as the mortar between the joints can crack and be washed away.
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.
3) USE A CLEANER FIRST
I used a bleach-free pressure washer concentrate and sprayed it over each section to help loosen the grime before going at it with a higher pressure nozzle. It didn't take long to apply and helps get those stubborn mildew stains out.
If you want to remove the algae yourself, you can use a combination of chlorine bleach and warm water to gently scrub on the brick before power wash with your low pressure nozzle.
Fill up a gallon sized bucket with water and add about 16oz of dish detergent. Mix the soap into the water thoroughly. Once your cleaning solution is ready, gently pour some onto your paver surface, working in small areas at a time. There are also specific cleaning solutions.
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.
From there, you can work your way up, though it is generally best not to exceed 2000 PSI. It is also essential to use the right nozzle tip for the job. Don't use a narrow nozzle that will focus water too much in one area, as this may crack the grout or bricks. A nozzle that fans the water out is best.
Pressure washing is great for new or particularly strong brick. Scrubbing with bleach, trisodium phosphate or buffered construction cleaner are other options. As with interior brick, it's best to avoid using a wire brush if possible. The wire can damage the brick.
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.
In a perfect world, you should wait about three to four days afterward before you start exterior painting. This gives typical surfaces like wood, brick, and other porous materials time to fully dry. It's never a good idea to paint onto still wet surfaces.
Pour the sealer into a paint roller tin and use a long roller brush to apply the sealer onto the paver surface. Make sure you're working in sections that'll keep you from getting trapped in a corner. Follow the sealant instructions on how much drying time to allow after the first coat then apply the second coat.
It is common to mix bleach with water; however, you can also add other ingredients to make it more effective. Similar to cleaning pavers with muriatic acid, avoid an intense concentration of bleach, as it can damage the pavers.
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.
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.
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.
Dry brushing with or without application of clean sharp sand. OR High pressure water jetting with or without detergent. OR Apply fungicides. Use ordinary bleach or calcium chloride followed by sodium hypochlorite dissolved in water (1kg in 5 litres) then scrub with stiff brush.
Clean your bricks with a cleaning solution, or by using undiluted white vinegar. Once you've prepared the surface of the bricks, you can apply a coat of concrete stain. You can adjust it according to the original color of your bricks. You can choose from a wide variety of water-based stains and acid-based ones.
Green nozzle – 25 degrees
You can still clean tough stains from concrete and brick if you hold the wand close to the surface. You can also safely clean wood and siding if you keep the nozzle farther away. Use the green nozzle for all cleaning chores, including gutters, aluminum trim, sidewalks and patios.
A professional driveway cleaning company will always insist on re-sanding any block paving drive that they work on, and for very good reason. It is a critical component of the process, and failure to re-sand will cause structural problems in the future.