Five ways to keep your patio clean and clear

Aside from the usual day to day maintenance, you may occasionally need to get rid of tricky patio stains or deal with weeds to keep your paving looking beautiful for years to come. Here are some of the most pesky patio problems and what you can do about them.

Patio weeds

A recently-laid patio shouldn’t have a problem with weeds coming through the cracks. Just to make sure you stop weeds growing in your patio, we recommend using kiln dried sand for block paving and where joints are needed, 3 parts building sand to 1 part cement. Or you can try Sika Setting Sand which hardens and acts as a weed suppressant or a brush in mortar such as EasyJoint.

Drink stains

Patios are there to be enjoyed and the occasional drink spillage is inevitable. If this does happen, act quickly to remove the stain as soon as possible. Scrub thoroughly with hot soapy water and a stiff brush and rise with clean water. Sealing natural stone can be a great way of protecting it against unexpected spills over time. Kebur offers a pre-seal service as well as sealers you can apply yourself.

Oil

The chances are, you’ll be wanting to enjoy eating al fresco on your new patio. If you should spill oil and grease, remove them as soon as possible to increase chances of success. Soak up with cloth, paper or an absorbent powder like talcum powder or cornflour. Scrub with strong detergent repeatedly and wash with plenty of water. Stubborn stains can be removed with Easy Grease and Oil Away.

Leaf stains

One of the most common problems with a new patio, these are best avoided by regular sweeping. If they do occur, try a general patio shampoo and stiff brush, or, for stubborn stains we find Hannafin Oxy-Klenza is a good non-acid based cleaner so suitable for a range of stone. Always test a small area first.

Paint

If you’re unlucky enough to spill paint, always try to absorb as much as possible straight away without wiping or using paint thinners which will spread the product wider and deeper. Then use hot water and detergent to remove the residue. For old paint stains, scrape off as much as possible before applying a suitable paint remover, following the manufacturers’ instructions.

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