Patio/paving cleaner - which one?

[The Ferret]

After staring at my paving outside for the last 12 months watching it gradually deteriorate, I've decided this weekend its time to get out there and give it a proper clean.

I did do this a couple of years ago and used a pressure washer. It got rid of 90% of the dirt, but took forever as I needed to get the lance within a few millimetres of the slabs to actually make the dirt shift.

So, has anyone had any experience with any product that works?. Something that can be brushed on and agitated with a broom before being washed away with a hosepipe. They don't look all that bad, but the dirt/algae/whatever is seriously hard to shift so I'm looking for the most aggressive stuff going that won't ruin it's appearance.

The slabs look fairly hard wearing, they are stone but look a bit like wood decking. I'm fairly sure they dont contain any limestone either, but I'm willing to test on a small area if need be.

Any suggestions much appreciated.

[dickymint]

Patio cleaner attatchment on my Kartcher pressure washer shifts absolutely anything and much much quicker than the lance. No need for chemicals.


Edited cos I have just got to say you will not be dissapointed trust me I was amazed.

Edited by dickymint on Friday 10th June 14:03

[The Ferret]

dickymint said:

Patio cleaner attatchment on my Kartcher pressure washer shifts absolutely anything and much much quicker than the lance. No need for chemicals.


Edited cos I have just got to say you will not be dissapointed trust me I was amazed.

Edited by dickymint on Friday 10th June 14:03

I've got 2 attachments on my Karcher, one which looks like a standard piece and another where the end looks like a cone which tapers to a point at the end (I'm sure there is a word for that, just can't think of it). Is that the attachment you mean?

The standard attachment was useless. The cone shaped one did shift a fair bit, but I had to hold it so close to the ground that I was literally doing each square inch bit by bit - which took all day.

Maybe there is some kind of product you can apply to loosen the grime before blasting it.

edit - Google suggests you mean the big yellow attachment that looks like a machine polisher, if so maybe that's what I need.

Edited by The Ferret on Friday 10th June 14:59

[youngsyr]

This is the puppy, called a T250. Awesome for paving, not so great for wooden decking:

[NDA]

youngsyr said:

This is the puppy, called a T250. Awesome for paving, not so great for wooden decking:

That's what I have.... I cleaned a terrace that's 50' by 40' fairly quickly (a day). The big advantage with these attachments is that they won't remove the pointing.

[Puggit]

http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...

[dickymint]

The Ferret said:

dickymint said:

Patio cleaner attatchment on my Kartcher pressure washer shifts absolutely anything and much much quicker than the lance. No need for chemicals.


Edited cos I have just got to say you will not be dissapointed trust me I was amazed.

Edited by dickymint on Friday 10th June 14:03

I've got 2 attachments on my Karcher, one which looks like a standard piece and another where the end looks like a cone which tapers to a point at the end (I'm sure there is a word for that, just can't think of it). Is that the attachment you mean?

The standard attachment was useless. The cone shaped one did shift a fair bit, but I had to hold it so close to the ground that I was literally doing each square inch bit by bit - which took all day.

Maybe there is some kind of product you can apply to loosen the grime before blasting it.

edit - Google suggests you mean the big yellow attachment that looks like a machine polisher, if so maybe that's what I need.

Edited by The Ferret on Friday 10th June 14:59

Yep get one

[The Ferret]

Cheers for the advice guys, off to buy a patio cleaner attachment in the morning

[Wheelrepairit]

+1 for the Karcher thingy, they are an awesome bit of kit, we use ours to clean the green of the glass roof as well, takes seconds

[dickymint]

Last year the Missus wanted me to paint the outside of the house (She bought the paint and stuff the year before). I took a couple off days off to sort it.

Did the gutters, fascias etc. in nearly a day. Then decided to jet wash the walls ready for the next day. Put the patio attatchment on as I was getting soaked from the splashback. I was amazed at the difference so did the whole lot in about 2 hours, packed everything away and went to the pub.

Missus rang me later and told me "great job and so quick, was there enough paint left to do the patio wall?)."..... Plenty I said, I'll do it tomorrow!

Still haven't painted it

[Sticks.]

NDA said:

youngsyr said:

This is the puppy, called a T250. Awesome for paving, not so great for wooden decking:

That's what I have.... I cleaned a terrace that's 50' by 40' fairly quickly (a day). The big advantage with these attachments is that they won't remove the pointing.

