After hiring patio builders and installing the patio of your dreams, you need to maintain it to keep it looking its best. Routine brushing will remove dirt and detritus but will do little for stubborn dirt and staining.
Lichen, algae, moss, and other types of fungi will develop when the patio is exposed to moisture. These mask the color of the paving, giving it a cheap, ugly look.
The good news, however, is that there are plenty of ways you can clean the patio. Some of these ways include:
Cleaning the patio slabs with vinegar
Using vinegar to clean the patio is highly effective when looking for non-toxic materials. For best results, use white vinegar made from grain. This is vinegar that isn’t distilled from petroleum.
Begin with moving all the plants and furniture on the patio out of the way, then sweep the area clean and remove the weeds. Mix a cleaning solution made of half water and half vinegar and pour it onto the patio.
Wait for 20 minutes, then scrub the patio clean with a brush. Once you are done, mop the area with water then put the patio furniture back.
Cleaning the patio using soapy water
This is the go-to method when dealing with delicate paving and light staining.
To clean the patio using this method, you need a hard bristle brush, heavy-duty garden broom, pressure washer, bucket, warm water, and washing-up liquid.
Begin with decluttering the patio and ensure that the paving area is clear.
Fill a bucket with warm water and mix in one cup of washing up liquid, soda crystals, or soap. Pour the soapy water across the affected area and begin scrubbing.
Use a broom or a brush with stiff bristles to scrub the area clean. The brush allows you to focus on the more stubborn areas. After removing the dirt, rinse away the dirty water and soapy residue with a pressure washer on a low power setting or a hose.
Leave the patio overnight and reassess the area the following day. Inspecting the area with fresh eyes will help you spot any dirty areas you might have missed.
If there are tougher stains than you thought, go for a stronger patio cleaning solution such as bleach. When using bleach, be cautious about using it on softer stones and around the plants as the strong alkaline base can be harmful.
Cleaning the patio using a pressure washer
The pressure washer is highly effective when undertaking a quick cleaning or looking to get rid of dried cement and other tougher materials. To do the cleaning, you need a power washer, water source, and heavy-duty garden broom.
Use the pressure washer with caution as it’s capable of damaging the surface of the paving. Maintain a fan setting over a jet to protect the paving.
First, sweep the area clean to get rid of leaves and other forms of debris. You should then connect the power washer hose to the water supply then turn the tap on.
Follow up by hosing down the patio from one side to the other then once you are done, turn off the water and disconnect the hose. After the patio area has dried, return the furniture to its place.
Parting shot
These are some of the ways you can clean your patio. Be cautious of the detergent you use as you can easily damage the surface, especially if it contains chemicals.
Of significant importance, be extra cautious around the joints as they can come off forcing you to hire local patio builders Long Island to fix them.
