Patio Cleaners vs Pressure Washer Put to the Test with Surprising Results!

[@richarddavies5711]

As a professional landscaper I’ve had to clean some seriously stained patios in my time with lichen (black spots) being the toughest to remove since pressure washing alone might remove most of the stain but won’t kill the fungus so will grow back. What works best in my experience is sodium hypochlorite in the the 20litre drums you get from agricultural suppliers. Brush the patio first and dilute 1 part hypochlorite to 3 parts water in a watering can and use the watering can to cover the patio evenly. Leave for 5 mins then scrub over with a stiff yard brush and leave for another 10 to 15 mins and then pressure wash it off. If it’s a large patio or a hot day do 1 section each time it’s important to not let the diluted hypochlorite dry before pressure washing. After pressure washing rinse again with a hose pipe and flood any areas where the hypochlorite has run off onto grass. Be Carefull as it is strong stuff try not to breathe it in and it will bleach any clothing so wear old clothes and wellingtons. It also works well on the red fungus on roughcast walls using a sprayer. Also I’ve noticed that the hypochlorite once opened weakens over time so if you’ve got old stuff that’s been sitting in the shed for years it won’t work as well.

[@andrewholdsworth2198]

Used that stuff on my granite paving I used the recommended mix but it ruined the colour it was never the same

[@richarddavies5711]

@@andrewholdsworth2198 I’ve never used it on granite myself only on Indian sandstone and concrete slabs. Can’t say I’ve ever come across a granite patio it’s not very common.

[@newvision4071]

Thats basically a more convents bleach

[@justrobin1234]

I guess you'd need a seriously good mask for this; pressure washers put *so much* vapour into the air kicking up from the surface you're cleaning) that it'd be impossible not to breathe in a lot of that without a mask that worked to prevent vapour/moisture in the air surely?

[@Billy_Bull_Sheeter]

Is there any alternative. Something not as toxic

[@0796logsplitter]

Wet and forget has worked best for me. Spray in spring and then again in the autumn. Not an instant cleaner but give it time and be patient and the stuff works

[@sparkmeister4706]

Just bought this and a sprayer. Hopefully the fences will come up again

[@shellyford7937]

Been using Wet and Forget for years. Brilliant stuff but it does say that it doesn't remove dirt.

[@mrts5057]

I know a friend who uses wet and forget on his roof tiles (bungalow) and it cleans all the moss and green right off within a few weeks. It looks like he's jet washed his roof

[@maxv77]

I worked for a farmer who had a flag stone patio that was many years old but still looked like new. He told me he used washing powder and just scrubbed it with a hard brush. I tried that and it worked a treat. It's also really good at getting oil off engines. I used it on some garage fule pumps I once had to clean. Again. Looked like new and smelt nice on the forecourt 👍 And no harmful chemicals to worry about. Also white vinager is great for getting stubborn stains off stones

[@lindapullan6937]

Great tips, thanks. I think you need to avoid vinegar if your patio stones are made of limestone.

[@HandyChick]

I find vinegar 30% only wotkd on weeds, for patio cleaning Sodium Hypoclorite does the job

[@garrywiseman2870]

Are you sure he was a farmer? I've never met one who cared about anything looking clean & tidy and if he did he'd use the most noxious, non-environmentally friendly chemical around .

[@maxv77]

@@garrywiseman2870 yeah retired farmer.

[@maxthecat14]

@@garrywiseman2870 Well you just haven't met the right farmers.

[@dreunmason8315]

So I've only used this pressure washer one time. kzbin.infoUgkxfQauTxLT0JLSvqkq10rD79TU4k0Vz8zP The one time I used it, it worked great. I recently had new siding installed but kept the old gutters and small areas surrounding my house that weren't replaced so they looked horrible and dirty because of the new siding. I needed to get it cleaned asap. When I used the pressure washer, man it just melted all the dirt and grime that was on those areas of my house. I used that krud kutter soap and it was over after that. Easy to assemble, feels durable, very simple to use. Also, I purchased a used one to save money and there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. I want to get more use out of it so I think I'll be washing the cars and update this comment as time goes on.

[@davy999]

I have had extensive experience of using patio cleaners and pressure washers on patios. My findings are that patio cleaners take 3-6 months to make a visual difference. But once they work they keep the patio clean for up to 2 years. So what I do is to use the pressure washer to bring the patio back to 'as new'. Then a watering to soak the now clean stones with patio cleaner. The patio then stays clean for a long time.

[@Billy_Bull_Sheeter]

What about using a stone sealant on the stone?

[@kevinward4271]

I spray mine every 6 months never wash it, its like new, it works but takes time. Use pro-green now much cheaper and two options of dilution for dirty or just light soiling.

[@PaulCallan45]

I agree, deep clean first (with either a pressure washer or good old fashion scrubbing brush) then spray with a patio cleaner/sealer. OK, a bit more work, but only needs to be done once a year.

