Patio Brick Cleaner – Easy Guide To Patio Brick Maintenance

If you want to make your patio look new again, use the right brick patio cleaners on your patio surface. Brick pavers are tough materials that withstand extreme weather conditions, pressure, or traffic. They are perfect for any construction needs and meet the aesthetic requirements of both traditional and modern homeowners. However, bricks can easily get dirty and will require cleaning. 

Brick patios are so rigid, and they are not easily stained. Although oil spills, paints, tar, chewing gum, and tire tracks can destroy the surface of your brick driveway. But patio brick cleaners would maintain the aesthetic appeal. These products are specific to different types of stains. They can either be chemical compounds or 100% natural products. However, immediately your patio gets stained, react quickly because the longer you leave the stain, the more stubborn it becomes.

Once your brick patio has been installed, it doesn’t need much work. With the right patio brick cleaners, you can keep your patio in good shape and easily maintain it. In this article, we explore the different patio brick cleaners, the tools you need, and how to get started.

Patio Brick

Brick pavers are the number one choice for many homeowners. They are flat stones designed in various colors, shapes, and sizes and are perfect for paving driveways, walkways, and patios. For hundreds of years, installing brick paving has outweighed the benefits of other paving materials. Here’s why you should consider a brick patio for your next hardscape project:

Bricks are cost-effective

Bricks are inexpensive, and maintenance doesn’t cost as much as installation. When you compare the cost of installing and maintaining your brick patio to other paving materials, you will save more with bricks. 

Durability 

Brick pavers are durable and last longer than other paving materials. This is because they possess great resistance to cracking and breaking. They can even last for generations if basic routine maintenance is in check. 

They are Versatile

Brick pavers come in many appealing styles. It gives you that unique flexibility to go with  outdoor designs that fit your spec. In fact, among other popular paving options, brick paving can hold color longer and create that personalized WOW feeling. This can boost the value of your property and give you a relaxing outdoor atmosphere.

Eco-friendly 

Brick pavers are made from green products, like clay or concrete. They are a hundred percent sustainable in our world, where stormwater runoff is a big deal. And are proven to reduce water runoff by almost 100%. They pose almost no harm to our environment. Your kids, pets, and vegetation can stay unharmed around your patio bricks. 

7 Must-Have Tools for Starting the Brick Patio Cleaner

If you have installed brick pavers on your patio surface, they must be cleaned and maintained through sweeping, scrubbing, and mobbing. You can also pressure wash once or twice a year. If the pavers get loose or have broken parts, ensure you replace or fix the damaged area before pressure washing. You can decide to seal your brick patio pavers after pressure washing. Sealing helps maintain the brick for a long period, prevents the floor from stains or extreme weather conditions, and, best of all, sealing your patio bricks adds to its appeal. Now that you know cleaning and routine maintenance are mandatory to preserve the integrity of your patio bricks, let’s look at some of the must-have tools to keep your patio bricks in good shape. 

1. Resistant gloves

They are made to protect you from harsh cleaning solutions or substances. It helps you stay safe while you go about your cleaning job.

2. Manual or Automatic Brush

A manual or automatic brush always makes the work easier. It helps sweep the dirt or debris off your patio surface.

3. Garden hose

With a garden hose, you don’t have to stress yourself from having to fetch clean water or carry heavy buckets around. Connect your garden hose to your water source, water will flow easily, and you can quickly rinse off the dirt and cleaning solution.

4. Bucket with water or spray bottle

Once you have decided which cleaning solution is best for your brick patio, you will need a bucket or spray bottle to mix your warm water and patio cleaner.

5. Patio Brick Cleaner

You will need a mild cleaning solution safe for your brick paver. Some recommended home cleaning solutions include; vinegar, baking soda, bleach, and dishwasher can leave your brick patio spotless.

