Do your pavers not look the way they used to when they were still brand new? Are they showing signs of wear and tear and losing their aesthetic appeal? Don’t worry, it just needs some cleaning. As homeowners, it’s important to maintain and clean your pavers to maintain your home’s exterior appeal. It’s the first thing people see of your home so it’s no stretch to say that you’ll need to make sure it’s clean and tidy.
Pavers will get dirty over time, but the good news is you can have them look brand new again. All it takes is a bit of cleaning and maintenance. You can hire professionals to do the job for you, but if you’re up for the task, you can also go the DIY route. Here are some helpful DIY paver cleaning tips you can follow to restore your pavers to their former glory.
Tip 1: Identify Your Pavers
It’s important to identify what type of pavers you have before you even start with the cleaning process. Different pavers are made of different materials like concrete, natural stone, or brick. These have different sensitivity levels to chemicals from cleaning materials and you may end up doing more harm than good if you’re not careful.
Tip 2: Sweep Regularly
One way to maintain your pavers is to weep regularly. Think of this as upkeep – set aside an hour or two on your days off to remove loose dirt, twigs, or leaf that can accumulate and leave your pavers stained and dirty. It’s so simple to do yet it’s very effective in keeping your pavers clean.
Tip 3: Use Homemade Cleaning Solution
Commercial cleaning solutions are always reliable if you want to get your pavers cleaned out. However, you can use homemade solutions that can be as effective in cleaning your pavers but at a fraction of the cost. Mix equal parts vinegar and water for a simple yet effective cleaning solution. If you’re tackling tougher stains, mix 1 part bleach with 10 parts water. Just remember to test your solution on a small area that’s not upfront first to ensure that your pavers don’t get discoloured.
Tip 4: Invest in a Pressure Washer
If you’re serious about maintaining and cleaning your pavers, get a pressure washer. It’s a highly efficient way to clean your pavers and can even help with stubborn stains that can’t be cleaned with just simple scrubbing. Just don’t go too overboard with the pressure settings. Go for a gentle spray first to see if it will be enough to clean what you need to clean and gradually ramp up if it doesn’t. Putting it on a very high-pressure setting may cause damage to pavers if you’re not careful.
Tip 5: Clean Stains Immediately
The key to easier stain removal is to clean them immediately as soon as you notice them. Leaving stains to set in just makes it harder to take off. You can use a scrub brush with some cleaning solution to clean the stained area before it gets worse.
Tip 6: Treat Oil Stains with Special Care
Oil stains are tough to get rid of, but with the right approach, even the toughest oil stains can be easily cleaned. The trick is to use agents that can break down oil. You can ask around in your local hardware store for some suggestions on cleaning products, but if you can’t find what you’re looking for you can use alternatives like cat litter or baking soda. These absorb fresh oil stains so the sooner you tackle these stains, the better.
Tip 7: Rinse Properly
If you’re going to clean your pavers, make sure to clean them thoroughly. Once all the scrubbing and cleaning are done, make sure that you rinse them with clean water thoroughly. Don’t leave any residue from cleaning solutions as they can lead to more problems like discoloration and other damages which just leaves you with more work.
Tip 8: Seal Your Pavers
If you want to go the extra mile in protecting your pavers from wear and tear, consider sealing them. It not only boosts their aesthetic appeal, but it also provides a protective layer against stains and makes cleaning and maintenance a lot easier.
Tip 9: Regular Maintenance
As they say: prevention is better than cure. The same goes for maintaining your pavers. We’ve discussed how regular sweeping can help in maintaining cleanliness in your pavers, but that’s only part of it. You’ll need regular maintenance if you want to prolong your pavers’ lifespan and keep it clean and aesthetically pleasing longer. Check for cracks or damages and act on them right away. Do a monthly deep clean to make sure that no stains or dirt set in. This way you avoid dirt and grime from accumulating and makes cleaning easier.
And there you have it, 9 DIY paver cleaning tips to help keep your pavers clean and tidy. If you’re planning on cleaning your pavers and restoring them to their former glory, give these DIY paver cleaning tips a try and you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to clean pavers by yourself.
Of course, we understand that not everyone has the time or confidence to do these on their own. If you’re unsure of what to do, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. You can always count on The Concrete Painter Perth for any of your paver cleaning and sealing needs. We have over 20 years of experience in the business in both the private and commercial sectors. Don’t hesitate to contact us for all your paving needs.