Clean the paving stones: The best methods
Contents
How to clean paving stones depends on the type of stone. Because whether concrete or natural stone, sealed or not, you proceed differently with each paving stone when cleaning - and often even household remedies are sufficient to get the stones clean again.
Beets have to be weeded, woods painted - and paving stones cleaned regularly.
After all, paths, driveways or terraces made of cobblestones have to endure a lot as everyday objects and are at the mercy of the weather.
Therefore, not only homemade stains, but also nature's damp weather, leaf fall, greenery or lichens cause continuous soiling.
The extent to which algae,
discoloration or weeds spread on and between paving stones depends on the location and type of stone: dirt is more noticeable on light and even stone surfaces than on dark or structured paving stones.
In sunny places green coverings have no chance, but in damp and windless locations they appear quite quickly. In all locations lichens, i.e. the combination of algae and certain fungi, can cause stubborn coverings.
In contrast to terrace slabs with jointing compound, paving stones always have joints, and there are a lot of them.
Substrate collects in them and weeds settle.
Clean the paving stones: The most important facts in brief
How and with what you can clean paving stones depends on the type of stone and the type of soiling.It is easy and comfortable to use a high-pressure cleaner, dirt in joints is best removed with a joint brush.Cleaning agents should always be biodegradable and should be tested on an inconspicuous place beforehand.Household remedy tip: Concrete blocks can be easily cleaned with a mixture of standard soda and hot water.
Remove loose dirt: The basic cleaning for paving stones
On paving stones with a porous surface, liquids can be quickly absorbed and cause permanent stains that are difficult to remove later.
If you have paved a seating area, you should wipe up spilt red wine, splashes of grease and other fresh stains as quickly as possible.
Sweeping is part of the regular maintenance of paving stones, but it is also the first step before using cleaning agents. As soon as water is used on the paving stones, soil, leaves and plant residues become a greasy mass that can easily clog the drain.
Loose dirt can be removed with a street broom or a classic witch's broom.
Leaves and fallen petals can also be removed with the leaf brooms familiar from the lawn - but with a plastic model that does not cause scratches.
On large paved areas, sweepers take a lot of work off your hands,
you don't have to bend down when cleaning and you can push the mostly battery-powered machines comfortably like a lawnmower.
Clean joints between paving stones
Against moss and weeds, use joint brushes such as the Multibrush (Gloria), weed scraper or weed burner.
Weed killers are forbidden on cobblestones and the use of them is punishable by heavy fines.
Remove coatings, discolorations and stains from paving stones
Sooner or later you will have to deal with green and other surfaces on the paving stones.
For cleaning, use a pressure washer - it washes the dirt away with water - or detergent.
Wash and wipe away stains with a brush or scrubbing brush.
A pressure washer is faster and more convenient, but it is not suitable for all paving stones.
Clean paving stones with the high pressure cleaner
High-pressure cleaners clean paving stones in a back-friendly and water-saving way.
Some machines also add biodegradable cleaning agents to the water to remove particularly stubborn dirt and deposits.
One disadvantage of high-pressure cleaners is that as soon as the water jet splashes into the joints,
it shoots out their contents and distributes them over the entire surface, on the house wall and windows.
Therefore, lead the water jet away from the house wall and do not set the pressure too high.
This is because high-pressure cleaners really get the water going and can damage the surfaces, especially concrete blocks, and thus promote new soiling.
However, hard natural stones such as quartzite, granite or basalt are not at risk.
To be on the safe side, check with the stone manufacturer before cleaning to see if the surface can be damaged.
Special care and sufficient distance are also required when using the so-called dirt milling machine.
Tip: By using a surface attachment for the high-pressure cleaner you avoid the problem from the outset.
Its rotating nozzles dissolve the dirt in a targeted, gentle manner and the environment remains clean thanks to the splash guard.
Cleaning agent for paving stones of concrete and natural stone
Where water, scrubbing brushes and neutral cleaners have to fit, cleaners are used which are available for almost all types of stone.
Depending on the type and manufacturer, these cleaners are applied to the paving stones, spread with a brush and "massaged in".
After a certain time of action and drying, they are then simply rinsed or swept away.
A prerequisite for use is, of course, that the paving stones have been swept clean.
Only use cleaning agents if it is not expected to rain within the application time.
Cleaning agents should be biodegradable, as they are washed into the garden and sewerage system by rainwater.
Also check with your local authority to see if cleaning products are permitted in your area.
Cleaning agents should be differentiated between natural stone and concrete and first test on an inconspicuous area to see if they do cause discolouration.
Depending on the ingredients, cleaners work differently: cleaners with solvents remove,
for example, colour stains and resin, alkalis, grease and other everyday stains, acidic agents, cement residue or even rust stains.
Acidic and surfactant-containing cleaners are unsuitable for natural stone such as marble, sandstone or granite and will still attack their surface.
Better are warm water with neutral soap, special natural stone cleaners or stone oil.
If you are unsure what type of paving stone you have, apply a little citric acid to the stone in an inconspicuous place.
This will produce a white foam, which indicates lime and acidic agents will be eliminated.
Only special cleaning agents can actually help against lichens,
because they are completely unimpressed by both high-pressure water jets and green plaque removers.
Household remedy: cleaning concrete blocks with soda
Soda (sodium carbonate) is a proven household remedy and is also suitable for cleaning acid-sensitive paving stones.
To do this, pour a good 100 grams of soda in ten litres of boiling or hot water from a large saucepan into a sturdy bucket and spread it over the surface with a broom or rubber squeegee.
Wear protective goggles, as soda splashes irritate the eyes.
Allow the broth to soak in for five to six hours and then wash it off with clean water.
How to clean sealed paving stones?
Paving stones can be impregnated or sealed similar to wood and then cleaned much easier than untreated stones.
They do not get dirty so quickly after treatment and impurities can be wiped off with water and a little neutral cleaner.
Only high-pressure cleaners are then ruled out for cleaning, as they can damage the seal.
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