You love spending time with family and friends on your patio, but how do you keep it in good condition? Our practical tips show you how to keep your patio clean.

Your patio is where you enjoy your happiest times… relaxing with family, chatting with friends or maybe catching a little downtime with a cup of coffee and a magazine.

 

Natural stone, brick or granite: your patio is at the heart of your outdoor living – an extra ‘room’ for your busy home.

 

Choosing the right patio for your outdoor space is important. But, over time, unsightly mould, black or white spot (lichen) and algae can appear on all patios, dulling their surface as well as general mud and dirt giving the stone a dull look.

So how do you maintain your patio in peak condition? Here are our practical tips to keep your patio clean:

Step 1. Remove all outdoor furniture and patio pots. Sweep away any debris and leaves.

 

Step 2. Choose an appropriate patio cleaner. If cleaning by hand, you’ll need washing-up liquid or white wine vinegar (a natural disinfectant), warm water, and a hard-bristled brush. Usually using a pressure washer would be the prefered method by most of us, however with the current water situations and hosepipe bans, we recommend choosing a different method until situations are better.

 

Step 3. Test the cleaning product on an inconspicuous slab. Azpects EASY Black Spot Remover is acid- and solvent-free and safe to use on sensitive stone.

 

Step 4. If cleaning by hand using soapy water, mix warm water and washing-up liquid in a bucket then start at the corner of each slab. Splash and scrub diagonally across each to avoid disturbing the jointing compound.

Step 5. If cleaning by hand using white wine vinegar and soapy water, mix equal amounts of water and white wine vinegar in a bucket, pour over your patio and leave to work for 30 to 60 minutes. Then scrub with soapy water, as above, and rinse.

 

Step 6. If cleaning with a pressure washer, stand back and hold it at a 30 degree angle as (though effective) this intense method can damage your patio’s surface and dislodge jointing compound. Start from a corner and spray diagonally across. Rinse away any standing water. (Only once hosepipe bans are lifted and water situations improve)

 

Step 7. Finally, check your paving slab joints. Repair any gaps with jointing compound before returning furniture and pots to their place.

You should only need to clean your patio once a year, but regular sweeping in the autumn will stop wet leaves from staining its surface – reducing discolouration (and scrubbing!) come the spring…

Need any advice on creating a new patio or maintaining the one you already have? Come and see us today at Chessington Garden Centre where our knowledgeable and friendly team are always happy to help.