Whether you have porcelain paving, sandstone paving or concrete paving, your patio requires a minimum of maintenance that should be carried out regularly. All paving should be swept clear of dust and debris and sweeping will also reduce the chance of any seeds taking hold in gaps between tiles.
Time and winter weather can take its toll on your patios and where more than a sweeping brush is needed, the following tips will help.
How to clean porcelain paving slabs
In our article What is porcelain paving? we explained how hardwearing and low maintenance these tiles are. It’s important to remove dirt as it appears and spills or stains should be dealt with before they become permanent. Where dirt has accumulated, or stains have appeared, washing your porcelain paving with a soap solution in hot water will remove any build-up, and you can use a solution of white vinegar in water (one cup of white vinegar to 4 litres of water). Porcelain tiles can be jet-washed but only ever use a low-pressure setting, holding the nozzle at a distance from the tiles and using a sweeping motion, to avoid damaging them.
Avoid harsh, abrasive cleaners and any products containing bleach, acid or ammonia. HG Shine Restoring Tile Cleaner is a cleaner and shine restorer which will soon have your tiles sparkling like new.
How to clean sandstone paving
Sandstone paving is durable enough to cope with a stiff brush and hot soapy water and a good scrub will bring them up clean, tackling the majority of stains. Unless you are dealing with particularly tough stains like spilled red wine try to avoid bleach. Only use it sparingly where necessary (no stronger than a half beach/half water mix) and do not allow it to sit on the paving stones for longer than 10-15 minutes, as it could stain the paving stones. Sandstone paving will also respond well to being pressure washed on the lowest setting, or hosed down.
Cleaning concrete patios
No matter how tempting it is to get the pressure washer out, avoid it if you can. Concrete is a porous material and pressure washers are too aggressive for concrete. Even on a low pressure setting, you risk damaging the surface of your patio and breaking down the paving slabs. Instead, a stiff brush and elbow grease will do the trick with some natural cleaning products thrown in for good measure to tackle grease stains, mould and algae. White vinegar applied to rust stains and scrubbed off with a stiff brush is effective and a paste of equal parts baking soda to water will achieve similar results. For stubborn stains and mould or algae though, a commercial cleaner such as HG Patio Tile Cleaner will do the trick.
Getting into a good maintenance and cleaning routine for your patio is key. Deep cleaning in spring to remove dirt and possible plant and algae growth that has occurred over the winter is a good idea. In the summer, regular sweeping and dealing with spills and stains will keep your patio in good condition while the autumn should see more frequent sweeping to keep the area clear of fallen leaves which will stain if left. If you are able to maintain regular maintenance throughout the winter, it will save time in the spring again!
Witham Timber helping you to look after your patio
Our extensive range of paving includes decorative, porcelain paving, natural stone paving and functional and cost effective concrete paving. We also carry a range of cleaning and protection products to keep your patio in tip top condition. For any further information or advice, please email the team at sales@withamtimber.co.uk or call us on 01205 359188.