How to Clean Your Patio Properly

Clean With a Pressure Washer

Maintaining a clean and inviting patio or driveway not only helps to enhance your home's kerb appeal but also provides a pleasant outdoor space where you can relax or entertain your guests. However, over time, these surfaces can accumulate dirt, grime, moss and weeds, resulting in them losing their aesthetic appeal and potentially becoming damaged in the process.

Follow the steps below to clean your patio or driveway with a pressure washer:

1. Remove The Debris - You should begin by removing all of the debris from the space. Use a stiff brush to brush away any loose dirt, leaves, or twigs from the patio or driveway area.
2. Connect The Pressure Washer - Next, you'll need to connect the pressure washer to your home's water supply. A pressure washer will use a lot of water at a very high force, so you will need a constant supply of water to get the job done properly.
3. Add Some Detergent - If you are using detergent with the pressure washer, add this now. Most pressure washers will allow you to add detergent, which sprays out with the water. If your pressure washer doesn't have this option, you can spray a detergent directly onto the patio and leave it to stand for around ten minutes before proceeding.
4. Choose a Medium Pressure - Change the settings on your pressure washer so that it's on the medium setting. This is the optimum setting for cleaning your patio or driveway as it's enough pressure to remove all of the dirt but not too much pressure that it might cause damage.
5. Wash The Driveway or Patio - Sweep the patio area with your pressure washer from front to back and from left to right. This will ensure you cover every inch of the space. Make sure the pressure washer is set to the wide fan setting, and keep the spraying angle at 45 degrees to achieve the most effective cleaning.
6. Allow Drying Time - Finally, you'll need to give your driveway or patio time to dry. Once dried completely, you will then be able to see just how much difference your power wash has made.

Clean With a Soapy Water Solution

Below is a guide on cleaning your patio slabs without a pressure washer:

1. Remove Weeds - Start by examining the driveway or patio and removing any weeds that you see poking through cracks and gaps. The way to do this will depend on how severe the problem is. If you can pull up the weeds by hand, this is the best option. Remove as much of the root possible in the process to minimise any chances of it coming back. If the weed problem is quite extreme, then you should use a weed killer. Always ensure you follow the manufacturer's instructions when using weed killers and keep pets and children away from the area.
2. Make The Soap Mix - There are no special products required to create the soapy cleaning solution. Use a mild soap with warm water. Just make sure you check the soap that you use, as some soaps could cause damage to the pavers. Mix the soapy solution together until you start to see a foam form on the top.
3. Pour The Mixture - Next, pour some of the mixture onto the surface of the driveway or patio. If you're cleaning a large area, you may need to do it in stages. Before starting the cleaning, test the mixture on a small, inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn't cause damage to the patio. You'll then need to put protective gloves on to protect your hands and begin scrubbing the area. Scrub the entire surface of the paving until the entire area has been scrubbed. Once you've finished scrubbing, rinse away the remaining soapy residue with clean water. You can do this with buckets of water or a hose. Direct the water towards a drainage point.
4. Brush The Space - After the scrubbing stage, you'll then need to brush the area. Get a hard-bristled brush and start brushing the patio from one side to the other. It's best if you use a brush with a long handle to avoid damaging your back in the process. When brushing, you'll notice the bristles loosen dirt with ease. Keep brushing your patio until all the dirt is loose. You may have to brush harder on stubborn areas. Brush your patio regularly to keep dirt and weeds away.
5. Rinse The Patio - After you've gone over the entire driveway or patio with the brush and loosened all the stubborn dirt, you'll then have to rinse the patio to reveal the final look. You can do this with a hose or buckets of water.
6. Allow Drying Time - After you've rinsed the area, leave your patio to dry completely before seeing the final results.

Clean With White Vinegar

White vinegar also works wonders for cleaning your driveway or patio. Below is a guide on how to clean your patio or driveway with white vinegar:

1. Create Your Mixture - Grab a bucket and mix together a solution of one part water and one part white vinegar. If your patio is particularly dirty or features some stubborn stains, you may need to use a solution with slightly more vinegar than water.
2. Pour The Solution - Pour the water and vinegar solution over the entire patio or driveway. You may need to use several buckets to cover the entire surface of the driveway or patio. Leave the vinegar and water solution to do its thing for around 30 minutes or more.
3. Clear The Solution Away - Use some buckets of clean water to rinse the vinegar solution from the surface of your driveway. Simply pour the buckets of clean water over your driveway. Make sure to direct it to a drainage point.
4. Allow Drying Time - Finally, leave your driveway or patio to dry naturally.

Use Block Paving Cleaner

You can purchase block paving cleaners that are specifically designed to take on this challenge. You must make sure your block paving is free from debris, weeds, and moss before using a block paving cleaner.

All block paving cleaners will require a different method. You should make sure to follow the instructions that are provided on the cleaner that you choose.

