Cleaning my crazy paving patio

Dilly

Hi
My patio is made of ex pavement slabs. It collect grit and dirt which I obviously sweep away. However over the years it has become quite dark and constantly looks grubby even though well swept
My husband won't have an electric patio cleaner as he says it will take out parts of the cement in-between the slabs and he doesn't need another job
I have read you can use washing powder on it but can't remember how to use it Does anyone use this method?
Any other none electric methods would be helpful, along with any recommended bought cleaner products,  as well as home made
Thanks in advance for any info

twopenny

Well when I moved in here I got on my hands and knees with a very stiff brush and bleach and water and scrubbed and rinsed.
It still gives better results than my pressure washer but it's quicker and easier.
It doesn't wash out the cement between the slabs. If it did it would be easy for you to replace. Nice job on a summers day. 
It makes a huge difference to the path and look of the house.
Though if your husband is the one who doesn't want electrics I'd be inclined to hand him the brush and bucket 

CliveOfIndia

Dilly said:

I have read you can use washing powder on it but can't remember how to use it Does anyone use this method?

You mix up a solution of water and biological laundry detergent, scrub it in and rinse off.  It really needs to be biological, non-bio won't work as well, the theory is that the bio detergent will get rid of moss, algae etc.  And it can be pretty effective if the dirt is of a "biological" nature, as opposed to oil or similar.

Or, as @twopenny says, a bleach solution will do pretty much the same.  I guess there's a very small chance that bleach could discolour the stones (if they're coloured in the first place), but in practice it's pretty unlikely.  If you're against the idea of a pressure washer, then either approach can be pretty effective in a lot of cases.

Ganga

Can you not hire a pressure washer and a patio brush/ adaptor ,i think they are a rotary brush with pressured water and chemical cleaner ,should not harm the cement between the slabs.

diystarter7

Hi

Be careful with these pressure washers as they can damage the slabs.

Thnaks

pallyman

I use washing powder on my flags by scattering some around ,not to much,just before a downpour or prolonged rain.Come out next  day & its nice & clean,repeat if there really bad.Also found ASDA  smart price the best.

twopenny

Pally how does that affect the plants or grass?

McKneff

Watch the weather. 
Chuck on bio powder, almat
from Aldi is great. 
Let the rain do its work the rinse of with a hard brush and hosepipe

EssexExile

If a pressure washer and T-racer will remove the pointing it probably needs re-doing anyway!

moneysaver

If you want the easy way use Wet & Forget. Put it on with a garden sprayer & let it do it's work.

Been using it for years, it is not instant results but works over a few months. No scrubbing needed.

Moneysaver

outtatune

Dilly said:

Hi
My patio is made of ex pavement slabs. It collect grit and dirt which I obviously sweep away. However over the years it has become quite dark and constantly looks grubby even though well swept
My husband won't have an electric patio cleaner as he says it will take out parts of the cement in-between the slabs and he doesn't need another job
I have read you can use washing powder on it but can't remember how to use it Does anyone use this method?
Any other none electric methods would be helpful, along with any recommended bought cleaner products,  as well as home made
Thanks in advance for any info

I have no idea what an 'electric patio cleaner' is but the way to clean a concrete patio is to use a pressure washer. A decent one, not a £150 domestic Karcher. If the pointing is in good condition it'll happily survive a pressure wash. If it isn't then you need new pointing anyway. If he can't be bothered to do that get profiessionals in and buy him a cheaper birthday present.