[@scotty6648]

Yes Stuart, pressure washer all the time. I sometimes soak with just soapy water before pressure washing. Works all the time. Never found so called patio cleaners to work. And of course using the pressure washer is therapeutic 😊😊

[@brondahawkins4526]

We have just tried a product called Proclean, Ultimate Black Spot Destroyer and it is extremely impressive. Sprayed it on with a similar sprayer to yours and immediately it starts to fizz. Within a few minutes the colour of the Indian sandstone slabs started to reappear. It says leave for between 2 and 4 hours an then hose off but I actually used a pressure washer with the fan nozzle we use for cleaning the cars. The results were amazing having thought we'd never seen the colours again like it was when first laid the slabs thats despite pressure washing the patio sometimes twice a year. Its not cheap at £42-00 for two 5 litre cans but well with it.

[@Jeff_348]

That rust stain at 11:20 can be removed by using fallout remover from any car accessory store. Its's the stuff you normally use to clean wheels etc (turns purple as it dissolves rust etc).

[@EdithWeston]

Nice, one ... tried all sorts of things to remove our rust stains from porcelain exterior tiles, even acid... Ciff or Jiff worked a little, however stains still there. Will try fallout remover now. Cheers!

[@deanhowes1577]

Oh dear Stuart, many of us have learned this lesson for ourselves. Just like you, I have Indian sandstone slabs which look fabulous when clean, and I noticed you have a number of slabs with the tell tale black spots indicating Lichen growth. A pressure washer alone cant eradicate this problem (sometimes it makes the problem worse). After some research online I followed advice that said to use SODIUM HYPERCHLORITE aka swimming pool cleaner which is essentially a strong bleach at 14%-19%. cleans the slabs a treat and removes all trace of algae and Lichen. I now follow this process annually in spring with a 'maintenance spray of a patio cleaner mid season for the best of both worlds. Hope this helps you and other followers.

[@STEPHAN1808]

This is the best way!

[@MrSmid888]

Yep, I just used 15% for the first time. I used it neat, brushed in, it foamed up white, waited 20 mins, rinsed off away from any grass or beds. Like new. To think of the hours I’ve spent jetting slabs for years. You’ve just got to take care using it and plan ahead. The internet has made purchasing the stuff really accessible, no idea where you’d have bought it 20 years ago. It’s absolutely hassle free. Is it for the most basic diy’er, mmh I don’t know, could be dangerous. Maybe for this channel it’s risky to promote a “pro” chemical.

[@LiveFromLondon2]

what you described is absolutely the best way to do it. however, once clean, ordinary household beach will do the job. Its the same stuff, SH, but at 5% instead of 15....!

[@danwillson8393]

Totally agree. Used SH for first time this year on patio that had lots of black spot etc. Hard work brushing it all in but wow, was it worth it. Given what impact it had, likely may not need to do it again for a couple of years, so can just jet wash (with round patio head) dirt off in the meantime.

[@anthonyat2401]

Great and much-needed test. I have a load of this stuff and I'm not surprised it doesn't work. Whatever it kills stays there and whatever can't be killed, stays there too.

[@Mister_H]

We use ‘Wet and Forget’ which I think was the original of these types of products and it performs very well. The instructions on that state it needs rain after the initial 4 days to help it work. It’s ideal for older more fragile surfaces. It also states it can take months and not days to see the best results. Slow but sure 😊

[@csehszlovakze]

I'm not from the UK so I'm not familiar with any of these, are these products basically disinfectants then?

[@imconfused1237]

Anything that claims to “take months” IS snake oil. Within that same time, the surface will have got dirtier - so it’s all just relying on the placebo effect.

[@sparkmeister4706]

Rain is something we get every day in the UK. 😂 ​@@csehszlovakze

[@rad1sh480]

I've used spray and walk away. It's great for mould and lichen, but it can take weeks to work (like wet and forget, probably a better product), although algae disappears pretty quickly. It removed mould that pressure washing simply didn't touch. Also useful on tarmac, so you don't pressure wash the top surface into oblivion!

[@clivedeer6211]

I've got the same pressure washer as you Stuart and I have the big round head accessory ideally suited to patios as you don't get spray going everywhere, it works really well and I think uses less water to boot!

[@richardstewart6900]

Agreed. We've used 2 versions of the big round head accessory - had to buy the 2nd (a more basic model than the first) as the 1st wouldn't fit the new machine when we had to replace the pressure washer. They're far less messy to use although we still need the ordinary washer head to get into corners by walls. And then for some unknown reason, last time we tried to use it, that 2nd one had virtually no effect whatsoever. Water would come through and the jet bars turn, but it simply wasn't cleaning. So I tried to fit the original one again and, somehow, managed to get it on, albeit with the gun assembly at an angle. Much better! We do have some chemical goop and I may finish that but it's unlikely I'll buy more.

[@BrianGentles]

Agreed too. I used to use the spiral lance thing and spent ages getting everything clean. The old pressure washer failed and I got a new one that came with a patio cleaner attachment (the big round one) and it's so much quicker. Yes, you have to revert back to the regular lance to get in the corners but it makes a huge difference.

