Similar to cleaning pavers with muriatic acid, avoid an intense concentration of bleach, as it can damage the pavers. Always test a small area first to ensure that the bleach doesn't discolor or damage the surface. Some bleaches are also acidic and can etch the surface of the pavers leading to a cloudy appearance.
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.
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.
And, while it may be tempting to use household bleach for a quick clean, Beril says that this can ruin the patio stones and leave them looking patchy. 'There are many specialist patio cleaning products on the market including brick acid,' she cautions.
As a gentler cleaner, bleach can't harm concrete's durable material. Aside from being an effective cleaner and stain remover, it also acts as a disinfectant to the concrete surface.
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.
Although the concrete is disinfected after just 5 minutes, lightening it will take a little longer. Leave the bleach solution on the concrete for about 20 minutes, then sweep briskly with the stiff broom to dislodge the softened grime. Use the scrub brush to tackle stubborn areas. Rinse off the patio.
Bleach: This alkaline solution may be effective for other household uses, but it can discolor concrete pavers that have been colored or stained.
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.
Let the solution sit: Allow the bleach solution to sit on the patio for 10-15 minutes. This will give it time to break down any dirt and grime. Rinse the patio: Use the garden hose or pressure washer to rinse off the bleach solution, starting at the opposite end from where you applied it.
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.
leaves fall, metal rusts, cars leak, and food drops, amongst many other stain makers. General cleaning every few weeks can prevent staining in the long term. Use a regular house cleaner, but remember to test the cleaner on a section of stone to see how it affects the paver.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Be sure to rinse away all traces of the sodium hypochlorite solution. Allow the patio to dry: Allow the patio to air dry completely before replacing any furniture or other items.
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.
SOAK WITH BAKING SODA
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.
While researching how to remove patio black spots you may have come across “Sodium Hypochlorite” which is a very strong bleach and while it may remove black spots, it will also damage the surface of anything it comes into contact with.
When bleach is left to air dry on floors and is not rinsed away, it can leave behind bleach crystals after the bleach evaporates. Sodium hypochlorite will break down into salt and water when left to do so. Since undiluted bleach is mostly water to begin with, once the floor dries, salt crystals will be left behind.
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.
What happens if you don't dilute bleach? You might damage what you're trying to clean, according to Johnson. Full-strength (non-diluted) bleach can be damaging to the surface and be harsh on your skin.