There’s nothing worse than seeing your pavers stained by leaves. Most people don’t know that this can stain, and after removing leaves from pavers, they are terribly surprised. But, how to get leaf stains out of pavers?
Leaf stains occur when leaves from trees and plants fall onto your driveway, front entrance, or patio pavers and end up staining them. The good news is this leaf stains are organic and not permanent and can be prevented or minimized.
In today’s article, you’re about to know how to remove leaf stains from pavers and how to prevent future stains.
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How to get leaf stains out of pavers?
Before you begin the cleaning, remember to check the weather, because if it rains, you might need to clean the pavers all over again. Now that you know that removing leaf stains is not impossible, you’re gonna need some tools and materials that will make the task easier.
You’re gonna need:
- A garden rose
- A broom
- A cleaning solution to your type of paver
- Salt
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
All set? Let’s clean!
- Step 1: Water down the stained pavers with a garden rose and then brush any dirt or debris with a broom while the pavers are wet.
- Step 2: After brushing, test the cleaning solution made for your type of pavers in a small area to ensure it does not alter the color of your pavers.
- Step 3: If there is no problem with the cleaning solution, apply it while the pavers are still wet and work it in with the broom. Rinse the area clean.
- Step 4: Mix 2 tablespoons of salt with 1 cup of vinegar. The vinegar is acidic and can break up stains without damaging your pavers and the salt works as a mild abrasive. Then, pour this mixture of vinegar and salt over the stained areas of your pavers and scrub it again.
- Step 5: After scrubbing, sprinkle baking soda over your vinegar and salt mixture. It may bubble a little, but you can easily form a paste with it and let the paste remain on the stained areas for three minutes.
- Step 6: Scrub the baking soda into the stain with a broom.
- Step 7: Rinse the pavers down one final time, and then allow them to dry naturally for at least 24 hours.
How to prevent leaf stains?
There are three ways of preventing leaf stains in pavers. The first is don’t plant a few types of plants or trees close to your pavers. Some trees, like maples and drop samaras, stain much easier because they require very little moisture to dissolve.
If you already bought a house with those plants and trees, and it’s not possible to remove them, you can do two things to avoid leaf stains. First, it is recommended to sweep or blow the leaves off your paver surface regularly, especially during fall. The second thing you can do is seal your pavers for surface protection.
Usually, water-based sealers are highly recommended. They help prevent staining from leaves on your concrete surface and other types of stains too. And they also smooth the surface of pavers and make them much easier to clean.
If a homeowner wants an easier way to get rid of leaves shedding during the fall, then sealing might be the best choice.
Other benefits of sealing your pavers
Sealing your pavers is the very best way to protect the investment you made into your house. Since they are very exposed to the elements, protection, and regular maintenance is necessary to keep them looking beautiful for a long time.
Durability
Pavers are well known for their durability, but applying a sealer over the natural surface can greatly extend the life of the material by making it more durable.
Another main benefit of having a sealed area is the lack of growth of weeds and mold. Applying a sealer over the surface and the cracks of the pavers work to inhibit weed growth.
Appearance
Applying a sealer doesn’t just preserve the beauty of pavers, it can also enhance the look by providing a glossy finish. Sealers will not alter the color of the material, but they will help highlight the hue of the material and restore the color of old pavers.
Protection
Pavers are susceptible to elements to some degree, especially outdoor pavers. Over time, they can fade, grow mildew, or become stained by rust and dirt. Sealers can help to keep stains, color fading, grease, and grime away from your pavers.
It’s important to say that dirt and stains aren’t the only things that can affect the appearance of pavers over time. Without a sealer, moisture can enter the porous surface of pavers easily and if that water freezes in cold weather conditions, it can expand and crack the paver. Sealers also help with preventing the water from settling into the pavers and causing any kind of damage.
Get a free estimate!
Many blogs write about the sealing process as an easy task to do, but that it’s not the reality. You can leave the work of sealing your pavers in hands of professionals and if you are worried about the price, you can have a free estimate.
At JS Brick, we have 20+ years of experience providing paver installation, supply, and maintenance services in Sarasota and surrounding cities. For a free estimate on paver cleaning and sealing services, don’t hesitate to leave us a message or a call.
