How can i clean patio

Most patios only need to be cleaned once per year. Spring is a good time to clear away winter mud and grime. However, if you have food stains or drips of grease from a barbecue grill, you may want to add a thorough cleaning in the fall.

Just a few supplies and a bit of elbow grease are needed to clean a patio. If the concrete is heavily stained, you may wish to use a power washer and a commercial cleaner recommended for the washer.

Do not use a vinegar and baking soda mixture in a power washer. Choose a mild, overcast day to tackle the job, so that the cleaning solution will not evaporate too quickly. Remove all furniture , grills, plants, and toys from the patio. Use a broom or leaf blower to remove all loose debris. Then use a garden hose with a spray nozzle to wet down the concrete. Pour one cup baking soda into a plastic bucket or bowl. Slowly add two cups of distilled white vinegar.

The mixture will foam up but will settle if you mix it slowly. The consistency should be like a cream soup—thick enough to cling to the surface but not too thick to spread. Spread the mixture over the concrete with a sponge mop. Depending on the size of the patio, you will probably need to double or triple the ingredients. Allow the mixture to sit on the concrete surface for around 30 minutes.

Use a nylon-bristled scrub brush metal brushes can leave small pieces of metal in the concrete that will rust to clean the entire surface.

Use a scrub brush with a long attachable handle to save your back and knees. Rinse away the cleaning solution. Make sure to spray clean water on any shrubbery or grass next to the patio that may be splattered with the vinegar and baking soda. Allow the concrete to air dry completely before replacing any furniture and accessories to prevent staining. Rust stains from furniture legs and grills can be especially difficult to remove. In some areas of the country, the soil contains so much iron that red mud stains must be treated like rust stains.

If you feel confident in increasing the pressure, do so, but carefully. Of course, the most powerful jet setting will provide the best results, but it may come at the expense of the top layer of your paving, which is particularly undesirable when it comes to pattern and mosaic surfaces. You can do a few test sprays to check whether your water pressure is too high or too low. There is a craft to power washing efficiently and safely when it comes to cleaning your paving slabs. Make sure to avoid spraying the jet directly onto the paving, which could cause damage.

This is to avoid parallel washing of the joints, which could damage the cement pointing. Move along in a consistent pattern to avoid any over-exposure to the pressure washer. If you paving is particularly dirty, you should be able to track your progress quite easily.

Spring is also a good time to check the joints between the paving slabs, which might need re-pointing. Subscribe to our newsletter now and keep up to date on our latest products, advice and helpful guides. Home Blog How to clean your patio Mobile parent link Blog. How to clean your patio Darius Negahbani Saturday 28th March, Tags clean how patio paving to. How to clean patio slabs with household items If patio slabs are looking a bit worse for wear, there are plenty of ways to clean them with simple household items.

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