How to Clean a Patio

Co-authored by Brandon Beckwith

Last Updated: March 25, 2024

Spring and summer are excellent seasons to sit in the garden, enjoying the good weather, and to relax with family and friends. Cleaning the patio beforehand is important, but generally the job can be huge, depending on how large or dirty the patio is. This article offers tips to make cleaning a lot easier and faster.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Preparation

Remove any items that doesn't belong there or broken.^{[1]
X
Research source}
^{[2]
X
Research source}

Advertisement
Weeds do not look attractive on a patio, remove the biggest weeds and use a simple kitchen knife to easily remove the leftover or smallest weeds between the patio tiles. You can spray weed killers or pour salt between the patio tiles to kill them for good.

Advertisement

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Concrete patio

^{[3]
X
Research source} When the patio is really dirty use undiluted bleach. If the patio is regularly cleaned use brown soap.
2
Scrub the entire patio vigorously with a stiff brush. While using chlorine bleach be careful when you are scrubbing near grass or plants, the bleach can kill them.^{[4]
X
Research source} If you are using undiluted bleach pour it on the patio and let it rest for a couple of minutes or hours (depending on how dirty the patio is) and come back and start scrubbing. If you use brown soap, just pour some soap over the patio add water and start scrubbing.
- If you're not sure what kind of stone you got in your patio, but you believe it's sealed, it's probably a best idea to start working with a soft brush and work your way up to a stiffer brush. This is a way to avoid etching the stone.^{[5]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Brandon Beckwith
  House Cleaning Specialist
  
  Expert Interview}
Advertisement

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Stone patio

^{[6]
X
Research source} Before you use any soap or detergent make sure that it's appropriate for the patio tiles, some tiles need a special cleaner.
When preferred you can also spray white vinegar between the cracks of the tiles to remove and kill the weeds.
4
Rinse the patio carefully. Be careful that the soapy water does not end up on your lawn or flower beds as this can kill them!
- Make sure to wipe it down thoroughly with microfiber towels. Don't leave your stones wet.^{[7]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Brandon Beckwith
  House Cleaning Specialist
  
  Expert Interview}
Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

How do you clean a dirty patio umbrella?

Brandon Beckwith
House Cleaning Specialist
Brandon Beckwith is a House Cleaning Specialist and the CEO of Reliable Housekeeping in Sacramento, California. Brandon and his team specialize in house cleaning such as maintenance cleaning, deep cleaning, move in/out cleaning, apartment cleaning, as well as commercial cleaning, window cleaning, and carpet cleaning. All members of the Reliable Housekeeping team receive background checks and professional training. Their family-owned and operated business is licensed, insured, and bonded.

Brandon Beckwith

House Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

Bang off any heavy dust and agitate the surface with a soft-bristle brush. Then, rinse the umbrella down and let it air dry.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Question

What can I clean my patio with? I have dogs so need something that's not harmful to them.

Community Answer

The surface of your patio is an important detail in terms of answering your question, but I'll assume its unsealed concrete. Most people use bleach, but over time bleach damages the rebar inside your concrete, reducing its life. Renting a power washer with a sidewalk scrubber attachment or hiring a pressure washer is the simplest option. With only water and a professional pressure cleaner, it will be good as new. The catch is to wait until it dries completely and then seal the concrete to make it easier to maintain going forward while also making it last longer. Water won't hurt your dogs, but the sound of that pressure washer will surely keep them at bay when using it.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 7
Question

How do I paint a concrete patio?

Community Answer

It matters if the concrete is fresh, because concrete must be fully cured before painting. If it's old concrete, give it a good cleaning prior to painting. Usually it's a bad idea to use chlorine to clean concrete because over time it will weaken the metal rebar, but this is time for chlorine. First, pressure wash the surface with only plain water. After cleaning, use bleach with a bristle brush to finish it up and kill anything left. Rinse it off and let it sit until bone dry, then either coat with Drylok or a quality non-silicone-based primer like Bulls Eye 123. Follow the label instructions for coat and drying times. Recoat. Then apply 2 coats of a quality exterior acrylic latex. Water-b poly sealer is optional.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 0

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

If your patio is really dirty you can use a pressure washer to clean it.

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
Wear gloves when handling bleach.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
A water hose can be handy when cleaning your patio, you don't have to carry buckets of water and it goes a lot faster.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Warnings

Wear old clothes while handling bleach,your clothes will get stained and possibly ruined.

Thanks
Helpful 16 Not Helpful 4
Be careful while handling bleach. Keep children and pets out of reach while you are cleaning.

Thanks
Helpful 17 Not Helpful 8
Never mix cleaning products together

Thanks
Helpful 15 Not Helpful 8
Bleach is dangerous and is poisonous. Take care when using bleach, although cats and dogs sniff before licking.

Thanks
Helpful 12 Not Helpful 8