Concrete stain is a water-based product that coats the concrete and becomes a permanent part of the surface. The stains can fade and wear over time, but sealer helps protect them. For an even deeper clean, add a specialist stone cleaner into the pressure washer as per the manufacturer's instructions. 'Many pressure washers allow you to add detergent into the mix so that it sprays out with the water,' Fiona explains. 'Alternatively, you can spray a detergent directly onto the patio and leave it for around ten minutes before starting the pressure wash.'

All is not lost. And don’t think you will be spending a day scrubbing, down on your hands and knees, as there’s a wide range of patio cleaners out there to make the job easy. These detergents and specialist fluids are designed to cut through the grime to make your patio look as good as new. Paving stones and slabs are exposed to continuous weathering, and they may be subject to severe mechanical stress. Therefore, they might also need maintenance treatment almost every year.

Best patio cleaners at a glance

As with any other staining concrete project, surface preparation is critical. Any stains, such as rust, will show through in the finished project. Clean the entire surface with a heavy-duty cleaner (Photo 2), working in 4 x 4-ft. sections at a time. Then rinse the concrete with water until you don’t see any more soapy bubbles. For tough rust stains, use a stain remover, and rinse it off with water. For grease or oil stains, use a product that’s designed to remove those stains. Blast dirt and debris out of the kerfs with water. Prep the area for staining It will remove moss, mould and mildew as well as gently remove any unsightly stains from all outdoor surfaces. Despite its effectiveness, results take a couple of weeks to appear which is longer than other products. Results are long lasting, and there’s no scrubbing required on application. This is a reasonably slow-acting, albeit effective, product.

This cleaner generally works very well and marks good value for money. It has a recommended dilution rate of 1:5 with water, and it can also be applied neat if needed. For less affected areas, opt for a dilution rate of 1:10. Apply your first coat with a brush or roller (start at the corner of painting area and working inwards). Please note: the paint should be applied thinly.Use Sika FastFix All Weather in small manageable amounts. Avoid spreading over a large area before application. Ensure material is all loose by raking through. Do not try to break up and use any small set lumps. Do not add any extra sand.

For more stubborn stains, you could use a degreasing agent or engine cleaning fluid such as Gunk, but always test a small inconspicuous area first for adverse reactions. For small items such as gravestones etc, N-Virol Algae & Lichen Killer solution may be applied by a brush provided the solution is flooded generously into inscriptions and other cavities Available as a ready-to-go formula or a concentrate that needs diluting, patio cleaner solutions are designed to target algae, mould, moss and more.The product is translucent and therefore unsuitable to change colour of previously industrially dyed paving stone or slab. Stones or slabs of different age might turn out differently in terms of colour. Impurities like motor oil, crystallization of salts or other impurities have an effect on the final colour. FAQ’s My patio slabs are sealed…can I paint over them? Patio cleaning solution is generally very easy to use. Different brands require different levels of dilution, but it’s not difficult to measure out the formula into a separate container. These tools are designed to remove various types of lichen, fungi, weeds and more from your patio. Designed much like a household vacuum, these electric tools sweep over your patio with a tough wire, steel or nylon brush rolling at high-speed to remove debris and dirt from the surface and crevices without the need for chemicals. Patio Cleaner Buyers Guide If you don’t fancy doing a lot of scrubbing to get your patio clean, the HYDRA DeGreen Patio Cleaner should be in your cupboard. This patio cleaner removes algae, moss and green fungus, and it doesn’t need washing off afterwards.