Mine is similar to that and did a great job, see rubbish pic below. I do need to re-point now though. Not been done in 7 years and had some bad winters so maybe due anyway

[Junior Bianno]

I used the Karcher attachments before and they've not really worked for me. Bought this the other day (you can get them from B&Q)

All the weight of the washer over the patio cleaner seems to be make it really work. I've got loads of driveway, patio and deck to clean and I would say this quartered the time taken. The lance is removable and you can use it like a regular pressure washer as well. Recommended



http://reviews.diy.com/2191-en_gb/10787575/reviews...

[dickymint]

Junior Bianno said:

I used the Karcher attachments before and they've not really worked for me. Bought this the other day (you can get them from B&Q)

All the weight of the washer over the patio cleaner seems to be make it really work. I've got loads of driveway, patio and deck to clean and I would say this quartered the time taken. The lance is removable and you can use it like a regular pressure washer as well. Recommended



http://reviews.diy.com/2191-en_gb/10787575/reviews...

Nice - but I wouldn't want to do my house exterior with it.

[The Ferret]

Went for the Karcher attachment in the end, couldn't find the T250 locally so bought the T200.

Very impressed, not so much by the performance but more the ease of use. No messing around leaning over with the lance to get close to the floor, and no mess whatsoever - using the pressure washer would have meant having to clean half the house afterwards with all the muck flying everywhere.

Again it took off 90% of the dirt, so similar to the pressure washer lance but with about 10% of the effort required so well worth it. Didn't add any chemicals to it but I may give another go next weekend on the front driveway and see if the chemicals give it any more cleaning power.

Cheers everyone, saved me a good 1/2 day with that.

[NDA]

The Ferret said:

Very impressed, not so much by the performance but more the ease of use.

I think that probably summarises these gadgets pretty neatly. They don't do a better job, but it's a heck of a lot easier with them.

[dickymint]

NDA said:

The Ferret said:

Very impressed, not so much by the performance but more the ease of use.

I think that probably summarises these gadgets pretty neatly. They don't do a better job, but it's a heck of a lot easier with them.

Better job than what though?

[youngsyr]

dickymint said:

NDA said:

The Ferret said:

Very impressed, not so much by the performance but more the ease of use.

I think that probably summarises these gadgets pretty neatly. They don't do a better job, but it's a heck of a lot easier with them.

Better job than what though?

Using the lance and spraying each inch at point blank range, I'd imagine.

It works, but it takes a hell of a long time and shoots the dirt everywhere.

[dickymint]

youngsyr said:

dickymint said:

NDA said:

The Ferret said:

Very impressed, not so much by the performance but more the ease of use.

I think that probably summarises these gadgets pretty neatly. They don't do a better job, but it's a heck of a lot easier with them.

Better job than what though?

Using the lance and spraying each inch at point blank range, I'd imagine.

It works, but it takes a hell of a long time and shoots the dirt everywhere.

Not quite sure that is what NDA means. The patio attatchment actually works as good as the lance. It uses two nozzles at point blank range and also rotates at a high rate of knots - you try wizzing your lance around at that speed. Granted physics dictates that this reduces the power available, but not to detriment of getting the job done.

Best thing since sliced bread.

[youngsyr]

dickymint said:

youngsyr said:

dickymint said:

NDA said:

The Ferret said:

Very impressed, not so much by the performance but more the ease of use.

I think that probably summarises these gadgets pretty neatly. They don't do a better job, but it's a heck of a lot easier with them.

Better job than what though?

Using the lance and spraying each inch at point blank range, I'd imagine.

It works, but it takes a hell of a long time and shoots the dirt everywhere.

Not quite sure that is what NDA means. The patio attatchment actually works as good as the lance. It uses two nozzles at point blank range and also rotates at a high rate of knots - you try wizzing your lance around at that speed. Granted physics dictates that this reduces the power available, but not to detriment of getting the job done.

Best thing since sliced bread.

I thought NDA was asking what the attachment does do a better job than, i.e. what are the alternatives to the attachment?

As far as I can see, the most common alternative is to use the lance at point blank range. This does a slightly better job of cleaning, but takes an age and is messy.

[NDA]

youngsyr said:

dickymint said:

NDA said:

The Ferret said:

Very impressed, not so much by the performance but more the ease of use.

I think that probably summarises these gadgets pretty neatly. They don't do a better job, but it's a heck of a lot easier with them.

Better job than what though?

Using the lance and spraying each inch at point blank range, I'd imagine.

That's precisely what I'm saying.