Cleaning patio stones

Butterfly_Brain

Jeyes fluid and a stiff brush works and keeps the slime at bay for a long time

MRSMCAWBER

I wet the patio down, sprinkle on some wash powder and attack with the yard brush -then hose down -it usually get rid of any green

FamilyTree_2

I agree with the sand idea, or anything gritty ....like Grit or rock salt that will give you a grip and allow you to wait till you have the pressure washer, that would be the most environmentally friendly way. :rolleyes:

Flytothesun

The problem in using bleach or other chemicals is that they completely destroy all the worms and other wildlife which lie underneath the stone patio.
Best to use a 50/50 solution of white vinegar or bicarbonate of soda which is very effective but doesn't kill the wildlife.

tub28

I'm sure I've heard pouring coca cola over the patio and giving it a good scrub cleans it really well

Jmarles

Garden paving will need periodic cleaning to keep it looking its best. Generally a regular sweep with a stiff broom and a good power washing will be adequate to avoid any build up of dirt. However, you may wish to clean your patio using a proprietary cleaner.

This can enhance its appearance but it may affect long term durability and should only be used sparingly. We recommend you consult your supplier for advice and a suitable cleaning product.

[Deleted User]

I have a K*archer yellow power washer that I bought a couple of years ago when it was on at a very reasonable price offer in B&Qs.I get one of my grandsons ben around and for the price of two of grans very tasty bacon sarnies he will pulverise my patio for me.He is hoping to join the Army next year when he finishes his 'A' levels and so playing with my power washer is a bit of fun for him :) he also does my white metal table and chairs and lines up the chairs on the lawn and 'shoots ' them Bless him he may be 18 this year but he is still a kid at heart :):)My DD also borrows it to do her decking as it can get very slippery during the winter and her decking stretches from outside her kitchen door

Primrose

I'd be wary of using a pressure washer. If your patio stones were originally sealed with a protective agent of some kind, the strength of the pressure washer will remove that coating and although the stones will look much cleaner at first, they will then attract dirt and lychen much more readily thereafter, and it will be more difficult to remove.
This is what happened to our patio slabs. I now use Jeyes Fluid Patio Cleaner (it's not the actual Jeyes Fluid product). I apply it with water after it's been raining so the slabs are already wet, then leave for about 30 minutes and scrub with a stiff yard broom before hosing/washing it away.

Briri

Take care when using bleach on a patio. A few years ago I cleaned mine with dilute bleach (1:5) and within a few weeks an ancient Boston Ivy (which covered all the walls of the house) growing close by, was completely dead! Its roots spread underneath the patio and had absorbed the bleach. At the same time a pyracantha adjacent to another part of the patio, also died. Both plants were over 25 years old and had been in good health.

Izzz

Hi

My York stone door steps have been stained as they are under the central heating flue pipe so i suppose that it is oily/ tar. I have tried a pressure cleaner and proprietary stone cleaning products one with and one without acid.

It's better but not brilliant. Any suggestions please?

Izzz