Cleaning Outdoor Pavers like a Pro

1. Remove the plants and the outdoor furniture.

If you have potted plants or different furniture items blocking your access to the paved area, you should remove them. While cleaning, you will need to have a clear surface that is free of any of these obstacles.

You should also cover the surrounding landscape, including the garden edging, with pieces of tarp, in order to protect your flower beds from the cleaning products and the dirty water. Cover the metal objects as well, as they might become rusty if they come in contact with water.

2. Clear the weeds and the moss growing between the paving stones

You can use a stiff bristled broom or hand brush to clear the weeds that grow between the outdoor pavers. You might also have to use your hand to pull some of the weeds, so you should use a pair of gardening gloves. After you loosen up the weeds and organic growths, use the brush to remove the debris from the pavement.

If the weeds are too many and cannot be removed by hand, you can use a vegetation killer spray. If you find removing these weeds difficult, you can use our platform to hire a professional gardener or landscaper.

3. Saturate the paved area

Before you begin the cleaning process, you should hose down the entire paved surface with plain water. It is not necessary to power wash the surface yet, but it is important for the paving stones to be wet in order to prevent them soaking up the cleaning substance.

Make sure that you are not wasting water while you are cleaning outdoor pavers by putting these water saving ideas for your garden to good use.

4. Prepare the cleaning solution

When you are cleaning outdoor pavers, it is important for the cleaning solution to be mild, so the best type of cleanser is a mixture of mild degreasing detergent and lukewarm water. Fill a bucket with the warm water and add about 16 ounces of dish detergent and mix them thoroughly. Once the cleaner is ready you can start by applying some to a small area. The most efficient pavement cleaning technique is to clean small areas at a time.

5. Brush the paving stones with the stiff bristle brush

This type of brush is very good for scrubbing the detergent solution into the outdoor pavers. The harsh scrubbing will make it easier for you to clean dirt and stains. Change the scrubbing direction several times so that you don’t wear out one spot.

If you don’t have a bristle brush, you can also use a scouring pad or a wire brush. Make sure that you don’t overuse these tools, as you might end up scratching the pavement.

6. Rinse down the pavers

Once you are done cleaning and scrubbing the pavers, you can start rinsing them off with clean water. You can use your garden hose or a power washer. However, you should be careful when using the power washer, as it might disturb the sand between the pavers.

7. Use more powerful cleaning solutions

If somehow, the dish detergent does not do the job, you can use something more powerful. It is important to use a cleaning product that is aimed at your material (travertine, concrete, etc.) Keep in mind that the majority of powerful cleaners are also quite corrosive and toxic.

Before using the solution, read the warning label carefully, and ensure that you and your family are following all the safety precautions like wearing rubber gloves, safety glasses, or rubber boots. Additionally, you should keep these substances away from your children, your pets, and the nearby vegetation.

If you are planning on using these powerful cleaning solutions, you might want to consider hiring a professionl cleaner.

8. Re-sand the pavers once they are dry

Usually, some of the sand between the paving stones is removed during the cleaning process. In order to fix that, you must wait for the pavers to be dry, and then you can pour some polymeric sand on them.

Make sure you even out the sand by sweeping it all over the paved area with the bristled broom. Brush in different directions to get a good coverage. You can keep adding more sand until all the pavement joints are filled up. We recommend using polymeric sand because it will also hold the pavers together, so it’s more efficient than other types of sand.

9. Mist the freshly sanded pavers

Once you are done spreading sand into all the joints, use the mist option on your hose to wet the pavers again. This will help the sand settle between the pavers. Avoid saturating the pavers and washing away the fresh sand.

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