How to Clean Brick Pavers and Keep Them Looking New

Building a brick paver patio is an easy way to improve your home's curb appeal while increasing your property value. Brick pavers are a great alternative to traditional concrete patios and driveways and can greatly improve the aesthetics of your property.

However, it is important that you learn how to properly maintain your brick pavers to increase their lifespan and durability.

Do you want to learn more about how to clean brick pavers? Keep reading these top tips and tricks for paver cleaning to get help maintaining your patio or driveway.

Clear Off Patio

The first thing you need to do when cleaning your brick pavers is to clear off the patio or walkway that you are cleaning. Often, people have furniture, grills, or even flower pots on their brick pavers, so you must move these to another location when cleaning your hardscaping.

This way, you can clean the entire surface without worrying about your belongings!

You should also use this time to get rid of weeds and other vegetation that are growing through your pavers. Make sure you don't pull them with too much force, as this can loosen or damage your pavers.

Use Water and a Mild Cleaning Solution

Next, you need to sweep the pavers with a stiff brush. After sweeping the debris off your pavers, you can begin cleaning it with water and a mild cleaning solution. You can simply use your garden hose to wet down the entire space!

Then, use a mild cleaner, like dish soap, and apply it with a stiff brush. Gently scrub the entire area.

After, you can rinse the entire space with water from your hose and repeat as necessary. Keep in mind that you should avoid cleaners or scrubbers that are too abrasive, as this can damage your pavers and the sealer on top of your pavers.

Avoid Chemical Cleaners

Next, you need to be cautious with the types of cleaners you use on your pavers. It is best to avoid chemical or acidic substances when you clean your pavers. This includes anything like vinegar, bleach, and more.

While these chemicals can remove difficult stains, they can also damage your pavers and make them look more dull and faded.

Many types of natural stone pavers are also porous, which makes it easy for them to absorb the paver cleaning products you use. If you use harsh chemicals, the pavers can absorb this and become more fragile and prone to cracking.

When you choose paver cleaning products, it is best to test the cleaning solution on a small patch of your pavers to make sure it will not damage the stone.  

Don't Use a Pressure Washer

Often, people choose to power wash brick pavers to make the process go faster. While it may work to clean your pavers, pressure washing brick can also cause serious damage to your patio or walkway. In fact, pressure washing your pavers can remove the paver sealant, which will lower the durability of your pavers.

Because pressure washers use high-powered water, it can begin to break down your pavers, which may result in the pavers cracking and breaking.

Instead, it is best to use a gentle stream of water from a garden hose to clean and rinse your pavers.

Let Pavers Dry Completely

Before doing anything else to your pavers, you need to make sure they dry completely! This may take a couple of days because the pavers and the ground beneath likely got soaked with water from your garden hose.

If you reapply your paver sealer too soon, it can lead to water getting trapped under the sealant.

It can also cause the sealer to cure incorrectly, which can cause stains or white marks to form on them.

Add More Sand Between Pavers

After the pavers are completely dry, you can add more sand between each of your pavers! This is often required, as some of the sand may have been washed away during the cleaning process.

This sand is meant to fill the gaps between your pavers and to keep them in place. This will prevent them from shifting over time as well. You can simply pour sand on top of your patio or walkway and use a broom to sweep it into each of the joints.

Then, you can sweep off the excess sand and use it for the next time you clean your pavers.

Apply Paver Sealer

Finally, you should find a paver sealing service to protect your investment. Over time, your pavers can get damaged by the weather and sun, causing the bricks to fade and become dull.

When you apply a paver sealant to your brick pavers, it makes it much easier to clean and maintain them! It will help you extend the life of your paver hardscaping and will keep the bricks looking new for years to come.

When you hire a paver sealing service, they will help you with everything from preparation to clean up and more. Paver sealer will keep your pavers from looking dirty or worn out and should be reapplied every couple of years.

Want Clean Brick Pavers?

When you are cleaning brick pavers, you must learn the correct paver cleaning steps to prevent unnecessary damage hardscaping. By following each of these tips, you can protect your hardscaping and increase the lifespan of your brick pavers.

If you want clean brick pavers, Outdoor Escapes can help! We provide paver sealing services that can protect your pavers from stains, weed growth, and more. We offer paver installation, paver sealing, and more!

Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of paver sealant and to get started with your outdoor projects.

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