Black Stains on Driveways & Patios. Removing Black Fungus Stains Using Household Bleach.

Black stain removal on a driveway.
This driveway had bad black ingrained fungal staining.
What are those black stains or spots on your driveway or patio?
www.dirtydrive-...

[@Gkelly-ml3eh]

I would just like to say that I find your videos so informative and helpful. You really take the time to explain everything in great detail and do so in a simplified way which makes it even better and easier to understand. Thank you so much and I wish you great success with your business. You deserve a big 👍

[@DirtyDriveAway]

Thank you. I hope they have been of some help.

[@abc908]

Wow, just starting out in the pressure washing trade, I've learnt loads from your advice. Thankyou so much

[@DirtyDriveAway]

Your welcome

[@TheSoloAsylum]

I bought 2.5 gallons of 14% yesterday for $2.00. Used about three cups to do my fence and shed and it was super effective, almost instant results and costs nothing.

[@Name-ml6pi]

Why not pool chlorine

[@DaveB324]

Bleach (hypo) is dead after around an hour on the floor so no point waiting longer If it's hot give it a light misting with water occasionally to keep it wet You could do a spot on job with hypo at 2% on those slabs

[@chloedevereaux1801]

i find a good stiff wire brush and bleach is very effective on black spot, also a cracking workout and very theraputic :D

[@DirtyDriveAway]

You can do but unless its a stainless brush when using strong bleach it reacts with the steel bristles and causes rust. This can then end up making a bit of a stain on the slabs.

[@karensayers3919]

Just saved a fortune thanks

[@DirtyDriveAway]

Welcome

[@Name-ml6pi]

What about a dash of dish soap in the bucket

[@DirtyDriveAway]

Name problem is dish soap has no effect on these types of marks. Also dish soap and a jet wash don't mix too well, the bubbles and foam it produces under high pressure although fun can be a pain to rinse away. I've heard of people adding dish soap when using it on vertical surfaces to aid in it sticking but it doesn't boost the bleaches power or anything.

[@victormeldroo]

great vid mate,

[@garyhodgson9533]

My patio has a lawn around it and it slopes to the lawn . Will it kill the lawn ?

[@DirtyDriveAway]

No its not a weedkiller but it can turn the edges white. Give the lawn a good soaking and that will help minimise absorption. It's not the most ideal situation but if its well wetted the grass will grow back fine.

[@completeexteriorcleaningse750]

Looks great Phil nice one

[@DirtyDriveAway]

Cheers mate

[@jamesatkins4995]

Hi Phil, love the vid. just a little worried that someone could walk up the path. Go into the house and burn the carpets. So I think I would stay on site.

[@SirBenJamin_]

Do you know if this will damage the resin patio pointing compound ? (SIKA ETC) ? cheers

[@DirtyDriveAway]

@SirBenJamin_ no it won't but a jet wash will. Resin pointing is soft as toffee and will blow out very easily.

[@michaeldominy2084]

Good very good, have you tried bleach unwatered via a watering can , I ask because I wondered if that was a better way.🤔😊.

[@DirtyDriveAway]

Yes this is now an old video. I use a pump sprayer now and a much stronger chemical. Its still chlorine based but swimming pool grade sodium hypochlorite. The problem with household bleach is that it's really too thick to work with, it ends up like runny snot. When watered down too much it reduces its strength. There is another video on my channel where I re visited this house. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXaTnneEd7eciNksi=0lBvCcICQ04mfeHC

[@lifeevent88]

Wont adding a sealed on top after this prevent it from voming back? :)

[@DirtyDriveAway]

Not really, most sandstone sealers are impregnating sealers. It can help stop them digging too deep but in honesty sealers dont last long. A mild biocide wash every year is the best option to keep them at bay.

[@nizmohamed1234]

I've been shopping around for bleaches most of them are 4.47per/100gm. Lidl brand is 4.8gm if that helps anyone out and is 95p for 2L. Any idea what metre squared coverage a litre of bleach will get you?

[@DirtyDriveAway]

Niz Mohamed best stuff is 14/15% sodium hypochlorite About £1.25L and is nearly 3x stronger than bleach. In my other video I used 20L to give a 40sqM patio 2 doses.

[@nizmohamed1234]

Dirty Drive-Away I've taken your advice, seen your other video and ordered 10L of sodium hypochlorite. I don't have wellies, just some old jeans and trainers I use for diy work. how badly will this damage shoes & clothing? I do understand it mustn't contact skin. it's not going to melt my old trainer's soles is it?

[@DirtyDriveAway]

Niz Mohamed No it won't melt the soles, it's not acid. It will take the colour out of clothing pretty quick. It's not going to melt clothes on contact but if left untreated will make the threads weak over time causing holes. Avoid getting it on your skin, it's not going to melt your hand but can make it a bit itchy if your sensitive. Just wear some latex/nitrile gloves.

[@davidrobinson140944]

Dirty Drive-Away p

[@markylon]

never ever use thick bleach

[@andreafoord7825]

great result. Does the bleach hurt the plants when washed off?

[@DirtyDriveAway]

Andrea Foord it may do, especially if using stronger sodium hypochlorite. I've heard that by giving plants and grass a good soaking beforehand can help stop it absorbing any bleach. If you have lots of bordering plants I would be careful. phill

[@TheSoloAsylum]

nope...

[@lilleypops1868]

Why don’t you advice them to seal it?

[@DirtyDriveAway]

Doesn't last very long ona driveway.

[@DenBank1]

I just spent 24 pounds on teak cleaner and reviver that didn’t perform well on my teak garden bench. Do you think bleach will be effective too to remove black stains on teak ? Thanks. I subscribed.

