Patio pavers are an excellent way to bring a defined, pulled-together look to your outdoor living space as well as provide a safe surface for foot traffic, outdoor cooking, dining, entertaining, and relaxing. Pavers are available in a fantastic array of shapes, sizes, colors, and textures to complement any home and landscape design style. However, just like any surface that is routinely exposed to human and animal activity and exposed to the elements, pavers require a certain level of maintenance to look and perform their best.
Maintaining your pavers doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming, though. Here’s what you need to know about keeping your patio pavers clean:
Sweep Your Pavers Regularly
Sweeping your pavers regularly helps keep them free of dust, fallen leaves, and other types of debris with the potential to cause damage. Regularly sweeping your pavers also provides you with the opportunity to notice any small cracks or fissures so that they can be repaired while still in their fledgling stages.
Wash With a Mild Detergent and Rinse With Water
Although you might be tempted to take care of stubborn dirt and debris on your pavers by giving them a good power washing, it’s better to use a mixture of mild dish soap and warm water applied with a stiff deck brush before rinsing thoroughly with clean water. Try to do this early on a warm day so that the pavers have the chance to dry completely. Make sure to thoroughly sweep off any residual standing water to help guard against moss and algae growth, particularly in shaded areas.
You should also spot-treat stains as soon as you notice them using the same mild detergent, brushing it on, and leaving it for an hour or so before rinsing the area clear.
Remove Moss at Once
Any sign of moss should be removed immediately after you notice it. Not only does moss become slimy and slippery when wet, but it also puts down deep roots when it’s allowed to continue to grow on pavers. Once these roots become firmly established in the joint sand, their removal will be tough, lengthy, and potentially damaging to the pavers.
Replace Damaged Pavers Right Away
Not only are broken or chipped pavers unsightly, but they also pose a significant slip-and-fall hazard. You might also want to consider replacing pavers that have become so stained that no amount of treatment can restore their original look.
Keep on Top of Weeds
Weeds often appear between the pavers, so be sure to keep on top of them to keep them under control. If you pull them, be sure to remove the entire root system — otherwise, certain types of weeds will only grow back stronger. Additionally, you can pour a mixture of white vinegar and water between the pavers for a natural weed control approach that won’t stain your stones or harm your household pets and family members.