Bleach can have a greater environmental impact and can even change the color on some bricks and pavers, so you will need to test this option in an inconspicuous area before spraying a large space.
Bleach: This alkaline solution may be effective for other household uses, but it can discolor concrete pavers that have been colored or stained.
For human-made colored concrete paving slabs or concrete pavers, we don't recommend the use of bleach for cleaning. That's because the substance could fade your paver colors if regularly cleaned with bleach over a long period. However, if you don't mind this, then there will be no problems.
That's why you must take some preventive measures in order to save your patio from getting dull and damaged. Bleach has a negative effect on coloured artificial block pavings. It fades the colour of the tiles over time if used frequently. Occasional use of bleach is completely fine.
If vinegar does not work on your hardscape, you can use bleach. To create a powerful mold-killing mixture, you can add one cup of bleach to a gallon of water. However, you should exercise meticulous care and caution since bleach can discolor your brick pavers and thus ruin your precious hardscape.
Apply the bleach and water to the wet paving slabs
Brush the solution to make sure you get an equal coverage of the cleaner. Make sure you brush the cleaner into all corners of the paving slabs. Once applied leave the cleaner on the surface for 10 -15 minutes.
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. Also, remember to wear protective clothing so the bleach doesn't damage your skin.
If bleach is attempted to remove the Lichen, it will cause more harm than good. This could potentially strip the colour of your Indian sandstone, and not even remove the lichen. Lichen needs to be scrubbed off with a brush, or now you can use Universeal's New Clean 60 Patio Cleaner to assist you with the job.
As a gentler cleaner, bleach can't harm concrete's durable material.
First, you'll need to make sure that there's no run-off of the bleach onto any surrounding plant life. Plants that come into contact with bleach will die. Second, bleach isn't suitable for man-made concrete slabs – only natural paving stones. Bleach will fade artificial slabs over time.
The acid content in vinegar is particularly good at breaking down the molecules in clay surfaces. Standard bricks are made mostly from clay, so exposure to undiluted vinegar will quickly result in discolouration and a sticky chemical byproduct coating your bricks.
Exposure to sunlight is the primary reasons why pavers fade. The sun causes fading of any pigmented item, from fabrics and paint to the pigments in the stones. You might notice some mottling of the color of your paving stones as the years go by. This is because the pigments do not penetrate into the aggregate.
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.
Try Concrete Stain
The simplest path to reviving tired pavers is to apply an acrylic-based semitransparent concrete stain, such as Behr Premium Semi-transparent Concrete Stain ($27/gal.; Home Depot) or Valspar Semi-transparent Concrete Stain ($28/gal.; Lowe's).
Cleaning pavers with bicarbonate soda and vinegar
Fill the bucket with lukewarm water and then add the bicarbonate soda, making sure it dissolves properly. Then add a little bit of white vinegar. Pour the solution onto the stained areas on your paver surface and use the scrubbing brush to apply it thoroughly.
Bleach is commonly used to whiten concrete and is very effective at doing so if the initial stain is removed beforehand. Bleaching stained concrete white prepares it for any additional coloring treatments that you may wish to apply in the future.
Apply the bleach solution
Allow the bleach solution to contact the surface for up to 15 minutes. Work in smaller sections if the patio is too large to finish in that time.
Use bleach for heavy-stained slabs
Dilute half a bucket of bleach with equal parts water, applying evenly to your green-tinged patio. You should leave the solution to work for ten minutes before rinsing thoroughly with clean water, repeating the method for stubborn algae.
Combine equal parts of bleach and water and pour onto the slabs. Leave for around 30 minutes and wash off with a stiff brush, power washer or a hose to ensure you've got rid of all the bleach.
The simplest answer is no, it is best to avoid bleach when cleaning any type of natural stone. Many home cleaning products, particularly bleach and vinegar, are too harsh or acidic to be on natural stone. These cleaners strip down the stone and leave it in a weak, damaged state.
Cleaning Indian sandstone with bleach is undoubtedly an option – you'll need a bleach mixture that is equal parts bleach and water to dilute safely. Household bleach kills moss and algae, removes dirt and can help to get rid of stubborn stains, more than you'd expect with soapy water alone.
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.
Sodium Hypochlorite Patio Cleaners are used for more stubborn stains as you need the EXTRA strength solution, which is 50% stronger than the heavy duty solution and may be diluted with up to 6 parts water and 1 part Sodium Hypochlorite 15%.