There’s nothing better than a barbeque on a warm summer’s day. Relaxing with some chums, some beefburgers on the grill and a few drinks. However, you’ll need to make sure your patio is clean first.
Patios are difficult to clean because they’re made of brick or stone but placed outside, meaning they collect layer after layer of grime not just from being trodden on but from just exposure. This means that a relatively aggressive chemical is required to clean them properly.Â
Fortunately, such chemicals have been made, like Sika’s Brick and Patio Cleaner and Bostik’s Cementone Brick and Patio Cleaner. These can scour your patio and get it looking as good as new. However, since these tend to use acid as an important chemical they need to be used carefully.Â
You will need:
- Brick and Patio Cleaner
- Disposable Brushes
- Plastic bags/plastic film made of polyethylene
- Safety Gloves, safety goggles, safety mask and full body protection
- Metal bucket of water
- Hard bristled brush
How to Apply Patio Cleaner
The amount of cleaner you’ll need varies by brand. Some cleaners will also need to be diluted, especially if you are using them on a sensitive surface. Before going into a full clean, use a tiny amount of cleaner on a tiny spot of the patio that is normally out of sight. This can help test to see if the cleaner is destroying just the dirt or if it’s attacking the patio itself. Sometimes pigmented concrete or similar materials will be discoloured by cleaner, and sometimes the material itself will be eroded.
If it passes the test, however, you can begin to use the cleaner. Prepare your windows near the patio by covering them in polyethylene film or bags. The fumes from the acid may damage unprotected glass. If there is a risk of the cleaner touching anything made of metal, cover that in polyethylene as well. Of course, make sure that children and pets cannot get anywhere near the patio during this process.
Making sure all your safety gear is on, use the hard bristled brush to apply the cleaner over the patio area. Make sure not to let any of it touch any plants. After doing this, wait 20 minutes. Now you should gently scrub the area with a hard bristled brush, after which you should wash your patio. Make sure not to use a power washer if possible, and to make sure that the liquid is not washed into any drains, ponds etc. Now you can rinse your metal bucket and any other tools, taking the same precautions.
