How To Clean Pavers With Bleach

Paver patios make a big difference wherever you install them. In addition to being an excellent home investment, they are incredibly durable and beautiful. However, just like any other type of surface, they will always be subject to some kind of dirt or stains. When that happens, can you clean pavers with bleach?

One of the most common ways people clean pavers is with the use of bleach. But have you ever asked yourself what the correct way to do this cleaning is? Fortunately, if you are here, you will find all the answers to your questions and more, you will learn how to clean pavers with bleach, how to do it correctly, and most importantly, we will give you valuable tips to make the job easier.

How To Clean Pavers With Bleach Step-by-Step

We will start by explaining the step by step to clean pavers with bleach:

1. Prepare the solution diluting ½ cup bleach in 1 qt. warm water.
2. Add 1 tsp liquid dish soap. This will help enhance the bleach’s ability to remove tough stains from the pavers and will help rinse away dirt.
3. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray the pavers with the solution until you thoroughly soak them.
4. Let the pavers sit in the solution for at least 20 minutes; this will give the solution time to sink into the pores of the pavers so that you won’t need to scrub as vigorously.
5. Scrub each paver with a stiff nylon-bristled brush. Do not use metal bristled as these will scratch the surface of most types of pavers.
6. Rinse the bleach solution and the dirt off with water from your hose and allow pavers to dry completely.

Can I Use Bleach To Clean Any Paving Blocks?

The use of bleach is hugely beneficial for cleaning pavers. The substance not only helps to remove more superficial stains, but also removes moss, algae, and even weeds. One of the most positive aspects of using bleach for cleaning pavers is that it does not require the use of power washing afterwards. Best of all, you can easily find the substance in most homes. Even if you don’t have bleach at home, you can still obtain and buy it at any convenience store.

However, it is essential to state that the use of bleach is not suitable for all types of pavers. To make things easier for you, we decided to list below what are the situations in which we do not indicate the use of the cleaning substance:

• For human-made colored concrete paving slabs or concrete pavers, we don’t recommend the use of bleach for cleaning. That’s because the substance could fade your paver colors if regularly cleaned with bleach over a long period. However, if you don’t mind this, then there will be no problems.
• We don’t recommend you use bleach near areas where there are plants and greenery. The substance is potentially toxic to them and can kill them. Make sure that there are no plants close to the area where you will clean, nor that the water can run off to places close to them. If it’s not possible to avoid this, water the plants well before and after cleaning the pavers with bleach.

Does Bleach Remove Black Spots On Patio?

Often you may notice black spots appearing on your paver patios. These spots tend to show up more often, especially if you have not properly sealed the pavers, or if the sealer has worn off. You will immediately notice that these stains are particularly more resistant than the others. But what exactly are they, and how do you get rid of them?

These black spots are, for the most part, black lichen. Black lichen originates from tiny dust-like spores growing on the underside of leaves on trees and plants. These spores are carried by water and wind, for example, and deposit itself on the surface of pavers. The black lichen will feed on the minerals present in the paving stones, and within 2 or 3 years, the first black spots will start to become visible.

As mentioned before, proper and regular sealing helps minimize the appearance of these black spots. But if you eventually forget to follow the paver’s maintenance guidelines and experience this problem, you can use the bleach and water solution to remove the stains. The liquid proves to be quite useful for removing black lichen, but always remember to use it sparingly. We will see more about that in the next section.

Will Bleach Damage Pavers?

As it is a chemical substance, it’s imperative always to adopt safety measures when applying bleach to pavers. To be more precise, care should start as soon as it is time to dissolve the product in water. We often recommend having a water-to-bleach ratio of 10: 1. Another recommendation is always to avoid thick or clinging bleaches.

What Is The Best Way To Clean Pavers?

There are several ways, substances, and tools you can use to clean pavers. Whether using a pressure wash, bleach, soap, vinegar, broom, they all always present a certain degree of risk. It’s also worth mentioning that not everyone has the time or equipment necessary to invest in cleaning pavers. In many cases, the lack of experience in the process can cause damage not only to the pavers but also to nearby plants.

In situations like this, it is essential to keep some considerations in mind. The first is that, as we mentioned earlier, proper sealing and correct reapplication will protect your pavers from many of the problems covered in this article. But if deep cleaning is necessary, always prefer to hire companies and qualified professionals to do the job.

JSBrick has 20+ years of experience providing paver installation, sealing, and cleaning services in Sarasota and surrounding cities. For a free estimate on your paving project, don’t hesitate to leave us a message or call us at your earliest convenience.

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