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How to clean block paved driveways & patios

The following article will help you to learn how to clean block paved driveways, patios or parking areas.

There are useful tips to help you remove general organic growth, such as algae, lichen or moss. Including additional information relating to the clean-up of recently installed pavers.

For further information about specific products & prices click on the product title highlighted in blue.

To view all products & articles for cleaning & sealing block pavers please see the link located at the foot of the page.

Removing organic contaminations from your block pavers

Floorseal Block Paving Intensive Cleaner is perfect for the removal of organic contaminations. This includes black spot, white spot, algae, slime, leaf staining & moss.

This product can be applied with a sprayer or watering can, agitating gently with a stiff brush.

Apply diluted at a ratio of 1:1 with clean water. One part product one part water. This cleaner can be applied to any type of block paver – clay-based or concrete-based pavers.

Wet the pavers with water from a hose pipe or watering can first. Then liberally apply the cleaning fluid to the surface. For light contaminations a dwell time of 15 minutes will suffice – keep the surface wet with product for the full 15 minutes. This can be done by adding more product.

For severe contaminations apply more product to the surface over the course of an hour. You can extend this dwell time for as long as is required. Lightly agitating the fluid on the surface with a stiff brush can be beneficial.

Removing cement & mortar residues from block paving

For clay-based block pavers, apply Floorseal Cement & Grout Haze Remover to remove cement, mortar & concrete staining.

This product is effective on general cement, mortar & concrete hazes. It should be diluted with clean water from 1:5 up to being applied undiluted. Test before use.

Apply via sprayer, watering can or by brush. Rinse off after a short dwell time of only a few minutes.

Do not apply Cement & Grout Haze Remover to concrete-based pavers. Always check which kind of block pavers you have. Cement stain removers (of any brand/type) should not be applied to concrete-based block pavers.

Removing efflorescence from block pavers

General salting can be removed from clay-based block pavers via the application of Floorseal Efflorescence Remover. This product will remove efflorescence salting & leachate staining from the joint.

Use undiluted or up to a dilution rate of 1:3 with clean water. Test before use.

Apply via sprayer or watering can, rinse off after a few minutes. The reaction with efflorescence salting is normally instant. You will see the salting or leachate staining bloom.

Please note the important tips below when dealing with potential efflorescence salting:

• Do not mistake trapped moisture from sealers for efflorescence salting! If you have recently sealed your block pavers and they have become cloudy contact us for advice. Trapped moisture can look similar to salting but is not reactive to cleaning agents.
• Do not apply Efflorescence Remover to concrete-based pavers. Always check which kind of block pavers you have.
• Salting which has calcified (fully hardened & solidified) may not be possible to remove via a cleaning fluid i.e. salting that has chemically hardened with age.

Cleaning block pavers with sanded joints & joints filled with brush-in compounds

There is no change to the above guidance when cleaning pavers which have had the joints filled with sand, versus those filled with brush in compounds.

Sanded joints may require periodic re-sanding which is an opportune time to also spray the open joint (before sanding) with Floorseal Green Remover Concentrate. This inhibits organic growth sprouting from the base of the joint. It can also be used as a general ongoing preventative measure when sprayed over the face of the blocks.

Floorseal Block Paving Intensive Cleaner & Floorseal Green Remover Concentrate can be applied to pavers with either sanded joints or joints with have been filled with brush-in compounds.

Using Floorseal Green Remover Concentrate as a cleaning fluid & preventative measure

Floorseal Green Remover Concentrate can be used as a general quick spray & leave cleaning agent. Spray over slight contaminations of moss or algae and watch it disappear over the next few weeks.

This product is often applied periodically (as a preventative measure) after the pavers have been thoroughly cleaned with Floorseal Block Paving Intensive Cleaner.

Applying Floorseal Green Remover Concentrate once or twice per year will keep them in top condition. The active ingredients remain on the surface of the paver months after initial application. Therefore inhibiting the growth of algae, lichens & other organic contaminations.

Removing rust from block pavers

Floorseal Rust Remover for Stone is an acid-free rust remover suitable for both concrete & clay-based pavers.

Apply the product, you will see a colour change in the remover, rinse away whilst the remover is still liquid. Do not allow rust removers to dry on the surface during treatment.

In conclusion

Floorseal Block Paving Intensive Cleaner is our primary product for the removal of organic contaminations of black spot lichen, white spot lichen, algae, slime, leaf staining & light moss. We recommend this product for deep, intensive cleaning. If your block paving has not been cleaned for some time, particularly if black or white spot is present, we recommend this product.

Floorseal Cement & Grout Haze Remover removes cement, mortar & concrete hazes. Suitable for clay-based block pavers (do not use on concrete-based block pavers).

Floorseal Efflorescence Remover removes general salting and leachate staining (do not apply to concrete-based block pavers).

Floorseal Green Remover Concentrate is suitable for use when treating the pavers after cleaning with Block Paving Intensive Cleaner. Green Remover Concentrate has a residual cleaning/preventative effect. Perfect for treating block paving once or twice per year as a preventative measure against the regrowth of lichens, moss & algae. Green Remover Concentrate can also be used as an independent cleaner for treating very deep build-ups of moss, prior to removing the debris once it has died away.

Floorseal Rust Remover for Stone is an acid-free formula for the removal of general rust spots and stains on concrete & clay-based block pavers. *Test before use – Not suitable for certain coloured concretes.

To view all products & articles for cleaning & sealing block pavers please click here this will take you to the surface type page.

The information contained in this article is not exhaustive. If you need further information please contact Floorseal on (01484) 861461 or email us Info@floorseal.co.uk our web address is www.floorseal.co.uk