It’s getting to that time of year where everyone cannot wait for it to be summer. Warm evenings, a colourful garden and quality time spent outdoors. It sounds bliss, doesn’t it? That’s until you catch a glimpse of your green-tinged patio. Once you notice how dirty it is, you won’t be able to un-notice it.
That’s why we’ve put together this post to provide you with information on cleaning and maintaining your patio. Allowing you to enjoy those summer evenings and appreciate your garden in all its glory.
Sweep Your Patio Regularly
Sweeping away all of the leaves and other debris that builds up throughout autumn and winter can prevent decaying leaves from staining your patio for good. It can also help to prevent any seeds from germinating as they have nothing to root into. Along with this, damp leaves can be a slip hazard, so removing them from your patio offers safety to you and your family.
Spring Clean & Patio Maintenance
Although the best way to keep your patio clean is through regular maintenance, spring is the optimal time to give your patio a really good clean. Due to the damp winter months, there can be a build-up of organic growth along with general dirt. Once most of the bad weather is out of the way this provides an ideal time to get your patio ready for summer.
Pressure Washer
A pressure washer is the quickest and most efficient way to clean most types of paving. However, it’s important to know the material that your patio is made from, as some materials can’t withstand the pressure from this type of cleaning and can damage the paving stones.
Even if your patio is built from a material that can withstand this pressure, it is recommended not to use the method regularly due to the possibility of damage still being caused.
By Hand
If you don’t own a pressure washer, or need a cleaning alternative in between pressure washer usage, there are methods that you can do by hand.
The most used and cheapest option is a bucket of warm soapy water and a stiff brush. Just pour the mixture onto the patio and scrub with a stiff brush in a circular motion. Rinse the soap away using a watering can or hose and repeat as required.
Another method is using a diluted bleach solution and the above directions. However when using this option, take care not to let the bleach mix to go onto your grass or plants, or near any pets.
We would recommend cleaning your patio 3-4 times a year, switching between using a pressure washer and doing the job by hand. Although this may sound a lot, cleaning it regularly will make the job easier as there won’t be a large build-up of dirt.
Patio Sealants
Sealants can help to keep your patio looking new for longer and are best used soon after the patio has been laid. Sealants can either form a film on top of the paving or actually penetrate the stone depending on which type you purchase. They can help to preserve the colour of your patio and prevent weathering. Sealants also make it much easier to clean stains and dirt, however, this doesn’t mean that your patio won’t need cleaning – it just means it will be easier to do so.
If you need advice on the best cleaning method for your patio or are interested in having a new patio laid for summer, please contact Eden Landscapes today. Our team of garden landscapers serve the Northamptonshire area and work with our customers to create bespoke garden designs.