[@DirtyDriveAway]

Hmm bleach and wood don't mix too well. I'm not saying it can't be used but bleach can destroy the woods lignins which are the natural fibres binding the wood together. Revivers and such don't tend to do a lot, they are mainly designed for mild dirt but never work well on mould etc. You could try sodium percarbonate (vanish powder, 60g per L) spray and leave for an hour, a scrub won't hurt either. If it's really mouldy and you have nothing to loose then you can try a bleach solution but I wouldn't leave it on for more than about 15mins. Mould on wood can really penetrate wood and sometimes even sanding it won't remove it. Phill

[@yvonnegrosvenor2289]

Can you use this method on normal paving slabs

[@DirtyDriveAway]

Yes you can use it on most paving. Probably avoid it on dark stone like black limestone as it may fade the colour.

[@chloedevereaux1801]

lol if i went into my local s market and bought 15ltrs of bleach they'd call the police as would think im building a bomb lol :D

[@johngreydanus2033]

Or cleaning up a bloody murder scene!

[@seanoverend7297]

Get yourself a watering can. An put the shower head on. If its a hot day . Wet with normal water 1st.

[@DirtyDriveAway]

Dude this video is 7yrs old. Application methods are so much easier now with dedicated tools.

[@seanoverend7297]

Didn't realise it was 7 years old. And was just trying 2 help. Just like u was posting this video. Keep up the good work

[@DirtyDriveAway]

@seanoverend7297 ha, ha yeah as time goes on methods get easier. Yes a watering can would work but as a professional pressure washer I use an xjet for anything less than 2:1 mix. Anything stronger needs the pack sprayer.

[@JoePeddie]

That trusty yellow clothes basket , strikes again , lol :)

[@DirtyDriveAway]

The trusty bucket has since been retired. It's no longer the way I apply this stuff. It was put to work for other uses. Its since been replaced as it broke, R.I.P yellow bucket.

[@JoePeddie]

@@DirtyDriveAway I am gutted :( I did my pavers , not been cleaned in 30 years with the bucket system . Worked a treat. First i had to jet wash the moss and dirt and i left a hell of a mess on the road. I looked and was thinking how the hell am i going to clear that. Just as i was thinking that a road sweeper came round the corner and scooped it all up. He comes only once to two times a year. What timing lol

[@DirtyDriveAway]

@@JoePeddie Talk about timing, rinsing down the street is always a pain, especially if there is no drainage. Glad it all worked out for you. Seeing as your such a fan of my yellow bucket I'm now going to name him Joe, in your honour. Maybe he'll make an appearance In a future video.

[@JoePeddie]

@@DirtyDriveAway I feel very honoured I think :/

[@steveh4873]

Hi, do you manage to clean drives and that permanently as a full time business or is it just a bit of extra work as and when? How long have you been doing it and what made you get into it, thanks

[@DirtyDriveAway]

Not really it is a summer thing to be fair. Saying that I have enough cleaning work throughout the summer to keep me booked for 7 months straight. Ive been doing it for 3 years. You've got to invest in proper equipment mind. If you buy cheap it's likely to fail under the stress thats put on it for these jobs.

[@rigged7469]

hi mate was this a call back or did you change extra for this thanks

[@DirtyDriveAway]

martin bar hi martin, i cleaned it and these wouldnt come out. This was one of my first experiences using bleach and he was willing to be a guinea pig for a free crack at it. All turned out good and ive been using the stronger stuff ever since...its bloody magic.

[@nicmcdonnell9864]

What brush is that mate?

[@sanmiguel4019]

That's from the Wolf-Garten range.

[@michaelkilner5031]

Hi.do you use a turbo nozzle or surface washer for the initial clean of the stone.

[@DirtyDriveAway]

michael kilner Hi, I only ever use a turbo nozzle on block paving. A turbo nozzle on natural stone is way to aggressive. It can de layer the stone quite easily. Natural stone is very delicate and ideally needs a wider angle nozzle to avoid de layering. You could go down to about 25deg for some of the tougher marks but anything more concentrated may damage it. I'm not saying you can't hit it with anything tougher, it's just in my experience anything to tough can damage stone and also break out mortar. Turbo nozzles are best left to solid jobs that have no mortar joints. I use them on block pave And walls mainly. So long as the wall mortar is sound. Don't touch decking with them either as you can splinter the wood or even start cutting through it if your on enough power.

[@DirtyDriveAway]

michael kilner you could use a surface rotary washer but I find that they can be a bit inconsistent and can leave the stones a bit patchy if not used on high enough power. Means you'll have to touch it up with a lance after. I have a rotary cleaner but I rarely use it as i prefer the consistent cleaning power of a vario lance.

[@rigged7469]

Dirty Drive-Away cheers mate 👍

[@Name-ml6pi]

Where is the first cleaning video

[@DirtyDriveAway]

Name this is an old video where I showed that household bleach could be used. I have many different videos using hypochlorite.

[@bhavikpatel5054]

Brilliant video again, thank you :) What would you use to to repair mortar if it’s brittle and missing in areas also filling small MM gaps in the mortar, after pressure washing? Also to stop weeds coming through.

[@DirtyDriveAway]

If I was repairing mortar joints I would mix up sand/cement as it's much better than pre mixed stuff. You can't really repair mortar, it will always crack at some stage. If it's the actual mortar that's cracked either leave it or break out and replace. You don't use sand cement on block paving, you can use a poly sand but they can be messy.

[@davidfisher7541]

I use 10% sh works a treat