6. Pressure Washer

Pressure washing the brick patio isn’t mandatory. If you don’t have the resources to rent or buy a pressure washer, you can take it off the list. Pressure washing helps remove tough stains and debris from the surface of your patio. However, to avoid damaging your patio surface, you’ll have to stay within the healthy and safe PSI for your patio brick. Power washing with high pressure can damage or weaken your brick patio.

7. Paver Sealant

Paver sealant provides a resistant coat over your paver. They make it look brighter and help protect the surface for a long time. You can purchase some of the best brick patio sealants from Home Depot. 

The 6 Steps Guide to Cleaning Brick Patios

Brick pavers are perfect for many construction works.  They are tough and can go weeks without a good wash. However, brick pavers can get soiled from spilling, muddy shoes, dust, leaves, or even standing water and will require a thorough cleaning. Below are six steps that will help you clean your brick patio efficiently. 

1. Remove all surface dirt

Move furniture from your patio and sweep the dirt off the surface of your patio using your automatic or your stiff bristle brush. Remove debris, leaves, and any item that needs to be trashed away.

2. Check the water

It’s always important to check the pressure of the water before you start cleaning your patio pavers. Cleaning with too much pressure can damage your brick pavers. Also, ensure you are cleaning your brick patio with warm water; this will help you easily clean off dirt and tough stains.

3. Prepare a good quality dish soap

Identify a cleaning solution that’s good for your brick patio. Mix your desired cleaning solution and warm water in a bucket to prepare a good-quality dish soap. Once your dish soap is ready, you can scrub or mop your patio surface. Scrub every dirt and use bleach or baking soda on stained areas.

4. Wet the floor with water and start scrubbing

Now that you’ve got your cleaner ready, wet the floor and allow the warm water mixed with cleaning solution to sit for ten minutes before you scrub. Scrub carefully around every area and try not to miss the edges of your patio.

5. Remove the soap with high-pressure water.

The next step after scrubbing or mopping your prick paver is to remove the soap with high-pressure water. Connect your garden hose and rinse off the soap with high-pressure water. 

6. Repeat the process

Repeat the process until you have completely rinsed off every soapy part. Ensure your patio is clean and you are happy with the result. Allow your brick patio to dry off before you return your furniture back.

Can I use Muriatic Acid to Clean my Brick Patio?

Using muriatic acid to clean the brick patio can ruin the brick and destroy the surface. Muriatic acid is a strong cleaning solution that can be corrosive to brick pavers, concrete pavers, or even stone slaps. They weaken the surface and discolor your pavers. Cleaning your patio brick with muriatic acids can also be of harm to you if you are not well-kitted. Muriatic acid can damage your vegetation or harm your pets. Instead of cleaning with muriatic acid, you can clean your brick patio pavers with dishwashers, baking sodas, and vinegar for hard stains.

How to Maintain Your Patio Brick: 4 Extra Tips

Maintaining your brick patio paver doesn’t require much time. Once you have the right tool, you will be done in a short time. Here’s a simple guide to get started:

1. Clean your patio brick every two weeks.

Some homeowners wait longer than two weeks to clean their brick patios, but it’s advisable to clear debris, dirt, and leaves from the surface regularly. You can then clean with warm water and any good patio brick cleaner every two weeks.

2. Clear the grass around the bricks.

Bricks prevent grasses and weeds from spreading through your patio, but sometimes grasses can find their way around your bricks. Ensure you remove the weeds and clear the grasses off your property. 

3. Take action as soon as you see a stain.

Don’t wait for stains to build up before cleaning. Use baking soda or bleach on tough stains and scrub carefully until the stain is completely off. 

4. Call a professional to fix the problem

Sometimes, your brick patio can develop more damage than you can handle. Immediately this happens, you should contact a professional to fix the problem before it gets worse. They can also help you take care of your brick patio routine maintenance. 

Conclusion

Cleaning your brick patio requires good tools and patio brick cleaners that won’t cause any damage. If you are unsure about the right cleaning solution to choose from, always go for the mildest ones. Your brick patio will remain intact and brighter with routine maintenance.