Cleaning patio

[Proudmummy67]

Any advice or good methods you know to clean a patio without using a jet washer?

We've recently moved into our house and it is an older patio we are trying to spruce up for this year.

I ordered Wet and Forget yesterday (and annoyed that it has just dropped in price!), to try on mine. It doesn’t work overnight, apparently, and takes time to work, but I didn’t want my patio jet washed (too old to do it myself), so am giving this a try. It’s a biocide, and claims to kill algae, moss and mould, so I shall see!

Just scrub it with a broom and any detergent.

Elbow grease, a scrubbing brush and a bowl of bubbly water.

Virtually free, as well.

I’ve just finished scrubbing mine with hot water and washing powder , using an outdoor broom. I’ve brushed sand in between the flags too. Looks almost new.

I've just done mine today. Jeyes fluid and a basin of water with a stiff brush.
It's a bit of a slog scrubbing it all but it's made a massive difference.
I just sloshed a few basins of clean water over it once I'd finished and brushed the water off

Agree with this. Use a proper outdoor broom with stiff bristles.

(Though I do love the jet washer)

You just need dish soap in hot water and a brush. Don't use Jeyes fluid, it is horribly toxic and completely ott.

Can I ask why not a jet washer. You can get them from b&q for 50 quid, will last years and save years if back ache and scrubbing.,.

Because a broom and a bucket will do the job and save you £50.

You could argue the same for any appliance. Save £400. Why use a washing machine when you can wash clothes by hand?

Well yes you could. In this instance we were discussing pressure washers instead of scrubbing. The reason I would guess is that you prefer not to spend £50. What’s your guess?

Wet and Forget works a charm.

But I borrowed a Jet Washer last weekend and I don't think many things have worked so well or been as satisfying ! 😄👌🏼

Why so arsey and demanding people guess. It’s a fair question to the op. You can stand down.😂

See if you can borrow a jet washer from a friend or neighbour? We were lucky enough to do this last weekend and it was amazing how much muck came off.

The wet & forget sounds useful. But this was one of its FAQs:

'Will it affect my pets?Although Wet & Forget doesn’t contain bleach or ammonia we recommend keeping your animals off the treated surface until it is dry, to ensure they don’t ingest any of the product. If they accidentally walk or sit in the product wash their feet and bottoms with fresh water as a precaution.'

Never in a million years would my cat allow me to wash his feet or bottom. And as for the badgers...

You have to apply it on a dry day. And it dries quickly.

So if you do it the morning ( especially in ☀️)
with the cat inside, it'll be dry within the hour.

Badgers won't get near it.

@ifIwerenotanandroid

I make a hot weak bleachy mix in a watering can that I keep for this purpose and just sprinkle it over all the patio. I don't scrub, brush or wash it down, I just let it dry. It does the job over a period of a couple of days.
I've done this for years and it always work, just make sure the mix is not too strong. Oddly enough, there appears to be no damage to the edges of the lawn either.

Algon or Patio Magic. Wilkos did a brilliant one do much cheaper but no longer exists unfortunately

Please never use bleach or Jeyes fluid. Small amount of washing up liquid is much better for the evironment or Oxygen bleach (sodium percarbonate) which is environmentally friendly and very effective on both paving & decking. Give it a dry brush first to give creatures a chance to escape.

Thanks for all the suggestions! Will try this at the weekend if we have some nice weather 🤞🏼

We don't have an outside tap so that's why we can't use a jet washer! So the old fashioned way with a bit of elbow grease ha.

You can get jet washers with a reservoir, that you don't have to connect to a hose.

To clean your patio without a jet washer, start by sweeping the area to remove loose dirt and debris. Mix a solution of warm water and mild dish soap or white vinegar, then scrub the surface with a stiff-bristled brush. For tougher stains, sprinkle baking soda on the spots and scrub again. Rinse the patio with clean water using a garden hose or buckets of water, and allow it to dry naturally. This method is gentle on older patios and effective for regular maintenance.

I found enlisting a teenager to help works best : one of us hoses down, with the hose gun on a ‘jet’ setting, while the other mops. Works a treat, even using a basic mop like flash speedmop. Both of us end up very wet, but the patio is clean.

Also, if you have a good set of waterproofs, if you're home when it's tossing it down you don't have to keep moving a bucket - just put washing up liquid on the broom and go for it. So long as it's just mucky concrete not slippery wood boards. My preferred method! But then I prefer to wash the car in the pouring rain too... entertains the neighbours!