How to clean your paving like a pro

A well-maintained patio adds bags of charm and character to any home or garden and can be the perfect setting for gatherings, garden furniture, BBQs, or even an arrangement of potted plants. However, like anything, over time, with elemental exposure, your patio can start to look discoloured from a build-up of dirt and grime from outside debris – especially if you have light flagstones. The good news is that it’s easily remedied!

At Smiths Hire, we have all the garden tools you could possibly need to keep every section of your garden looking pristine no matter the season. Our tool hire range includes everything from general gardening tools like lawn care equipment to electric power washers and beyond, so you can tackle garden jobs, like cleaning your paving with ease.

Do you need a professional to clean your paving stones?

Keeping your patio clean is a simple task that you can easily handle without needing the help of a professional. There are a few different ways you can clean your stones and it all depends on what kind of paving you have laid. It’s important to understand what the best method is for your stones, so you can get it done quickly without any unnecessary damage. Let’s take a look at two simple ways you can get the job done.

Method 1: Warm soapy water and a bristle brush

The first method we have is arguably the simplest, and you could more than likely get it done right now with the stuff you have under the kitchen sink – warm, soapy water, a bucket or bowl and a bristle brush. That’s right. This method really is as simple as adding a dash of some mild soap, like Fairy Liquid, for example, to a bucket of warm (not hot) water, dipping a medium-firmness bristle brush into it, and giving your stones a scrub.

Be sure to give the surface a quick sweep to remove any surface matter like leaves, sticks and stones. Depending on how much space your patio takes up, this could take you a while, but despite its simplicity, your stones will turn out beautifully. Just be sure to give them a hose down when you’re done to remove any lingering debris and soap residue!

Method 2: The power washer

This method is pretty self-explanatory. However, it won’t be suitable for everyone’s stones, so before you dive straight in, be sure to check with your paving manufacturer or do a quick Google search to ensure that it won’t damage them. If you power wash softer stones, you risk chipping them, which can leave them looking uneven and open them up to even more damage from the elements, which will significantly shorten their longevity.

However, if you’re sure that your stones are hard enough and you need that bit of extra cleaning power (or you want the job done as quickly as possible!), then our Heavy Duty Electric Power Washer hire is the ideal bit of kit. This power washer is perfect for patios, driveways, and general home cleaning; plus, it’s light and easy to carry around, so you’ll be done in no time. To be extra safe, when you’re washing, just be sure to not hold the nozzle too close to your stones. You can also adjust the pressure to find the perfect flow to leave your stones sparkling.

Some extra paving tips for sparkling stones

While each of these methods is great for cleaning your whole patio, sometimes you have the occasional isolated spill you want to take care of, like knocking over the accidental glass of wine, grease stains from a summer’s worth of BBQs, or even residue from a pile of leaves that sat there for a few days too long. For piles of leaves, the soap and bristle brush should work just fine; for tougher stains like grease oil and wine, try sprinkling a generous amount of baking soda on top of the stain, leaving it for around 10 minutes and then giving the stain a good scrub with a bristle brush (nothing wire that could scratch your stones though!).

With these handy tips, you’ll get your garden looking pristine without having to worry about damaging your paving stones. If you have any questions about electric power washer hire, don’t hesitate to ask a member of our team here at Smiths Hire!

With more than 50 years of experience behind us, we pride ourselves on providing an unbeatable service to customers both here on our website and from our 17 tool hire depots in North West and Yorkshire, including in a variety of major cities such as Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds! If you need any help choosing the right tools for your garden jobs, feel free to ring our friendly team on 0333 323 2100; we’ll be happy to help in any way we can!