Pavers are durable enough to withstand the onslaught of years of wear and tear. They are the ideal way to create pathways throughout your yard without creating unsightly cracks or tracking mud or debris into your driveway. However, if you want to take your home’s exterior and indoor living space to the next level of attractiveness, you will want to invest in quality cleaning products. Using dirt-repellent cleaning products on your pavers will help to keep them clean and bright so that they will continue to look like new for many years to come.
Pavers are made out of a composite of cement and sand, which makes them extremely sturdy. A high-grade concrete pavers sealant is your best method to protect your pavers against stains, discoloration, hard water damage, and normal wear and tear caused by weather, spills, and general abuse and misuse. Pavers should be sealed to concrete within a day after installation, enough time for the sand to settle at its new location. After it has been allowed to settle, you can apply a thin layer of waterproof paint, which will protect your pavers even more. Pavers should be resealed from time to time, especially if they are exposed to intense weather, debris, or chemicals that can stain the materials.
Pavers are vulnerable to the most common stains – salts, minerals, salt residue, acid stain, corrosion, and sunlight. If you regularly spill acidic liquids onto your pavers or accidentally drop heavy items on them, you can remove them using a muriatic acid pre-sealer cleaner. Certain types of salts are more challenging to remove and cause unpleasant staining and discoloring. However, regular cleanings with muriatic acid products can help to improve the color and condition of your pavers.
Scrubbing is one of the most frequent ways to clean pavers. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most damaging since you introduce abrasive material to the concrete, damaging it over time. When cleaning concrete pavers, use rubber scrubbing pads or brushes to avoid using steel wool or other harsh cleaning tools. Scrubbing can also wear thin layers of paint off the pavers, which will need to be replaced sooner than if you had not cleaned it in the first place.
The main problem with detergent-powered cleaners is that they tend to leave residues behind after cleaning. Detergent residue is not only irritating, but it can also do a lot of damage to your pavers. You can avoid this by using a power washer to wipe your pavers clean thoroughly. A regular power washer is more effective than a detergent-powered cleaner. Detergent residue can damage your pavers over time, so it is essential to avoid using them when possible.
Pavers made from cement are porous and can absorb liquid from spills. In addition, pavers made from timber often contain a pitch substance, which acts as an agent for absorbing spills. To clean such pavers, you should follow the same procedure as those made from cement:
- Mix a solution of warm water with a tablespoon of dish detergent or any other dish detergent preferred.
- Spray the solution onto the surface of the pavers and wipe it with a rag.
- Dry the pavers thoroughly with a clean rag before applying heat to them.
There are pavers available in the market specially designed to deal with oil stains or grease stains. Some cleaners contain solutions that prevent oil or grease stains from setting on the surface of the pavers. Some products remove grease stains and allow you to sweep them away. The duration of such a process depends on the kind of product that you use.
It is essential to make sure that your pavers are thoroughly cleaned after every cleaning session. Use a stiff-bristled broom to scrub the pavers, keeping in mind to scrub lightly and without forcing the broom against the surface of the pavers. This will loosen any dirt that might have been set deep into the pores of the pavers. A stiff-bristled scrub brush is also handy for removing grease. Pavers are porous, so you need to be careful not to scrub too vigorously. If you have a lot of grease on your clothes, use a small brush to skim off the residue.