A huge part of spring cleaning is sprucing up the exterior of your home. The spring thaw typically reveals a litany of projects that need to be taken care of before summer starts. At the top of the list for most homeowners is patio clean-up.
Once the snow melts you will be able to see how much time you will have to put into cleaning up your patio. If your patio weathered the harsh winter well, then clean-up will be minimal. Usually you will have to sweep up a few spots using a stiff bristle broom, but that’s about it.
In other cases you may have to flush or deep-clean your patio. If you own a sealed brick patio you may find gray or white dust build-up when you head outside to spring clean. This dust is simply a combination of grout and muriatic acid, and can be easily removed by flushing the surface of the patio with clean water. Just get a garden hose and spray down the patio, paying close attention to the spots where you think lime is leaking from the grout.
To deep clean a patio use a commercial cleaner specifically designed for the type of material used to create your patio. If you prefer to use a homemade cleaner, then reach for some borax and water. A simple recipe features one tablespoon of borax and a gallon of clean water. Another inexpensive cleaning solution can be made with vinegar and water.
Once you mix together the solution, pour it over the surface of the patio and scrub with a stiff brush. To remove tough stains, move the brush back and forth vigorously and rinse well with clean water. You may have to repeat the process a few times depending on the severity of the stain. Just remember to change the water frequently as dirty water can leave streaks on the patio’s surface.