[@Billy_Bull_Sheeter]

It doesn't clean it as well as with the hose though.i used the round patio cleaner and if you go over the area again with a hose after using the patio attachment you will see it will clean it more

[@MrSmid888]

20 yrs I’ve cleaned many patios, block paving, roofs. If you’re jetting you know it blows out the kiln dried on block paving, a right mess. I just bought sodium hypochlorite for the first time, from Amazon, 15%, 10L tub. I wore shorts and t-shirt, gloves, shades and a baseball cap. I poured it neat onto pavers and brushed in, left it 20 mins and washed off (away from grass obviously) looks like new. No hassle, no hundreds of litres of water, no extra mess from jetting. I then poured it into an empty “Wet and forget” sniper tub, you attach hose to it and you can chose the driveway spray nozzle or the sniper jet to spray on roof, I soaked my lawn in water, sprayed roof, (rinsed my arms and legs as I went just incase any splash back) I then reloaded tub with some “wet and forget” and applied it afterwards. My neighbour had her roof done by those cash in the hand folks, hypo and jetted, looks good but very hard clean, but mines is just as clean but more natural looking, not strip bleached. Anyway I’m blabbing on, all il say is hypo is far quicker than jetting. Absolutely stress free. Just be extremely careful working with it. I had a few pink spots on T-shirt, zero skin burns, obviously diluted through the hose thing I used. Jetting takes hours and so much water it’s insane. Concrete slabs take longer than stone to jet. Look up “wet and forget” on Amazon, but the pink sniper tub stuff to attach hose to, once used, fill with hypo. Great for roof. Slabs I’d suggest 15% hypo, honestly 20 mins and you’re done. Wear PPE, especially on eyes.

[@munro12]

I find the chemical cleaner works over months and repeated applications every 6months keeps my drive looking great. Yes pressure washing is great but it blasts the pointing out and eventually takes the surface off mono blocks and slabs. I treated the tiles on my roof too and it looks brand new now.

[@tomburton8239]

Absolutely right. I used to jet blast, but that wrecked the pointing - and then penetrated under the slabs. Soon they were wobbling…. So an expensive re-laying and re-pointing followed after a few years. Since then I’ve used Wet-n-Forget a couple of times per year, and it’s fantastic. Great results, and can be used on walls and mildew/moss too.

[@jsmith1071]

Totally agree. We used to jet wash but haven’t done it for years. We spray when needed and it keeps it looking nice but with no need to brush sand in etc. I also find the weeds don’t come back in the way they used to after jet washing.

[@olivercowan]

I use a scrubbing brush, patio brush, elbow grease and collected water from washing up/showering. Looks great and gives me a workout too.

[@-Pol-]

There's a lot to be said for elbow grease. I use a push mower and a scythe in my garden now and it's a lot less hassle than fuelling up and maintaining a petrol mower and strimmer. SO much more peaceful too!

[@jazzman1626]

@@-Pol- Push mowers have a nice peaceful sound to them.

[@PerformanceSC]

Great video Stuart and I, like yourself and everyone else, want a spray and walk away solution to my drive and patio, but a pressure washer is the only solution that works. The downsides are the amount of water it puts down in a large area, the messy splashback and clean up and the pointing it can remove. However, there is no alternative, the patio cleaners are so mild now compared to years ago that they just don’t enable them to clean the slabs/block paving.

[@garybaldwin4556]

Another informative video. Thanks. I have always used the pressure washer and will be doing my patio again in a couple of weeks. I avoid chemicals whenever possible. You know what I have found works for clearing the algae - plain household vinegar. Just spray it on. A lot cheaper than chemical products. Add some dishwashing detergent and it's also great for cleaning just about anything else, shower tiles, glass, mirrors etc.

[@VenaiSingh-o9x]

Hi. I have to agree that the chemicals on their own do not clean properly. I have found that they have to be used with a pressure washer to get the patio really clean. I have now switched to a rotating brush attachment to the pressure cleaner and this has reduced the time spent on cleaning the patio. Great video…I have learned so much from your videos…thanks so much

[@the_judge_8262]

Rotating brush definitely speeds things up 👍🏼

[@philipford3921]

Cheers Stuart. I used patio magic and was underwhelmed. I use diluted bleach and a hard broom. Leave for 20 mins and rinse. Works a treat on my Indian sandstone but quite hard work.

[@joesmay]

I’ve used Patio Magic for the last 5 years and have always been happy. No quick fix but over the weeks, I think it reacts with the sun and does come good in the end.

[@happygardener3990]

Absolutely agree. I wouldn't use anything else. It seems to get better as time goes on and then the next year it's not nearly as bad. Can't understand why people don't rate it. Not needed to pressure wash my patio for the last 3 years.

[@christopherbutts3346]

I have as well over the weeks and months it gets better and better my patio looks great and the colour has come back into it

[@tydanum]

Patio Magic is really good, been using it for a few years now, it lasts about two years 🇬🇧

[@hugochka]

I've been through several cleaning options and my conclusions are: 1 instead of those expensive products just use bleach (same results but way cheaper). And 2, for deep clean patios, the pressure washer is best but I use an accessory (patio cleaner head) that covers a wider area making it a breeze in comparison to the normal pointing thing.

[@mrpurpleman9698]

How are you applying the bleach on the patio? Like a pre-treatment via a watering can or maybe its better to fill a bottle of bleach and use the suction and pre-mix lance setting I was thinking.

