Paving blocks require regular cleaning, which many of us in the bustle of everyday tasks often forget about
Untreated paving blocks quickly start to look unpresentable and ugly: with stains on the surface, discolorations and plants between tiles. How to clean cobblestones in order for them to keep their pleasing to the eye look? We present proven methods for this patent.
One of the effective ways of cleaning cobblestones is their regular maintenance. This way we won’t waste a lot of time on this activity, and the paving blocks will keep their beautiful look for a long time
If some imperfections appear, they will not be visible enough to spoil our corner by the next cleaning. It is best to clean the pavement at least 3 times a year, preferably before, during and after the holiday season.
In the spring, we need to remove stains caused by moisture (e.g. melting snow). In summer, remove weeds and mosses. In autumn, it is worth cleaning and impregnating the pavement for winter. Besides, it should be swept regularly, especially on dry days, to remove sand and leaves. Their accumulation may cause discolorations and ugly tarnishes
All sidewalks and driveways must be cleared of snow in winter. It is better not to cover them with salt, because it will damage the top part of the pavement. You can use sand instead.
Apart from the fact that all mosses, grasses and weeds between the sidewalk stones disfigure the look of our sidewalk, their prolonged presence may cause unevenness of the sidewalk surface (due to rhizomes and roots growing underneath)
The clearing process should be done in an appropriate manner. Do not pull or remove plants with a shovel, because then you will leave the entire root system. Use professional tools or chemicals instead.
Allows you to scrape mosses and weeds, as well as mud, from the gaps between your pavers. This tool is also good for fighting mold and mildew. The wire will not scratch the stone, but it is a good idea to choose a brush with narrow bristles, which will be easier to maneuver between each cube. Unfortunately, this method is very time consuming and usually requires working on your knees.
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If you have a petrol lawnmower you can buy a special wire disc, which, like a wire brush, will pull weeds and other plants out from between the knuckles. This method is quick and less labor-intensive than the previous one.
Herbicides are usually used for this solution. These chemicals dry up and destroy the plants, but then you still have to pluck them out of the spaces between the cubes. This is not a natural way, and strong detergents may discolor or tarnish the sidewalk, so it is good to choose special products, dedicated to sidewalks.
Besides the natural dirt on our paving blocks, there are also those that we ourselves cause as a result of renovations (e.g. paints, glues) or car works (e.g. oil change). How to get rid of them?
Dirt from grease, lubricants or oils should be removed immediately after it has been caused because the more time passes, the worse the removal. It also happens that the dirt simply manages to penetrate the cube, leaving a permanent mark
First, the fresh stain should be sprinkled with sand to absorb the excess grease. Then, we have to remove the sand and scrub the stain with warm water and a cleaning agent (preferably one designed especially for paving stones). If this doesn’t work, you can use a sandblasting gun. The sand under pressure will rub off the top layer of the cube along with the dirt.
Perhaps the biggest bane of pavement owners is chewing gum. If we notice it early enough, we will still be able to remove it, but it will leave a greasy mark on the paving block. In other cases, the gum may melt to such an extent that we cannot remove it on our own. In both cases you should use a pressure washer. Water heated to about 150 degrees will dissolve the rubber and the mark left by it.
Fresh stain should be quickly sprinkled with water and then use a concentrated agent with inorganic acid. Afterwards, the surface should be scrubbed. If the stain has already dried, use some of the concentrate only (wear gloves!) and then rinse with water.
We pave sidewalks, driveways, terraces or garden paths around our house. However, in order to keep them in an aesthetic condition, we should try to clean them regularly, also from dirt caused by us.
