Gransnet forums

Gardening

Cleaning the patio

(40 Posts)
loopyloo Thu 28-Feb-19 11:52:45

Advice needed! How should I clean the patio? Should I buy a machine or a nozzle for the hose? Am keen not to use too many chemicals. Be grateful for words of wisdom.

MawBroon Tue 05-Mar-19 10:12:04

<PS I hate “going forward” as a version of “in future” as you might have gathered.>

Squiffy Tue 05-Mar-19 10:34:42

Will power washing get rid of bird poo on brick paving? A lot of bird poo!! Since we lost our little cat I've been feeding the wild birds and the mess is indescribable!

FlexibleFriend Tue 05-Mar-19 10:50:23

certainly should do.

Squiffy Wed 06-Mar-19 10:57:39

Thanks Flex

andycameron69 Tue 12-Mar-19 15:03:55

power washer does a great job, no chemicals and just water, so no harm dome

jura2 Tue 12-Mar-19 19:44:35

hurrah any, we agree. I put a bit of white vinegar on bad stains first.

rosecarmel Tue 12-Mar-19 23:01:34

Silly question perhaps .. is moss bad? I think it's pretty .. smile

Grandma2213 Wed 13-Mar-19 00:20:31

My DS bought me a pressure washer for Christmas a couple of years ago. It was hard to look grateful! He is the only one that has used in (only once) which resulted in exactly why I hate them. All the moss and gunge was washed into the lawn which also flooded and took days to become less than a bog! The water all ran down into one corner and lay there for days. The windows were covered in streaks. Yes it looked clean for a while but soon got grubby again. Plus I had to dry the stupid damn machine out and put it away.

What do I do? Use the watering can or the hosepipe then use a yard brush. Great exercise and much less messy. sometimes I use a little bit of household bleach on tough spots and so far it does not have appeared to have affected any grass or plants.

petra Fri 15-Mar-19 14:01:25

rosecarmel
Your not alone. I love moss, beautiful plants.

Washerwoman Thu 21-Mar-19 08:56:33

Did mine yesterday with buckets of water with a tiny amount of bleach and a bit if ecological washing up liquid and scrubbed with a yard brush.Quick swill with the hosepipe.The landscaper who laid the patio advised us not to use a pressure washer as he said most people can't resist using too strong a pressure and in time it damages the mortar between.He may be wrong but I rather like the work out and satisfaction of physically scrubbing it.

Washerwoman Thu 21-Mar-19 09:00:08

Ps don't mind a bit of moss or greenery.Just to it x2 a year to make it safe and not slippy on our main patio as I cross it early morning each day to the bird feeder and have fallen more than once .On the other older paths I let the moss grow between the flags.

Buffybee Thu 21-Mar-19 09:10:45

Totally off subject but what a fabulous word *tired old woman*:
the moss and dirt all wheeched away.

Back on subject, I also use a pressure washer.

Cosmos Fri 22-Mar-19 21:07:40

I too had a Pressure washer as a present, which I eventually donated to charity, I couldn't lift the thing. I use a stiff garden broom, bio wash powder and bleach and work it in, I try to do it before heavy rain that cwashes it all off, if not I just use a watering can and slosh it on.

jeanie99 Mon 25-Mar-19 09:24:22

I use a power cleaner, it has a small pressure nozzle(which I rarely use) and a round brush which I use for the patio.
I have and Indian sand stone patio and the brush brings it up amazingly and it's just water no chemicals.
If you have black algae this is very difficult to clear but it can be done you just need patience.
The only thing we have found that does the job is Wet and Forget.
You spray on and leave, it may take more than one application but it does get rid it.
My patio now compared to 4 years ago looks as good as new after using the brush and the Wet and Forget.
www.wetandforget.co.uk/shop/wet-forget/wet-forget-5l/