Moss and stains like lichen can make your patios look unsightly, but also be a slippery hazard. To get your paving looking spick and span for the spring and summer season, Trevor Knight, technical garden and driveway specialist for Marshalls Plc, has shared the do’s and don’ts when it comes to cleaning your patio. He said: “As with any part of your home, your patio will need maintenance and cleaning. Keeping on top of this will keep your garden looking sharp all year round.”
While there are many patio cleaning solutions in garden and DIY stores, it’s typically better to opt for natural or household items first. White vinegar and bleach are often raved about as being the best household cleaning options, however, Trever claims this is a massive no-no.
Despite often being a popular choice for cleaning the patio, vinegar can harm the biodiversity of your garden.
White vinegar solutions can damage and kill plants – this may be the ideal outcome for those wanting to rid their patio of weeds; however, if this solution were to make its way onto your plants and grass, the result would be less than desirable.
The expert said: “The use of acidic solutions should be avoided, particularly on calcareous pavers such as those made from limestone. Use on these pavers can lead to irreparable damage to the material.”
Similar to vinegar, bleach is harmful to plants and, therefore, can harm your garden plants.
Trevor warned: “Any bleach solution that runs off the patio onto grass or plants when cleaning can cause significant harm to these, likely causing them to die.”
He added: “Over time, bleach can also lead to discolouration and irreparable damage to paving slabs, particularly those that are man-made, such as concrete slabs.”
To remove moss and all kinds of stains, Trevor claimed that a pressure washer is “the better option for your patio”. However, you must take caution when using this method as it can “damage your pavers if done incorrectly”.
The pressure washer will need to be connected to your garden hose and will require your chosen cleaning agent like washing-up liquid and water.
The expert instructed: “Working from the corners in, hold the pressure washer at a 30-degree angle and work your way down the patio.
“Don’t hold the pressure washer too close to the slabs, as it may cause permanent damage. You should start on a low-pressure setting to reduce the risks of damage.”