Paver Cleaner: Tips To Help Care of Your Paver

Reports show that out of single-family homes started in 2017, 58% include paver patios. That includes roughly 850,000 homes that were built with patios.

Pavers are very popular for homes and are capable of boosting their value. If your home has pavers, you will want to know how to care for them with a paver cleaner.

Paver patios are very durable and can last for many, many years. That being said, you still need to know how to keep them clean and in good condition.

Keep reading to find out more about paver cleaner options and paver maintenance.

Keep Them Clean

Because a patio is outdoors and in the elements, it withstands a lot of wear and tear. That includes all the wear and tear it gets from being in use.

The simplest way to maintain pavers is to keep them clean when they are in use. You don’t need any fancy paver cleaner to do this with a little time and elbow grease.

One way to keep pavers clean is to sweep them as often as you can. Pavers are located outdoors and are going to collect quite a lot of dust, dirt, and debris.

You will want to sweep these away so that the pavers can stay clean. This type of grime is not a huge deal, but it can become a problem if left alone.

Wet leaves, for instance, can actually start to stain pavers if not cleaned up. Dust and soil can also start to collect in the nooks and crannies between your pavers.

These are all things that may not seem like a big deal at first, but they can’t get out of hand. If left on cleaned, a patio can start to collect a buildup of grime that is much harder to clean up.

It is a good idea to sweep your patio if you are expecting rainy weather. Rain can help grime to build up and create a bigger issue, so it is best to clean up beforehand.

Get a Paver Cleaner

There are all kinds of paver cleaner options that can help you to keep your patio sparkly clean. These are cleaning solutions that are designed for pavers.

Most people get by fine with dish soap and warm water. This is a simple cleaning solution that is a great option for cleaning up your patio on a regular basis.

But there are times when your pavers may need a better cleaning. You may want to do a deep clean a few times a year to keep your patio looking like new.

The best way to do this is to get a paver cleaner so that you can target those hard-to-clean areas. A good paver cleaner will be able to remove staining and all kinds of grime.

This also helps you to be able to clean up hard areas with more care. You do not want to scrub too hard at the pavers as this can start to wear away at the sealer.

Paver sealer cleaning should be gentle to maintain the seal. A cleaning solution will be potent enough that it will not require as much scrubbing on your part.

Make Sure They Are Sealed

Possibly the most important way to maintain pavers is to seal them. A paver sealer is vital and keeps your patio in good condition for many years.

Pavers on their own can be quite vulnerable to the elements and wear and tear. They are very durable but are not able to withstand all of these things without some kind of sealer.

If your patio is not sealed, you need to look at the kinds of sealers available. There are all kinds of options depending on the look you want and how experienced you are.

A paver sealer helps to create a protective finish over the top of the pavers. This helps to protect them from UV rays, scratches, discoloration, and staining.

Pavers will be much easier to clean and maintain if they have been sealed. Even if your pavers are already sealed, it is important to remember that this has to be reapplied.

You should be reapplying your paver sealer every 3 to 5 years as a precautionary measure.

Rinse Them Off

If you don’t have much time, simply rinsing off your pavers can be a great option. This is not going to be a deep cleaning, but it can help to remove exterior grime.

Some people prefer to do this rather than sweeping at their patio off. You can use a hose to rinse off dirt, dust, and vegetation so that your patio is like new.

It is better to do this on warm days when the water will be able to dry quickly. Pavers are durable and can withstand water, but it is best to not leave water on them for too long.

Pavers can become water damaged or stained, so you want the water to dry quickly. This can be a great way to clean off your patio in the summer when the heat and sun will dry it off.

Remove Weeds

Pesky weeds have a tendency of growing in between your pavers. Even the best laid pavers can start to have this issue over time.

If you notice weeds growing between your pavers, you will want to pull them out. Try to do this as efficiently as possible by pulling out the root as well.

Avoid harsh weed killers or ingredients like salt and vinegar. These may help to kill the weeds, but they are also going to damage your pavers and your grouting.

You can instead use an organic herbicide that is more gentle on pavers. This is best used in areas where you are repeatedly having issues with weeds.

As a patio gets older, the grout can become less and less effective. If this is the case, you will have more issues with weeds growing between your pavers.

Repair Grout

As pavers go through wear and tear, it is very common for grout to wear out as well. This is very normal sense grout is not meant to last forever and can start to become damaged.

Fluctuations in temperatures and usage can start to discolor or chip away at the grout. If this happens, you should remove the damaged grout and replace it with new grout.

This is pretty easy to do and is going to keep your patio looking like new. If a lot of grout is damaged, you may want to consider hiring a professional to do this for you.

Repair Damaged Pavers

When you use your patio, the pavers will start to suffer because of this. They are not meant to last forever and can start to become worn out in high-traffic areas.

If you start to notice damaged pavers, you may need to repair or replace them. Pavers can become chipped or even break from use.

Broken and chipped pavers can be a tripping hazard if they start to stick out. This can also be an area where grime can collect, making paver maintenance more difficult.

You may be able to fill damaged areas of pavers with filler sand or grout. But in most cases, you will need to replace the entire paver if it is damaged beyond repair.

You can do this by removing the surrounding grout and replacing the paver and re-grouting. This is the best way to keep your patio looking like new even after several years.

Have a Paver Care Routine

Because pavers require plenty of maintenance, it is a good idea to have a routine in place. A routine is going to help you know exactly when you need to clean your patio.

This could include a weekly routine where you sweep and rinse off your patio. You could also have a monthly routine where you do a deep clean if your patio is looking dirty.

The weather can also effect how often you need to clean your patio. You don't want to allow moisture to create a lot of build up that will be tough to clean.

Paver Cleaner Tips and Tricks

If you have a patio, you may need to know how to use a paver cleaner. Pavers are very durable, but they do require a certain amount of maintenance on a regular basis.

Do you want to start taking better care of your pavers? Contact us today at Coatly for the best paver products to upkeep your pavers.