[@ralphtaylor5328]

Pressure washer is best for cleaning. A few points some of which you may have made in the PW video. Need to take care you do not wash the grout out, wash across not along the grout. With pressure washers you need somewhere to swill (or manage) the dirt you have just released- especially for very dirty paving. Also there is a tendency to slash surrounding items with the dirtied water so rinsing them is also often needed. The "foam" that you washed off is probably the long term protection provided by the chemicals. Perhaps it is best to wash and then apply the chemicals. Then the troublesome areas should stay free of algae until the next clean is required.

[@av2367]

Hey Stuart. After using the pressure washer you can use a coating on the patio. This keeps the tiles longer clean. The coating is not cheap, but you don't have to pressure wash the patio every year.

[@johnmulligan7609]

I’ve been pressure washing for but this year I used patio cleaner put on with a yard brush left it for a couple of hours them pressure washed. The results were the best I’ve ever had!

[@bitTorrenter]

That still would have been down to the pressure washer. The biocides take a while to kill off the green growth.

[@JamesTombs]

Wet and Forget is brilliant. Rather than pressure washing 4-5 times a year, I now do it once at the beginning of Spring and at the end of October. After the Spring clean the patio stays clean of algae/moss for 6 months.

[@dirtyface091]

no good just chemicals but they do help but pressure washing is the only way

[@marionwilliams4244]

Totally agree! It's by far the best. It works gradually so you have to be patient. I've tried almost all the others and they are not a patch on W&F

[@owenthomas6923]

Recommended wet and forget to a work colleague. Unfortunately, he couldn't quite remember the name when he tried to buy some. Apparently, wet and wild is not the same thing.

[@JamesTombs]

@@dirtyface091 it won't clean mud etc but nothing really will other than abrasion or pressure washer. Mud isn't really an issue for me, it's the greenery that's the problem and wet and forget sorts that out perfectly and keeps it looking good for ages. My neighbour recommended it to me, probably after getting annoyed with the pressure washer coming out all the time.

[@neutralcorner5950]

Why did the guy not try W&F?! Been using it for over 10 years & been very happy with it. Have not tried any of the products he poorly reviewed. He wanted them to fail didn’t he?! Pressure washers are bad news, making surface more porous & removing grout & sand in driveways. Hose & brush to remove dirt then W&F.

[@rafflesnh]

Thanks for this Stuart. I've long wondered if these chemical 'cleaners' are any good, but experience has suggested that anything that promises to be effortless is just snake oil! So I've just used the pressure washer instead. As you say, it's quite laborious work but the results are much quicker and more satisfying. For something that only needs doing once or twice a year, that's worth the effort imo. I also pre-wet the patio with the garden hose just to help lift the dirt a little beforehand. ps. @15:18 the label on the Jeyes clearly shows that it is supposed to remove 'dirt', which one would assume makes the patio look cleaner too.

[@andyc972]

Thanks for this Stuart, I appreciate your sense of humour, who thought patio cleaning could be so entertaining ! I don't think you were really surprised by the results of this test, people are still recommending chemicals and I can see they may help both before and after jet washing but they will not make it clean ! I don't know myself but could something like Thompson's water seal (or similar) help with very porous surfaces like your sandstone ! I think generally we worry too much about cleaning the surface completely, as long as there is no slippery algae and moss, the odd bit of lichen adds character and does no harm ! Jet washing is very satisfying though !

[@idesignsltd6983]

Wet and forget is the best Stuart I use it each year it even works brilliant on my boat as well ie the canvas roof. Try it when you can. Great video as always

[@philvincent5660]

That stuff is Magic!

[@iangarland7707]

Like some of the comments... I use sodium hyperchlorate... diluted... we get a large drum of it from our pool supply company and then dilute to about 10:1. We apply it and you see the results very quickly...within minutes and it keeps working. Need to use protective shoes, gloves, eye protectors and best with a face mask too. We get brilliant results compared to your three tested products... as we have a vast amount of sandstone patios it is much more efficient to spray vs jet wash. Another upside is I find the pointing is not damaged compared to when we used to jet wash...

[@johnj4130]

Hi Stuart, I use the pressure washer first, then apply an acid based chemical to kill off any mold/blackspots etc. I also do this treatment on my decking before oiling.

[@davidclarkson1275]

Hi .. I’m a hard landscaper as well as a patio cleaner … for sandstone to be cleaned and stay clean , I find that when you pressure wash the slabs , that’s the best clean you’ll get .. the other thing to do to keep them clean is to spray a product called BAC 50 Diluted 20 parts water 1 part chemical every 6 months .. usually does the job … one thing I will mention .. I notice you have weeds growing out of your patio joints … the best advice I can give you would to use ultrascape free flow slurry grout .. absolute solid …

[@anneparker5378]

BAC 50 is Benzalconium Chloride - works a treat - I found 10ml to 1 litre of water worked fine.

[@mickeyfilmer5551]

To be honest, I would rather use a pressure washer anyway, because it's not adding who knows what chemicals to the garden environment. Great review though, The results are pretty conclusive. my Concrete pathway needs a good clean, and I am planning to use a hard bristle yard brush and my son's energy, as I am now retired and just delegate- except when it comes to cooking the BBQ! which is where I am off to now with a beer! Cheers Stuart!

