Cleaning ingrained dirt from pavers - Help to clean red brick clay pavers

[johnboi]

I wonder if anyone can point me in the right direction.

I've got what was once a lovely patio made out of marshalls red brick clay pavers.

THis has been abused over the last year with such things as a rabbit run etc so it is now in need of a good clean.

I've had a go this morning with the power washer but this isn't making as much of an inroad as I hoped.

Beyond getting down on all fours and scrubbing each brick is there anything else I can do.

I'm hoping that there is some sort of cleaning solution that I can let soak in that will help remove another layer of dirt that the power washer can't on its own.

thanks for your help

John

[lutonlagerlout]

have you tried a weak hydrochloric acid solution ??
regards tony

[lutonlagerlout]

also a petrol powered jet washer ,they are a lot more powerful than the electric ones
cheers tony

[Dave_L]

But isn't there the danger of washing out parts of the paver and/or the jointing with high pressure washers?

[lutonlagerlout]

of course,but how else if he wants it clean?
new kiln dried will have to be applied afterwards when it is all dry
cheers tony

[johnboi]

Thanks for your suggestions.

My power washer is a 1400 w version don't know how powerful that is in the scheme of things but it certainly whips the sand out between the pavers but just doesn't get through the dirt all the way to the surface on some of the deeply ingrained pavers.

" weak hydrochloric acid solution" can you give me a propriety brand that contains this?

I think the problem is that it has had this rabbit run on it so it has had rabbit droppings/food pee etc on it for over a year plus it never gets fully in the sun so is more prone to lichen growth etc.


I think I will have to get down on my knees and give it a good scrub with a cleaning solution then finish off with the power washer unless you have any other suggestions.

Thanks for your help

[lutonlagerlout]

go to a builders merchant and ask for brick acid,they will have it
tony :;):

[johnboi]

go to a builders merchant and ask for brick acid,they will have it
tony :;):

Thanks Tony for the advice...builders merchant for me then

Is this stuff spread/sprayed on, then allowed to work abit before finishing off with the power washer or does it need to be added to the power wash water?

[lutonlagerlout]

apply it with a soft brush from a bucket,wear goggles ,gloves and long trousers
leave for 5 or so minutes then hose off carefully
safety first with this stuff mate its highly corrosive
if there are cement stains you will see the cement bubbling
cheers tony

[johnboi]

Just to say I managed to pick up some Patio and brick cleaner ( weak hydrochloric acid solution) from B&Q 10 litres for £5.I put this on the patio and left for 20 minutes before spraying off with a power washer I only managed to get about a third of it done before "bad light stopped play" and didn't get round to finishing the rest off for another couple of days.I must say there was a distinct differance between the area that had been left for a couple of days and that that had been left for an hour.SO if you have brick clay pavers there seems to be a good reason to leave longer than the recommended 20 minutes.

Its cleaned up my patio lovely.....so thanks for the heads up tony

[Dave_L]

I guess B&Q (Retail) brick acid may well be a little weaker than the trade stuff?

[lutonlagerlout]

probablt, i always use pool supply acid but at 33% this stuff is like a knife through butter,most BM stock 8 % which is ok for domestic use,as for b and q i dont know
cheers tony LLL

[andpartington]

this is a dense question i know but wil the acid not eat away at all your nice new pointing

andy

[geoffdance]

Hi guys,

a bit late with this but.....

hire or get someone in with a petrol compressor kicking out up to 3000 psi AND a rotary flat surface cleaner. These things are the dogs when it come to cleaning paving. The dirt stay down, no striping and way faster than a jet lance.

But anyway.

Geoff

[lutonlagerlout]

3000 p.s.i???
is that 3 thousand pounds per square inch??
jeez that would take the skin off your hand
shudders
LLL :O