Cleaning patio
Discussion
Hi after some advice
I jet wash my patio each spring, a very poor run off so a bit of a pain. However it now has black spots on it, I've tried to shift them, detergent and scrubbing, to no avail.
I'm not sure what causes the spots, I suspect rain. They don't appear under a covered lobby, and seem worse where the patio only gets a little sunlight.
Should I try some patio cleaner and a jet wash before the winter, in the hope this makes the job easier come spring?
It's just bog std Cotswold slabs.
I jet wash my patio each spring, a very poor run off so a bit of a pain. However it now has black spots on it, I've tried to shift them, detergent and scrubbing, to no avail.
I'm not sure what causes the spots, I suspect rain. They don't appear under a covered lobby, and seem worse where the patio only gets a little sunlight.
Should I try some patio cleaner and a jet wash before the winter, in the hope this makes the job easier come spring?
It's just bog std Cotswold slabs.
Patio cleaner containing benzalkonium chloride also known as alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride.
Problem is using a pressure washer in an area with dodgy drainage is that you're adding to the problem with the samp, you're probably getting lichen or mould growth and the product applied on a dry day by sprayer or watering can will kill the growth and keep it free for a year.
Don't let it get on flowers, it can alter the colours, and get careful with pets, especially cats. Lots of products in all diy and garden places. Green gone is one.
Problem is using a pressure washer in an area with dodgy drainage is that you're adding to the problem with the samp, you're probably getting lichen or mould growth and the product applied on a dry day by sprayer or watering can will kill the growth and keep it free for a year.
Don't let it get on flowers, it can alter the colours, and get careful with pets, especially cats. Lots of products in all diy and garden places. Green gone is one.
FiF said:
Patio cleaner containing benzalkonium chloride also known as alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride.
Problem is using a pressure washer in an area with dodgy drainage is that you're adding to the problem with the samp, you're probably getting lichen or mould growth and the product applied on a dry day by sprayer or watering can will kill the growth and keep it free for a year.
Don't let it get on flowers, it can alter the colours, and get careful with pets, especially cats. Lots of products in all diy and garden places. Green gone is one.
Agree, this stuff does the job - my path gets a lot of lichen/black slime and a treatment of BAC kills it within a few weeks (it dies off and disappears). I have found it cheap on ebay, works out far cheaper than garden centre stuff for the volume, but probably worth splitting with friends/neighbours:Problem is using a pressure washer in an area with dodgy drainage is that you're adding to the problem with the samp, you're probably getting lichen or mould growth and the product applied on a dry day by sprayer or watering can will kill the growth and keep it free for a year.
Don't let it get on flowers, it can alter the colours, and get careful with pets, especially cats. Lots of products in all diy and garden places. Green gone is one.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Benzalkonium-Chloride-BA...
Well as an experiment.
I bleached a slab, then jet washed it, took ages. It's a little better, still black blobs of lichen albeit smaller and lighter. I jet washed the slab next to it, no bleach, the result looks the same.
I found an unopened bottle of patio magic in the shed (must have had these thoughts before, maybe yrs ago) I've followed the instructions and "watered" a couple of slabs, no difference yet but it's only been 24 hrs.
I bleached a slab, then jet washed it, took ages. It's a little better, still black blobs of lichen albeit smaller and lighter. I jet washed the slab next to it, no bleach, the result looks the same.
I found an unopened bottle of patio magic in the shed (must have had these thoughts before, maybe yrs ago) I've followed the instructions and "watered" a couple of slabs, no difference yet but it's only been 24 hrs.
This is the advice from the Royal Horticultural Society https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=418
Dr Interceptor said:
Sodium Hypochlorite as above... Minimum 10/11%, ideally 14/15% strength.
If your builders merchants doesn't stock it, try your local swimming pool company/outlet
We trade sell it out to every patio/driveway cleaning company in the area.
Absolutely.... I've got beautifully clean areas of patio around the pool where I normally spill it!If your builders merchants doesn't stock it, try your local swimming pool company/outlet
We trade sell it out to every patio/driveway cleaning company in the area.
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