[@harmoneedj]

Great video which has confirmed the way I do mine is perhaps best. Each late march/early April I presdure wash my patio, then after it dries I pour patio magic all over. The pressure washing gets rid of the dirt and algae, the patio magic brightens the patio over time and helps to keep the algae from coming back for the rest of the year. I only pressure wash once a year. Without using the patio magic it's significantly harder to get the patio clean come april. I've also found that aldi sell a patio magic equivalent for far cheaper which is just as good

[@justrobin1234]

I think this is basically a win for using the pressure washer a couple of times a year and less poisonous chemicals into the air/water table. Trying to minimise the number of chemicals used in my garden and be comfortable with 'less than perfection'!

[@davidbradshaw2982]

I’ve used the Wet and Forget product for a few years now. Brush the patio with a stiff brush then spray the surface with 1 part chemical to 4 parts water in January time. Find the weather helps to get the chemical to work and by early spring the patio is lovely and clean. I don’t reckon you’ve allowed the chemicals long enough to work

[@M..R....]

Totally agree with your results...pressure washer is the way to CLEAN LIKE NEW. I use a Karcher K7 on my "light beige" ceramic patio tiles and it gets rid of all the green algae and ingrained dirt bringing them up like new. Another thing pressure washing does is get rid of any grass/weeds between patio slabs . Thumbs up for your video .

[@janyshendrickson3833]

Good, honest product comparison. Thank you. Back to the tried and true pressure washer system 👍

[@rosso2017]

Nice video. I use both as I don’t think it’s an either/or solution. Patio magic for 7 days to kill any algae, followed by pressure washer to clear the dirt.

[@kirkhamandy]

I have always just pressured washed. This year however after pressuring washing I used Freescale Black Spot Remover. As I expected it really only faded the black spots. However, I was stunned by how much better the patio looked than pressure washing alone. This will be my method every year from now on. Pressure wash as normal first and then use the product afterward. (edit: I should add, this product is some strong bleach-based system, not only the PPE but if you get it on clothes then they'll look like some 1970s tie-dye hippy crap)

[@LiveFromLondon2]

for maintenance, household bleach is cheaper and just as effective. (its the same thing - sodium hypochlorate)

[@martinmorgan9]

There are numerous KZbin videos that show how commerial grade 15% Sodium Hypochlorite is extremely effective if used carefully with the eight PPE. I've tried thick bleach used 50/50 with dishwashing detergent (as demonstrated on KZbin) to be effective along with brushing to vastly reduce the pesky black mould spots.

[@guinnessdublin4669]

Totally agree you can’t beat using a pressure washer for that newly laid look again, although the only down side I have found is that each time you do this it must remove some martial & I found the algae had an easier time of growing back!

[@TheLukemcdaniel]

The chemicals likely help prevent it coming back. There's probably a less dangerous chemical you can use to do the same thing.

[@LiveFromLondon2]

@@TheLukemcdaniel bleach.

[@drewl4921]

Just cleaned my patio, tried the patio head cleaner with the jet washer which was fine to start but then it stopped turning round so just used the normal nozzle, worked well. With pets and lots of wildlife in the garden I’d never use chemicals.

[@therogers4432]

When the nozzle stops spinning it's (in my experience at least...) because sandy bits of the stone or concrete surface have splashed-up and added friction to where the spinning part meets the base of the patio cleaning head.. With a Karcher there are steel C-clips above the join that you can pull out with needlenose pliers or pry out with a screwdriver and seperate the spinning part from the arm on which it is mounted by pulling it downwards, then just rinse the sand/grit/gunk out with water and an old toothbrush and reassemble everything, and it works like it did the first day I had it. I now do this after I finish cleaning the patio and it takes

[@edwardhammock24]

A great vid. Many thanks for testing. I've got a karcher 7 with the whirly nozzle, agree that it leaves spirals, I also find that it will remove masonry if you're not careful and is brutal on a tarmac drive!

[@habsishpeeweed6562]

It only leaves spirals when you don’t clean the stones properly.

[@billwhiz1]

patio magic always takes few weeks to work for me including a couple of rainy days with amazing results jet wash is fine but if you use it on concrete slabs or paths it tends to erode surface after a couple of years not had any eroding from patio magic

[@GrahamJohnson-y1s]

I have used both methods and several of the chemicals for years now and my preference is Patio Magic especial if used on concrete blocks. Jet washing will clean but it won’t last any where as long and will increase the erosion of any grout or concrete. The trick with patio magic is to put it on at a 4:1 ratio then leave it for at least a month. Then when it’s had some rain have a look at the difference between what you have jet washed and where the patio magic has been. It’s also excellent for cleaning algae etc off UPVC conservatory’s. If you are going to jet was I would recommend using the T-racer attachment as it speeds the job up and help stop the dirt from going everywhere. Do try patio magic again but have patience.

[@barrywall3333]

Great video Stuart, agree with this as I have tried everything to avoid pressure washing the patio but the chemical cleaners just don't cut it!

[@Humanity0101]

Why did you not want to pressure wash? I'm just curious.

[@UnfittedNoise]

I use these twice a year over the winter period, just makes pressure washing in spring much easier as no deep levels of algae etc. The spray and walk away can be bought in pure form so you dilute yourself which is much better.

