Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: General Cleaning
• Method 2 of 3: How to get rid of stains
• Method 3 of 3: Maintaining your stone patio

At any time of the year, dirt builds up on stone patios, stains, mold and algae appear. Use chemicals or natural products to clean your stone patio. You can also use dish soap, vinegar, or a pressure washer. Use cleaner, bleach, thinner, and baking soda to remove stains.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: General Cleaning

1. 1 Clean the stones with a detergent. Start cleaning with dish detergent. Take a large bucket, fill it with warm water and add a few drops of dish soap. Use a thick, stiff bristled mop to apply the detergent to the stone surface. Rub it in until the stone is covered with foam, then rinse with water.
   • On a stone patio, do not use a wire broom or wire bristle brush. The wire can scratch the stone.
   • Do not use cleaners that are not recommended for use on limestone.
2. 2 Mix up a vinegar solution to remove stubborn dirt. Mix distilled white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. To remove deeply stubborn stains, add less water for a more concentrated solution. Spray the vinegar solution on the stone and wait for half an hour. Then brush it off with a nylon brush.
   • After that, wipe the area with a mop to remove excess water and vinegar.
3. 3 Use a pressure washer for stubborn dirt. Use a spray nozzle to spray and not spray. Do not bring the hose too close to a stone to avoid breaking or damaging it. Even stubborn dirt on stone surfaces can be easily removed with the pressure washer.
   • Do not spray water on the joints, try to pour water only on stones.
   • Do not use your stone patio pressure washer too often to avoid ruining the stones. We recommend using it only once a season to keep the stones intact.

Method 2 of 3: How to get rid of stains

1. 1 Use a soft nylon brush and stain remover. Apply a stain cleaner, degreaser, or stain remover to the stain. Scrub the stain with a soft nylon brush. Try harder if the stain won't budge. Rinse off the cleaner with water.
2. 2 Use oxygenated bleach to clean your stones. Oxygenated bleach contains sodium carbonate and, when mixed with water, forms oxygen. Add four scoops of oxygenated bleach to a 20 liter bucket filled with warm or hot water and stir until dissolved. Pour this solvent over the dry stone area. The solution should work in 10-12 minutes.
   • While the solution is absorbing in one area, start brushing the area where enough time has passed.
   • Once cleaned, rinse off loose dirt with water before moving on to cleaning the next area.
3. 3 Remove accumulated dirt and algae with bleach. Bleach can be used to clean up dirt, stains, and algae that have formed on a stone patio. Mix equal parts bleach and water in a bucket or watering can. Pour this solution onto a stone surface. Wait about 10 minutes for the solution to soak in, then scrub the stains with a mop. Rinse it off well with clean water. Rinse several times if necessary.
   • Use the most common bleach without detergents and other chemicals in the composition. These additional ingredients not only will not help in cleaning, but may clump and add new dirt. Just buy regular bleach.
   • Be careful - plants can wilt if they get mixed with bleach.
4. 4 Try cleaning the stains with baking soda. The baking soda has an abrasive texture that will help get rid of stains. Make a paste for cleaning stains by mixing baking soda with vinegar (two parts bleach to three parts baking soda). Cover the stain with the paste and then scrub it off with a brush.
   • Rinse off the paste with clean water.

Method 3 of 3: Maintaining your stone patio

1. 1 Sweep rocks frequently. Use a soft-bristled nylon broom to clean the stones. This will help get rid of not only dirt and debris, but also of the weeds that sprout between the stones. Clean the stones at least once a week.
2. 2 Pour sand into the cracks between the stones. You can use polymer sand, it will help in the care of stones throughout the season. The sand will keep weeds from sprouting and you won't have to fight them every month. Polymer sand is sold in hardware and hardware stores.
   • Sand will also help in the fight against insects - they will not be able to make their way through the cracks and further into your house.
3. 3 Cover your patio with a surface protectant during the winter months. It will protect the surface from the appearance of moss and dirt in the winter. You can also use this remedy at the beginning of the season to prevent dirt from sticking to rocks.
   • Dilute this product in water and spray it onto the stone. Follow the directions on the package for the correct ratio to water. Repeat this procedure every four months.
   • The surface preservative is available at hardware stores.
4. 4 Kill weeds with a vinegar solution. Fill a spray bottle with distilled white vinegar. Add one teaspoon of dish soap to the spray bottle and shake to mix the ingredients. Spray the weeds that grow in the cracks between the stones.
   • It is better to use such a solution on sunny dry days. If it is cool or rainy and cloudy, the results will be worse.