Paved surfaces generally see a lot of traffic and, if not regularly maintained, are liable to collect a lot of dirt and debris. Lack of proper care may also lead to the unhampered growth of moss and weeds in the joints between the paving blocks. Cleaning block paving from time to time is therefore necessary to keep the area clean and looking good.
To determine what kind of cleaning treatment is required, the condition of the block paving should be carefully examined. If there is any vegetation growth, it needs to be removed, and this can be done by hand or by using a weed remover; it is advisable to go for an organic and non-toxic weed remover as this poses less of a health and environmental risk. It may be necessary to let a couple of days go by to let the weed remover, if it is used, to take effect.
Various tools for cleaning block paving are available and may be used to good effect. A pair of soft, stiff bristled brushes may be sufficient to clean block paving if the area is well-maintained on a regular basis. In this case, if the paving is only mildly dirty, it can just be scrubbed with a brush and soapy water, and then washed off with clean water.
A formulated driveway cleaner or a patio cleaner may be also be used for cleaning block paving. These are to be used according to the instructions on the container. They are generally mixed with water and the solution is washed or brushed over the paving surface. It is then left there for a few hours or an entire day and washed off with water.
It may be necessary to resort to pressure washing if the area has not been cleaned in a very long while and has become especially dirty. Cleaning block paving in this manner is time and energy saving, but knowing how to clean block paving in the proper way is important as using too much pressure may very well erode the paving surface. The washer needs to be held at an angle and close to the block surfaces, whether patio cleaning, driveway cleaning, or asphalt cleaning is undertaken.
Pressure washing is likely to remove the top section of the sand between the paving blocks and this will need to be replaced. It is a good idea to allow the area to dry thoroughly for at least a day and then fill in the gaps with dry kiln sand. A sealing solution should then be applied to seal the joints. The area will now look almost as good as new.