[@counterdebate]

I just used the "karcher k5" with the "dirt blaster lance" with the "karcher splash guard" and job done in one go, No chemicals, no extra costs, no splashed up dirt everywhere, no wet clothes! 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@twotonetedfromteddingtone4584]

Patio magic worked for me. Diluted it in a watering can, gently applied and brushed in with a garden brush. Took 24 hours and all green was gone. Our slabs are quite new so maybe with age the dirt becomes more engrained.

[@topgazza]

I use. KArcher pressure washer with the patio cleaning tool. Use the detergent and my patio looks great. My main issue is Saharan sand dust on the patio which kind of bakes on during the summer. The pressure washer does the job

[@NoCPU]

I wonder if these would be effective after a jetwash as a preventative measure. Next video suggestion; after a spray clean, spray some of the slabs with the chemicals and monitor if algae growth is delayed for longer. 😊

[@teachermanret]

Totally agree with the final comments. I use a well known brand or yellow pressure washers, and yes, it is very satisfying to see the dirt being peeled off. Instead of a really grey and mucky look we get a nice cream colour. But it all needs doing twice a year.

[@ashleyberry1116]

Just say Karcher

[@Timmy51m]

We have an absolutely massive stone patio in Wales that gets green as hell every year, just taken me 2 weeks of 3 hours a day to get it clean with a k5 karcher pressure washer. What I can say is we used the patio magic through the winter period a couple of years ago and it hugely reduced the green we had the next spring, all we were doing was washing the dirt off then which was a lot quicker. We didn't use it this winter, and I really wish we had now.

[@mungoh42]

Three points: 1. Buy a longer rigid pieceof tubing and extend the spray wand to stop you bending forward unnecessarily. 2. The spinning rotary washer is wonderful and MUST be tried, purely for speed 3. Wait until a damp day to pressure wash, since the grime will be softened beforehand.

[@nswinoz3302]

You beat me to it on ALL three points.

[@nswinoz3302]

@@Justwhois what can I say I bought my first Kracher about 25 years ago and got told by the experience trades man in my Bunnings store NOT to use it for more than 45mins continuously. After 20 years of regular use it’s worn out. I’ve got two thrown out units picked up from the side of the road (not uncommon in Oz) both operational. Therefore have some experience with high pressure cleaners (spinning rotary wand) I would not go passed these as they work exceedingly well and even gave a second handle one to my neighbour as she bought a new unit without this head. They work well and quickly if you can maintain a constant height. Regardless I looked at this as any alternative and would still recommend the use of Sodium hypochlorite, which is a concentrated form of bleach to kill the mould and stop it coming back after you physically remove it! NSW in Oz

[@makingitthrough190]

My patio is the local “High Street” for about 5 neighbourhood cats so I rather think chemicals are not suitable. Fortunately our problem seems to be moss rather than mold, but it is going to be so satisfying to get it cleaned up! Thanks, though for taking one for the team on this dilemma.

[@selenea7788]

I have never used a pressure washer on my Indian stone patio. I use a diluted Jeyes fluid, mop bucket and hard head brush, for wetting and brushing/scrubbing the patio. Immediately, I see green areas lifting as I go. When dry, I then rinse the patio using a garden house removing the algae and black areas between the slabs and brushing as I go. Although a tad labour-intensive, I do get great results.

[@TheJonkilleen]

Thanks for another great video Stuart. The biggest time saver I've come across is the T-Racer attachment to the pressure washer. Seems to give all the benefits of pressure washing in less than half the time.

[@deanwellerassociates]

I was introduced to hypochlorite sodium last year and it immediately made years of dirt and weed residue lift from some stubborn slabs. Now use it in 5 or 6 to 1 as a general weed killer for the drive and patio on very dry days.

[@Keepingthefaith72]

Thanks for saving me money, I thought what a great idea I have always used a pressure washer. Was a big disappointment when they still looked dull. I`ll stick with using the pressure washer and then spraying with a Path & Patio sealer which I find keeps it looking cleaner for longer...

[@Bawdsey64]

From personal experience both a pressure washer and Patio Magic work, the latter we have been using for many years. Yes, the pressure washer gets it cleaner or shinier but I am convinced that it damages the surface of the slabs over time where as Patio Magic does not.

[@Kidglove57]

Here in Cornwall we still have an hosepipe ban so no chance of pressure washing! I successfully used a competing product from Spear and Jackson to remove algae from decking, wood cladding and patio. But that’s all it does - I agree that cleaning beyond that is minimal.

[@HYUKLDER1]

What people do is apply algae, lichen and moss removal chemical and then, after a few days, pressure wash to remove dirt.

[@hythewoodworkdesigns]

Ok, Wet & Forget is another product that I believe should have been thrown into the mix. Yes it needs diluting & probably does exactly the same as the other products, but I tend to jet wash first, then apply the product after it has dried. Seems to last quite well.

[@RickLeslie]

I use ‘Wet and Forget’. It’s pet and wildlife friendly and works really well. The results aren’t instant but it does kill moss and lichen.

