Vinegar is a safe and effective mold removal solution, but if this method doesn't prove to be effective, then a heavier-duty weapon may be deployed: bleach. One cup of bleach mixed with a gallon of water should do the trick. Simply combine the bleach and water in a spray bottle and apply directly to the pavers.
A mixture of one part bleach with three parts water is the most common cleaning agent used to remove mold from pavers.
Use Vinegar or Bleach
If you are going to try this approach to remove mold or algae, first try a mixture of white vinegar and water to spray down the area and kill the mold.
Similar to cleaning pavers with muriatic acid, avoid an intense concentration of bleach, as it can damage the pavers.
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.
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.
Generally, interior pavers that have been grouted and sealed just need to be swept, mopped, and spot-cleaned as needed with a gentle, non-acidic multipurpose cleaning solution, such as Enviro Klean All Surface Cleaner or Light Duty Concrete Cleaner. Exterior paver patio hardscaping is even more low-maintenance.
OxiClean is a powerful concrete cleaner that works well on various materials, including pavement and grout. This concentrated solution provides excellent cleaning without leaving residue.
Although bleach is great at the whitening effect, you can use peroxide to achieve this. Hydrogen peroxide is an oxygenated bleach. It is safe for plants, so when you rinse this solution, it won't harm anything. It works together with the dish soap and baking soda to remove dirt and whiten dirty concrete.
Baking soda has low-abrasive properties, making it an excellent cleaning material for stuck-on grime and tough stains. Additionally, baking soda is absorbent, allowing it to absorb oils from the surface of the pavers, especially freshly oil spill on concrete pavers.
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.
You can also choose to scrub your patio with oxygen bleach like OxiClean. Add two scoops of oxygen bleach to a gallon of water. Cover the bricks. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes.
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.
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.
Dish soap and water: Dish soap is a degreaser, and it works well to clean oily and grimy concrete. Create a cleaning solution of warm water and few drops of dish soap and apply it to the surface. Let it sit for a while, then mop the patio and rinse it with fresh water. Repeat the process as many times as needed.
'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. '
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.
Oxyclean will do the trick here! Use 4 scoops per gallon of hot water and soak the surface for 15 minutes. Scrub with a brush and rinse.
Apply the Simple Green solution. Allow the product to soak for a minute or so on heavy soils and greasy spills. Scrub, if necessary. Scrubbing with a soft bristle brush or non-abrasive scrubbing pad provides agitation that will help to loosen soils and will ensure a thoroughly clean, residue free surface.
Simple Green is one of the best cleaning products for dirty pavers. It doesn't have any harmful chemicals that could possibly warp your precious driveway. Less chemicals mean there's a less likely chance your paver stones will change to a weird-looking color.
Can you power wash pavers? Power washing (also known as pressure washing) is also a very effective method by which you can remove dust deposits and various stains from your pavers. Just make sure that the water jet is not directed directly at the joints between the paving stones.
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.
A dish soap, like Dawn, is a safe place to start. The surfactants in dish soaps are designed to remove oil and grease, they're gentle enough to be used without issue on your pavers. In a bowl or bucket, mix the soap with water and pour it onto the stain and agitate. Rinse and repeat if needed.
Apply a Mild Dish Soap
Dish soap should be applied directly to what remains of the stain, and then left to sit for 10-15 minutes before it's hosed off. For tougher stains, a plastic bristle brush may be needed to lift the stain from the patio.