10 Mar Tips on Cleaning Brick Pavers | Remove Mildew and Stains
Do we really have spring cleaning here in Florida? Or is it all year around? While getting your home’s interior in shape is a good place to start, don’t forget to give the same care to your outdoor areas. An important part of the yearly ritual is cleaning brick pavers. Brick pavers are exposed to the elements around the clock, patios and other types of paver flooring are especially susceptible to health hazards like mold, mildew and pollen. For a healthy and beautiful home, we’ve created a simple guide for cleaning brick pavers any time of the year.
1. Brush It Out
Any kind of patio pavers that needs to be fitted together will trap additional dirt in the small gaps between each piece. Bricks can also collect microscopic dust and dirt inside their small, porous crevices. Cleaning patio bricks with a sturdy brush or broom is an easy way to dislodge all of that gunk to make washing more effective. If you spot any weeds as you go, remove them down to the roots to prevent long-term damages like cracking one of the brick pavers
2. Wash Away the Grime
Thorough sweeping helps bring dirt to the surface level, but if you want it gone, there’s nothing better than a good old-fashioned rinse. Cleaning patio pavers with a garden hose is the easiest and fastest way to get it done. There’s no need for fancy cleaners. Mild soap and warm water work just as well.
3. Take Care of Stains
With the dirt now gone, stains will become more visible. There’s technically no harm in leaving them, but they can affect aesthetics and occasionally spread with time. While exact treatment will depend on what kind of stain you’re dealing with, simple, budget-friendly solutions like baking soda or store-bought cleaning fluid can do wonders for lifting light discoloration. If you do happen to use bleach, make sure it’s one part bleach and three parts water. Also, be careful about getting the bleach on the grassy areas or plants.
4. Eliminate Mold and Mildew
When cleaning brick pavers, pay special attention to any mold you might have on or in between your patio pavers. Mold is linked to serious health concerns, among them respiratory problems and allergies. Living in a humid climate makes preventing new growth altogether practically impossible. Regular patio paver maintenance is going to be your best bet for keeping it under control. A mixture of one part bleach with three parts water is the most common cleaning agent used to remove mold from pavers. But, be care, bleach can sometimes stain brick pavers. Be sure to test it out with a dab on a small corner piece before applying it to larger areas.
5. Do Damage Control
Whether cleaning concrete or brick patio pavers, no maintenance is complete without a quality checkup. Under the triple threat of wear, time and weather, even the most durable patio pavers will eventually show their age. Help keep pavers in place by using sand filler. For quick and easy refills, keep a bag of sand on hand. If you see structural problems like cracks, chips and deep stains, a partial replacement might be needed to get your pavers back in top condition.
Keep in mind that most structural issues get worse over time. If your pavers do need an update, scheduling a professional inspection now can save you money and time down the road.
American Outdoor Living has been helping homeowners build beautiful backyard patios for decades. We know how much you love being outdoors. We hope you have enjoyed these tips on cleaning brick pavers and they are helpful to restore your pavers to their original natural beauty. If you find yourself wanting to expand your outdoor living area, please contact us at 407-847-9322.