[@paulprescott147]

I no longer use a pressure washer and use Wet and Forget instead. It gets rid of algae/green quite quickly but requires longer to clean the slabs in combination with rain. It then keeps the slabs algae free for up to 18 months i find. Ground in dirt does need a PW though.

[@MikeSmith-sg9pt]

I bloody love powerwashing the patio! It's like cheap therapy!

[@bobbo9549]

Agreed. I think its a power tool and man in control thing 😂😂

[@bobbo9549]

Or woman thing come to that.

[@raycummings1309]

Just done mine, used both.

[@gibfear]

Would be interesting to see the spinning brush type of head as a comparison to just the jet washer, I have one and it's certainly quick and easy to use if the grime isn't too bad. The spinning nozzle pattern should give more power but needs to be used more slowly as you say.

[@kirkhamandy]

I used one but found it kept getting blocked and stopped spinning. Too many issues so eventually I just dumped it.

[@tomlee812]

I too use the spinning brush type. I've tried just power washing, and the chemical, but the spinning brush works best for me and uses less water and is quicker than power washer alone.

[@the_judge_8262]

Spinning brush is indeed a much much quicker way to use the pressure wash. I resisted it for years, thought it was a gimmick but then was given I've by my dad, it's a game changer!

[@strongchord4384]

Wet and Forget

[@Mike-in-the-UK]

I wish you’d published your video two weeks before you did, Stuart!😊 Then I could’ve saved the 15 quid I spent on PatioMagic. Like you, I followed the instructions to get the mix right and waited for the right conditions and sprayed 3 test slabs. Over a week later there was no discernible difference between the treated and untreated slabs. So, I got the pressure washer out and now I have a bright and clean looking patio. FYI and IMO - pressure washing is so much more satisfying than spraying chemicals.

[@stephendavies6949]

Informative, authorative, balanced and well delivered with a rye sense of humour. Great viewing. As you say, for the best results use the algae remover and then blas it with the Karcher!

[@asobstoryforeverysong9853]

Good vid. I use the No Nonsense solution from Screwfix. Great stuff. Dilute it, apply from a bucket with a brush and give it all a good scrub, then go over with the hose or pressure washer. I do this for my porcelain patio and it comes up really well but would also be good on stone slabs I think.

[@J-PoN]

I think ????? 👀

[@TheEulerID]

When I looked at the patio cleaner from Wilko's own brand patio cleaner, it was simply household bleach. It did the job pretty well though, but it's not a substitute for jet washing. However, it did deal with black spots better than the jet washer (it did nothing for white spot though which is maybe not surprising for a bleaching chemical). There are also some warning that it could fade colours on concrete slabs. Also, being bleach it ought to kill moss, which I must try on my drive.

[@MrMWRMWR]

Better be quick buying up Wilko stock!

[@brianiswrong]

Having just come in from doing ours for the first time in 2 years, I can add the following. Nothing I mean nothing beats the pressure washer lance, slow yes,dirty yes, I use a karcher k4 and used the " patio" cleaner yellow plastic attachment that is essentially a spinning pair of nozzles inside a plastic round housing with a bristle base. Not quite as effective as the lance on its own, but much,much cleaner to use and ,I guess good enough for a yearly wash. Drawback is 2 fold At 6ft 5" tall, karcher need to add an extra extension lance, and the head would be much easier if it had 3 or 4 guid wheels.

[@tonycoughlin911]

Agreed! Get one of these if you want a quicker and much less messy cleaning option!! No more wet dirt flying all over your render and windows (nor yourself!) 🤩

[@twcmaker]

So I'm 2/3s the way through the video. And I have to say that Jeyes for me works, but I use is it with a 'Broom'. I'm a bit 'old school' and do sweep my patio with a broom. No electricity, water, and a bit of exercise. And regularly done with the occasional pulling weeds from between the slabs is both instantly rewarding and prevents more weeds growing, dropping seeds and damaging my patio. I see jet washing as a way that some might end up doing too often and causing more movement in the slabs.

[@Shaun30-3]

Hi Stuart , I just use soapy water I use Fairy liquid or Star drops and a jet washer ,it dose the job But thanks for the video I know it cost you for these cleaning products but some time stick to what you know As always great video I do enjoy watching , see you on the next one take care mate

[@dumptonpark]

I have tried most things and now I pressure wash then spray some sort of anti fungus the cheaper the better because next year I do it again again again again. I enjoyed your vid.

[@outoftheburrough]

I used patio magic on my render which had some green patches to clean it up before painting & was pleased with it, I think I went in with 2:1 & worked it in with a paint brush, but it didnt touch anything on my patio (even when worked in with a paint brush as I was using what was leftover from doing the walls) so I'm with you for using a pressure washer on that

[@janetettridge4956]

I always use a pressure washer on my block paving as I find as did you that these chemicals are just an expensive alternative to “domestos”.Pressure washing gives more satisfaction and only requires repeating every two years.Nice to see someone confirm my thoughts.

[@happygardener3990]

Patio Magic is not bleach, it's an extremely effective biocide.

[@algernonwolfwhistle6351]

These are a good pre treatment to a pressure wash. Applied a few days before hand, they help to lift any grime and make the pressure washing easier and quicker.

