How to Clean Paving Slabs Without a Pressure Washer

Step 1. Clear the Area

The first step of cleaning your patio is making sure it’s completely clear. This means moving any garden furniture, plant pots or anything else that could get in the way of your cleaning.

Make sure you move any furniture or pots well out of the way, placing them in a spot where they can stay while the paving slabs fully dry. Make sure you don’t replace any furniture too early, as this can cause moisture to pool underneath the feet and leave marks.

Step 2. Remove Weeds

If you’ve got any weeds poking out from between your paving slabs, now is the time to get rid of them. Weeds get in the way when cleaning garden slabs and could even cause you to accidentally scrub green colouring into the stone. Grab some gardening gloves and pull out all those pesky weeds.

You should also sweep away any leaves or debris until your patio is completely clear and ready to be scrubbed.

Step 3. Clean the Paving Slabs

Once your patio is completely free of furniture, weeds, and any other unwanted clutter, you’re ready to start scrubbing.

You’ll be happy to hear that you don’t need fancy cleaning products or a high-power pressure washer to clean your patio or block paving. On the contrary, warm, soapy water works just as effectively.

Empty some washing up liquid into a bucket with warm water. Next, dunk a sponge or brush into the suds and start cleaning your paving slabs, working in a diagonal motion to avoid scrubbing too harshly on the joining compound. This will require a bit of effort, but the satisfaction of watching the grime and dirt lift from the slabs is worth it.

Once you’ve made your way round the whole patio, get a clean bucket of water to wash the dirty water away, ideally into a drainage point.

Step 4. Add Some Sealant

This final step is optional, and only necessary if you notice that lots of joining compound has come away during your clean. This may happen while you’re cleaning between the paving slabs, especially if they’re old.

If this is the case, grab a sealant and fill any gaps in the joints. This should leave you with a tidy and fresh finish.

How to Clean a Wooden Deck Without a Pressure Washer

If it’s a wooden decking area you’re looking to clean up, we can help you with that too. Our step-by-step instructions below guide you on how to clean a deck naturally, without a pressure washer, in a simple, fuss-free way.

What You’ll Need

• Bucket
• Washing up liquid
• Warm water
• Garden brush or broom
• Decking cleaner (if required)

Step 1. Prepare the Area

The first step is to clear your decking of any garden furniture, ornaments or anything that could get in the way of cleaning. Just like cleaning paving slabs, it’s best to pop these objects in a spot where there’ll be able to stay for a day or so, to give time for the decking to fully dry.

Next, give the deck a good sweep to remove any dirt or dust laying on the surface.

Step 2. Clean the Deck

Now the decking is completely clear, you can start cleaning. An easy and gentle way to clean wooden decking is simply using washing up liquid and warm water. Mix some washing up liquid in a bucket of warm water and use a stiff brush or broom to start scrubbing. Always make sure to work the soapy solution into the wood in the direction of the grain.

For a slightly deeper, more powerful clean, you can opt for a chemical decking cleaner. This is often a good option if you’re looking to remove mildew or clean algae off decking.

Once you’ve covered the entire decking area, leave the solution to soak in for 10-15 minutes, and then wash it away with clean water. Finally, allow the deck to completely dry before returning your furniture and other garden accessories to their sparkly new home.

And that’s how to clean your block paving, patio or wooden decking without a pressure washer. If you’re looking for more outdoor inspiration, explore our Patio Design Ideas and guide for how to breathe new life into your decking.