Home is the ultimate sanctuary for everyone. People try to make it beautiful with striking accents like walkways, driveways, and patios. While having a stone paver patio can make your house look ethereal, it is necessary to clean them regularly and properly. Appropriate maintenance is required to keep these pavers timeless since they are exposed to the elements continuously.
Steps to clean your stone paver
Stone pavers are a great addition to your home. They are easy to install, highly durable, and require little maintenance. By following some simple cleaning tips, you can keep your stone pavers beautiful and shining.
Choosing the right time
Cleaning your stone pavers is an easy task when done at the right time. The optimal temperature for cleaning your stone pavers is between 4 and 32 degrees Celsius. The sealer and the cleaner will not work properly if the temperature is any hotter or colder. Rain is also an important factor to consider before starting your cleaning. Cleaning is not recommended before, after, and during rain. It is better to decide on a cleaning date that falls on a dry or moderate weather day.
Prepare your cleaning materials
It is advisable to prepare your cleaning materials well before your day of cleaning to avoid unnecessary issues. You should also be careful while choosing the cleaning materials and avoid chemical cleaners that can cause damage. If you have any doubts about which material to use, you can contact the manufacturer or the installer to get their opinion. The most common cleaning materials used are brooms, a hard floor brush, a soft floor brush, a wire brush, dishwashing liquid soap, a hose pipe, and water.
Remove items or furniture from the surface
You may have placed numerous items on your pavers, like plants, furniture, and other potted ornaments. Before you start cleaning, remember to move these items to a different location to facilitate free and easy movement while cleaning. If you do not remove these items, there is also a possibility of dirt accumulating beneath them due to a lack of proper cleaning.
Remove the rubbish
Even with proper cleaning, weeds will sprout on your stone paver surface. Therefore, it is necessary to remove these weeds before you start the cleaning process. You have to be extremely cautious while doing this. Some weeds may easily come out when you pull them. But some weeds may have deep roots in the soil. When you pull out these weeds, you will most likely pull out some foundation sand too. If this happens, you should replace this sand as soon as possible.
You can regularly brush your stone pavers with a good outdoor brush to avoid weeds from growing too much. You can make use of a weed killer if needed. Make a note of the weed type that is growing on your paver and buy a weed killer suited for those weeds. Also, remember to use a weed killer designed for stone pavers to avoid causing damage to them.
Sweep the payment
Sweeping will help to remove a lot of sand, dust, debris, and leaves. Use a good quality outdoor broom to sweep the dirt away. You can also use a leaf blower if a huge area needs to be swept.
Saturate your paver surface
You can use a hose pipe to spray water onto your paver surface before cleaning it with a cleaning agent. The water will clean dirt and debris that was not removed while sweeping.
Clean using a mild cleaning agent
The best cleaning agent for your stone paver is the dishwashing liquid in the kitchen. While using it, make sure that the detergent is suitable to be used on the stone paver. If not, try to invest in a cleaning agent specifically designed for stone pavers. Take a bucket and mix the detergent with the water.
You can pour the soapy solution onto the paver surface and scrub the dirt away. After scrubbing, wash the surface with clean water. Repeat this process until all the filth is cleaned off.
Many people prefer a hose to wash off the dirt. If you are using a hose, make sure you have optimal water pressure. Otherwise, the paver joints may get loosened or removed. You should remember to completely wash away the soap residue to avoid soapy surfaces during the rainy season. Contact your local Perth Limestone Paver installer to find out how we can help you keep your tiles clean!
Seal the surface
Once the cleaning is all done, the next step is to seal the surface. Sealing the pavers will give them a lovely shine. The sealant will also protect your pavers from unintentional stains and spills and extend their life.
What not to do while cleaning stones
There are some important things that should be kept in mind while cleaning stones to avoid damage. Some of them are:
- Don’t use vacuum cleaners that are worn out. The metal or plastic attachments or the wheels may scratch the stone’s surface.
- Don’t use vinegar, lemon juice, or other cleaners containing acids on marble, limestone, travertine, or onyx surfaces.
- Don’t use abrasive cleaners like dry cleaners or soft cleaners.
- Don’t use cleaners that contain acids like bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners, or tub and tile cleaners.
- Don’t mix two different cleaning solutions unless there is a specific instruction to do so.
Cleaning your stone pavers is not a difficult task if you clean them regularly and correctly. By using the right cleaning products, you can maintain their shine and keep them looking like new for several years.