Hire a Professional Cleaning Service

If you want to get the best results when cleaning your driveway or patio, you should hire professionals to complete the work for you. Professionals will have all of the tools and products needed to get your driveway or patio looking as good as new.

Cleaning driveways and cleaning block paving costs can vary, mostly depending on the size of your driveway. However, it’s an investment that will really pay off as professional driveway cleaning can improve your home’s kerb appeal significantly.

How to Get Rid of Moss

There are several methods that work for removing moss from a patio or driveway. Take a look at the list below for some of the best ways to get rid of moss:

Removing Moss With Baking Soda

Baking soda works very well on moss. However, this method works best on dry days. Sprinkle the baking soda over the mossy area and leave it to do its thing overnight. Then, sweep everything away the next day.

Removing Moss With a Pressure Washer

Pressure washers are great for removing moss. Spray the affected areas with high-pressure water using a pressure washer. This is a great way to blast away all of the moss and clean your paving.

Remove Moss With Boiling Water

Carefully pour boiling water over the mossy area, being sure to cover every part of it. Then, scrub the affected area using a stiff brush. Once the moss is loose, you can then use a hose to wash away the debris.

Remove Stubborn Moss Marks With Vinegar and Water

If you have any stubborn moss marks on your paving, consider using a water and vinegar mixture to remove them. Create a mixture consisting of one part water and one part white vinegar. Put this mixture in a spray bottle so that you can easily apply the mixture over the entire area. Spray the mixture over the affected area and leave it to sit there. Then, scrub the space with a stiff brush before hosing it off.

How to Get Rid of Weeds

Pull The Weeds Out

If you just have a few weeds here and there, you may be able to get rid of all of the weeds by hand. The most important thing to remember when pulling up weeds by hand is to ensure you pull up the root. Pull carefully at the base of the weed to make sure it is all pulled out completely. If you are pulling up nettles, make sure to always wear gloves. If you are struggling to pull the roots up with just your hands, consider investing in a weed-pulling tool.

Use Lemons to Kill The Weeds

You can easily kill weeds with lemon. Simply cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice right over the weed. The citric acid present in the lemon juice should kill the weed within a few days. This method is especially effective when there is a strong sun shining on the weeds. Lemon juice can be used just as it is. There is no need to dilute it. Alternatively, you can get some powdered citric acid and then mix it with water in a spray bottle. From there, simply spray the weeds with this solution.

Use Salt to Kill The Weeds

Salt can be pretty effective at killing weeds. Sprinkle a considerable amount of salt directly over the weed and leave it there. The salt should kill off the weed within a few days. This is also great for deterring insects and slugs. Just be careful not to sprinkle the salt on any surrounding plants or on your lawn, as this could kill off some of the plants or grass.

Use Eco-Friendly Weed Killers

A lot of weed killers can be toxic or dangerous. However, there are now a lot of eco-friendly weed killers that are available to buy. These weed killers usually come in a handy spray bottle. You just need to simply spray the solution directly onto the weed and then leave it to do its thing. Eco-friendly weed killers will usually be able to kill off the weeds within a few days.

Use a Vodka Solution

The vodka method works best for weeds that get a lot of sun. Create a mixture of 2 parts water with 1 part vodka and add a couple of drops of liquid dish soap to the solution. Put this in a spray bottle for easier application and spray the solution directly onto the weed. This will dry the out the weed and kill it off. Just make sure you avoid spraying the solution on any surrounding grass or plants as it will also these out and make them look quite unappealing.

Use Boiling Water

Boiling water is a brilliant way for killing off weeds. However, you want to avoid getting any of the boiling water on any surrounding areas of grass or plants as this could cause some serious damage. Simply boil some water in the kettle and take it outside. Then, pour the boiling water directly onto the weed. The result will cause the weed to burn up.

Final Thoughts

Restoring your patio or driveway to its pristine condition is achievable with the right techniques and tools. Whether it’s a pressure washer clean, a soapy water solution, or a more natural solution, this guide should have provided you with everything you need to know to find a cleaning solution to suit your needs.

Remember to tackle common issues like moss and weeds with targeted solutions, ensuring thorough removal to prevent future regrowth. For those seeking a professional result with minimal effort, hiring a professional cleaning company is a worthwhile investment.

By implementing the above strategies, you can maintain a clean, attractive outdoor space that enhances your home's kerb appeal and provides a welcoming environment for relaxation and enjoyment. Regular maintenance and quick issue fixes will help to prolong the life of your patio or driveway, keeping it looking its best for many years to come.

GREGORY SMITH: "Gregory Smith has worked in the property and construction industry for over 20 years. He currently continues to work on domestic building projects while also providing expert comments in the property and construction field for PriceYourJob. He has worked with PriceYourJob for the past 4 years and has been published in a range of reputable publications."