[@bobbo9549]

Useful video. Wellies and waterproof trousers are a must though of doing a large are otherwise your bottom half gets soaked after an hour or so. Canary suits or cycling trousers are cheap enough.

[@1x3dil]

Hi sir I agree your method is definitely the best , especially when you have grass adjacent to the patio . And as you showed you need a mechanical action to physical push the dirt off the surface . There must be hundreds of people who buy these products , and think they will wake up to a new looking patio only to be sadly disappointed . Best wishes as always. 😀👍👍👍

[@bampitony6108]

How refreshing to have a honest opinion.. We done thank you.. 👍

[@6panel300]

I would recommend using a "t racer" attachment on your pressure washer for cleaning patio slabs. As someone that witnessed their father suffering from Parkinsons disease for 8 long and painful years, most likely caused by use of unnecessary chemicles, I would not want to use anything like that myself.

[@richardowen2159]

We use Patio Magic,and have found it very good. Gets rid of the algea, easy,twice a year,great stuff.

[@hidusb]

Tried the Patio Magic on concrete tiles. It did help and appeared to keep it clear longer when compared to a section where I used diluted bleach.

[@LiveFromLondon2]

top tip - dont dilute the bleach. Its already at only 5% concentration!

[@owenrichardson1419]

Do you think the sprays acted as a preclean and you got a better result on the treated rather than untreated?

[@terrywalker4733]

Hi Stuart. Totally agree. Pressure washer is the best.

[@stephenporter7049]

Hi Stuart, well done again, another fascinating and very interesting, informative recording. I always thought a lot of these products are gimmicks and DO NOT DO exactly what they say on the box!! Please keep them coming. Cheers

[@holdontoyourwig]

I use Crikey Mikey. Spray on and leave for 24 hours then hose off. Works really well. My drive and patio area is very clean. Block paving. My drive hadn't been cleaned for about 5 years and my patio for about 3 years. It even kills the weeds between the blocks.

[@SouthLondonLadOutdoors]

Great video. Just goes to prove that there is never really ever a quick and easy way to do these types of jobs - can't beat the pressure washer! Upside is that you also get instant visual gratification too!

[@torres_anderson]

As you can see at minute 13 forward on the video some of the algae is moving away just by the little bit of water passing over the stone that suggests that you could have rinse the surface and get some of the dirt out. In US we have a product called "30 seconds" and the instructions said to rinse after 30 seconds but you can also leave it for longer

[@philgibson2913]

Wet & Forget is great, you just have to be patient. It takes a while before you notice the difference, but it has transformed my block paving. I use it a couple of times a year. Block Blitz is quite good too.

[@ptwrmakes1849]

I recently did my driveway using the karcher specific cleaner in low pressure mode (no lance head and a Syphon tube) and then agitated with a combo of a broom and the t-racer... Finished off going downhill with a standard head... Couple of hours work granted.... But what a result

[@KimmoJaskari]

I think the chemicals just kill off the algae and such. I used something similar on my crappy old wooden deck that had turned green and stank of algae in the parts that routinely see shade; it killed off everything and left a grayish surface on the wood, which was the dead algae. It obviously can't just vanish - just die and dry up. Next step is still going to be the pressure washer (carefully) and then breaking out the Wagner sprayer and painting the whole shebang white. But yeah, on stone like this - a patio washer that attaches to the pressure washer is no doubt the way to go. Those have jets of water (and maybe brushes, don't have one tbh, due to no stone patio) that scrub the stone while washing. Solid investment I think if you have a stone patio. Oh - and it might just be an idea to first clean the stone with a patio cleaner attachment or just the pressure washer, and then spray a layer of your chosen product. It should form a surface that makes it much harder for the algae to come creeping back, as a preventative measure.

[@geoffm9944]

I have a pressure washer and it cleans my front drive and my back garden patio perfectly well.

[@OldMan_PJ]

Looks like the best thing to do would be to use the cleaner after the tiles dry from pressure washing to kill the remaining algae and prevent/slow future growth.

[@Dreador.]

This

[@garulusglandarius6126]

I still prefer the pressure washer method ( just clean water, no additives ), I don’t want any chemicals whatsoever in my garden, I’ve always thought that these cleaning products are cash cows and not garden /wildlife friendly ( soil has a micro eco system and any man made chemical will upset the natural balance ) . Besides, in the garden a few natural blemishes are beneficial in my opinion, an established garden shouldn’t look man made perfect. I like a bit of moss algae lichen for that natural established look on brickwork concrete etc . Great video as always Stuart 👍

[@maddoglep2127]

Glad to see I have been doing it right. I would recommend using a cheap mould spray from a £1 shop/ Home Bargains as a quick fix on a small area. Our back door step gets a little green and slippy over winter. Rather than get the pressure washer set up a few seconds with the spray kills off the slime.

[@evanofelipe]

Thanks Stuart, this is indeed a genuine comparative exercise of how the competing products work in practice and comes across as a fair assessment of results - very helpful. Thanks.

[@alanclark2433]

A rotary head on the jet washer is best for patios. I do wonder though if the chemical you use would be best AFTER cleaning so as to prevent algae coming back for longer ?

[@spatel3783]

thank you for the logical, clear and fair analysis!