Having a clean patio or driveway gives a sense of pride to the house owners. It shows how much they love cleanliness and perfection. A dirty patio, on the other hand, becomes a bane for them. Not only does it look visually unappealing, but it is also unhygienic, and slippery, and is, most certainly, attracting big replacement expenses in future.
Fortunately, you can prevent that from happening and get yourself a tidy patio or driveway within a couple of hours. We have covered the most-asked question by the house owners about how to clean the block paving in this guide with all the safety measures sewed into it.
Clear block paving with or without a Pressure Washer?
Given how fast and easy it looks when a professional uses a pressure washer to clean the dirty patio, it may sound like everyone can pull it off. We get a lot of queries asking how to clean block paving with a pressure washer. However, it is not advised for DIYers to use a pressure washer or other such professional machine for cleaning block paving as they require skills and careful usage.
Professional cleaners use pressure washers only after carefully assessing the situation. One can not use them every time. Using a pressure washer for cleaning blocked artificial paving tiles, for example, can be catastrophic as it can damage the surface of the tile by scrapping it. On the other hand, the natural tiles are completely damage-resistant.
A pressure washer, if used incorrectly, can damage the whole look of the patio or driveway. If you put too much time and pressure on cleaning the joints, it will disturb and misplace the sand surface beneath the tiles which, consequently, will result in the sinking of the patio tiles.
If you want to give a pressure washer a try, then just keep these few things in mind
- Always maintain a 45-degree angle of the nozzle. It maximize the cleaning and has the minimum impact on the sand surface.
- Never put too much pressure on the joints as it will start scraping them and the beneath surface. Instead, take some time and clean out the weed and unwanted things from the joints before using a pressure washer.
- Always put soap or cleaning liquids on the tiles before using a pressure washer. It will pre-clean all the dirt, and the washer will do the rest of the job of sweeping it out of your driveway.
Can you use bleach to clean block paving?
The answer is a yes! Bleach is fast and the best way to clean block paving if you don’t want to use a pressure washer. It cuts through all the artificial stains, dirt, moss, algae, and weeds in just minutes and certainly provides extra cleaning than soaps and cleaning liquids.
Using bleach to clean block paving is extremely simple as it does not require any professional skills and equipment, but it is equally concerning. That’s why you must take some preventive measures in order to save your patio from getting dull and damaged.
Bleach has a negative effect on coloured artificial block pavings. It fades the colour of the tiles over time if used frequently. Occasional use of bleach is completely fine. But make sure you don’t use it more often than you should.
Second thing is that any plant that comes into contact with this chemical will die. So, using bleach near your decorative plant pots, flowers, and vegetation will completely destroy them.
Lastly, Bleach sometimes also results in skin allergies and itching. So take extra safety measures and use protective equipment while using it.
Tools for cleaning block paving
If you’re cleaning your block pavings by yourself, then here’s a list of tools and things that you will need to get the desired outcome:
- A Bucket
- A metal Brush
- A Broom
- Strong Soap or Cleaning Liquid or Detergent
- Power washer (Only, If you have one and know how to use it properly)
- Carpet Lint Remover
Cleaning block paving of moss
Moss is slippery, and unless you want your patio or driveway to look like an old fortress, unappealing to the eyes. Getting rid of moss completely is not an easy task as it grows back within weeks. So, even the strongest chemical will fail in moss treatment. Since moss does not have any root, a single spore left behind will repopulate itself.
The most effective treatment for moss is to remove or scrape it away using a metal brush and sweep it away from the paving floor. Now, always remember to first clean the patio or driveway from all the plant pots and other things, and brush the moss from everywhere. As it will regrow itself if you leave even a quarter of an inch unchecked.
Can Block paving be sealed?
Since there’s no way to get rid of moss and there’s no guarantee that you or your family member won’t spill something on the patio, you will have to reclean the block pavings from time to time. This raises the question of whether you can seal the block pavings and create a layer of protection over them.
Fortunately, the answer is yes! You can seal your block paving with a hydrophobic solution and get rid of moss, weeds, and stains forever. proPERLA® Paving Impregnator is a effective paving block sealer with a natural looking finish. It creates a layer of protection over your slabs which is 95% hydrophobic and prevents moss and weeds from growing. It guarantees protection from artificial stains for over 10 years.
