Cleaning paths, patio's etc

I've got a pressure washer and about once a year need to clean all exposed stones. The front of the house comes up lovely but the rear patio and garden path remain grey - I think because the previous owner did not clean them for many years or at all.

I've just started cleaning the edging strips of the borders which come up from council grey to white!

But any ideas what else I can do for the patio and path? The pressure washer cannot shift the grime.

Does anyone else have this problem of stonework getting dirty or is it just because I live near an incinerator?

 

Hi Men8ifr couldn't you use some kind of chemical in your pressure washer to aid you in your task? Sorry we don't have a pressure washer so I'm not quite sure how they work.:o

I'm sure living close to an incinerator isn't helpful to your paths but you should be able to do something about them to make them look better, I'm sure regular maintenance (once they are clean) will keep your paths looking great.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help to you although I'm sure that someone in the know will pop along to sort you out soon enough!:D Hel.xxx.

 

I wonder if a steam cleaner would fair better? Then I expect you'd be able to keep them clean with an ordinary pressure washer.

 

Himself has just recently cleaned the patio and the paths in the back garden and the front garden. All came up pretty clean.

Word of warning....Himself did my Mum's patio and as always got his legs covered with the stuff that was coming off the patio as he jet-washed it. He came out in a very very itchy rash that took over 5 days to go down and a whole tube of antihistamie and a few Piriton tablets.

something unsavoury on that patio.:eek:

 

Spray on brick acid using a sprayer, but be very carefull to avoid any plants, wear a face mask with it. Allow it to dwell for 15 mins then pressurewash it. You can buy brick acid from the builders merchant.

 

I soak my Patio in Jeyes Fluid for 20 mins,then jet wash it. I do this once a year and my patio looks brand new.

 

I've never thought of pressure washing the paths :o

I brush them down with a bleach mixture if they are getting mossy and slippery but otherwise they all look very well weathered :rolleyes: