Patio Cleaning Services
Red wine or sauce spilled at the table or grease from barbecues can create stubborn and hard-to-remove stains on patio slabs, so early treatment with cleaners designed specifically for stone surfaces or concrete cleaners will help avoid them becoming increasingly resistant over time.
Pressure Washing
No matter if your patio is made from natural stone or less expensive and more resilient manufactured paving slabs, regular pressure washing with a pressure washer will keep it looking its best. This machine uses an electric motor-powered pump that forces water at high pressure through a concentrated nozzle to blast away built up dirt and grime faster than using garden hose and scrub brush alone. However, make sure you choose a patio cleaner designed specifically for the surface type in order to avoid damage to its underlying material.
Reading manufacturer recommendations is also recommended as they will outline which concentration and form of patio cleaner are safe to use and how you should add them to your pressure washer. Deliberately choosing any other form could void your warranty.
A good patio cleaner should be non-toxic for pets and will effectively kill moss, mildew and algae on your patio surface, while also scouring dirt off it. Kilrock’s Patio, Driveway & Masonry Cleaner is one such product; diluted or used undiluted it can even shift stubborn oil stains! Nilfisk also produces pressure washers as well as cleaning detergents such as Stone Plague Cleaner to get rid of black spot without leaving harmful residual chemicals behind.
Before pressure-washing a patio, for optimal results it should be free of debris such as leaves and branches, such as fallen leaves and branches. Furthermore, any outdoor furniture should be moved out of the area, along with plants or features which might be damaged by pressure washer spray.
Dependent upon how dirty your patio is, a pH-neutral soap and some water may suffice in clearing away green deposits, mildew, mould and other fungi from its surface. Just ensure to keep the pressure washer’s nozzle at least a few feet from any surfaces as direct contact could remove top layers from pavers and reveal their aggregate material underneath.
Scrubbing
Clean your patio quickly with an effective scrub. Although this might require some elbow grease, you will get the job done faster with this approach.
If you prefer an easier approach, patio cleaners offer another solution. Formulated specifically to remove grime and restore your patio back to its former glory, these detergents and fluids can cut through grime to make your outdoor space look as good as new again. Many are designed specifically for specific types of paving or problems like black spot or moss growth; you can usually find these at garden centers or online.
Care should be taken when following the directions for your chosen cleaning product, as some require wet surfaces or require rinsing off after several hours of application. Some solutions can damage plants or grass nearby; in these instances it is wise to cover nearby vegetation with plastic drop cloth. Rubber gloves should also be worn when handling these cleaners as some can be harsh on skin.
For tougher stains, bleach may be the answer. Mixing it with water will produce a solution to help remove tougher dirt and stains from your patio; but be careful not to use too much as too much can erode away at the concrete over time. Also take caution if placing bleach near any flowers, trees, or shrubs as it could be toxic for their wellbeing.
Pressure washers offer another quick and effective method for quickly and thoroughly cleaning patios, especially if bacteria stains have taken root on its surface. Just be careful that too much force doesn’t erode it!
Hiring a Tasker to clean your patio is an effective way to make sure it’s ready for entertaining this summer. Discuss what cleaning products they will be using with them as well as any work they are comfortable completing for you – they will be able to recommend solutions tailored specifically to your patio’s needs, providing professional yet thorough services that leave it looking brand new!
Home Remedies
On most paved surfaces, using a combination of broom, garden sprayer or power washer and cleaning solution should do the trick. However, for heavily stained patios you may require more thorough care with commercial cleaners designed specifically for your pressure washer model and commercial concentrates that can be mixed with water to form effective solutions. Before using any product on your patio make sure that you read and follow all instructions – also be careful not to get any of it on nearby plants or grass as this could bleach them or kill them off altogether!
Heavy mildew or black staining on concrete can typically be removed with biodegradable detergents. Simply mix a biodegradable soap in warm water and apply to your patio surface – leaving it soak for 20 to 30 minutes before you scrub with a brush or scrubbing pad for removal of stains. Finally, rinse away all remaining soap residue by flushing with clean water to completely rinse the area of any soap residues.
If your patio has more stubborn stains, try mixing vinegar and baking soda. For oil stains, scatter sawdust, cornstarch or baking soda onto them to absorb them. While this method might not work as effectively on concrete patios as on wooden decks, try it anyway by applying powder in an inconspicuous area of your patio and seeing what results.
Karcher offers a powerful concentrated patio cleaner designed specifically to address both natural stone and manufactured paving slabs, promising maximum effectiveness when mixed with water to form a thicker solution that adheres to surfaces, breaking down grime. Once applied, this solution should be left for several hours before being washed off using either garden hose water or bucket of plain water.
Finally, an effective bleach mixture for cleaning paving slabs may also prove effective against moss, mould and other forms of green growth. Simply combine one cup of standard household bleach in one bucket of distilled white vinegar until you achieve a creamy-yet-spreadable mixture that can then be spread out across your pavement surface using a nylon-bristled brush before being rinsed out completely afterwards.
Concrete Cleaners
Finding an appropriate concrete cleaner that suits both your patio and is safe to use around children and pets can be challenging. Look for products designed for use on concrete surfaces, and make sure it works with your pressure washer. Likewise, environmentally-friendly options may be advantageous, particularly if there are plants or wildlife nearby.
The ACT Concrete Cleaner is an ideal green option, using microbes to break down oil and other contaminants without harming surfaces. Easy to apply with no need for scrubbing required; effective even at sub-zero temperatures; works on multiple materials including concrete, bricks asphalt wood composite vinyl wicker metal surfaces as well as masonry surfaces.
Nilfisk pressure washer detergent is designed to work with most brands of pressure washers, and will quickly yet carefully clear away dirt from surfaces like walkways, driveways, patios and more. You can apply it using either pressure or manually; and its four pack of high-strength cleaners makes this solution suitable for most concrete surfaces including walkways, driveways and patios as well as wood, pavers stones and concrete blocks.
Vinegar can be an effective solution to tough stains on concrete surfaces, though overusing can actually etch away at its surface, rendering it less safe for walking upon. Furthermore, using this acid-containing cleaner around trees or shrubs could result in serious acid burn damage that might require expensive repair work to remedy.
If you don’t feel confident using either a power washer or hand scrubbing to keep your concrete patio in its prime, Taskers offer services to clean it for you using specialty products. Make sure they understand what type of surface it is as some products require minimal involvement (just pour and leave), while others might need more effort — and might cost more in return.
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