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Rid yourself of the winter blues with an outdoor new season scrub-up. Here’s how to clean your outdoor surfaces.
Safety tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves, ear muffs and a mask, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment, especially for accurate dilution of strong cleaning solutions.
For any deep-clean project, start by clearing away leaves, dirt and other debris with a sturdy broom, brush, blower or rake.
A water blaster will help to get your outdoor spaces sparkling without wasting water, and you can spot-clean any marks with a trigger nozzle. The blaster will tackle stains, mould and algae with ease, provided you use the right setting for the task. Jo Clark from Kärcher suggests starting with a soft setting, then working your way up.
"Use soft pressure for your timber surfaces such as decking and fences, medium pressure for vehicles, and high-pressure settings for hard surfaces such as concrete and masonry areas,” she suggests.
Tip: Switch out nozzles to vary pressure and coverage for different tasks.
If you have a composite timber deck, you probably won’t need to do much maintenance. Clear away any dirt and debris that’s accumulated between the boards and remove unwanted stains and oils by washing the whole thing down with warm soapy water and a soft-bristle broom. Leaves and debris should be removed regularly.
Sweep your paths to remove dirt and debris, then use a specialist cleaning product to get rid of mould and mildew, and hose off. If there are weeds growing in the cracks, remove them carefully so you don’t disturb sand or mortar. Keep them at bay with regular spraying or by pouring boiling water over them.
Take care if using a pressure cleaner so you don’t dislodge sand or mortar. Tackle stains by scrubbing or washing with clean soapy water, or for more stubborn marks, try a specialist product like Kärcher stone cleaner. To avoid future staining, consider using a good quality sealer, which can help keep your paving in top condition for several years. While you’re cleaning, check for crumbling mortar and effect repairs if needed.
Algae, moss, mould and mildew can grow on pavers and driveways during the winter and other wet spells, making them slippery and dangerous. A good non-toxic, bleach-based outdoor cleaner will make quick work of eliminating all that unsightly muck.
Most outdoor tiles are sealed for protection from the elements, so it’s important not to damage or remove the coating when cleaning. Sweep away all debris with a soft broom, then wash with a soft mop and warm soapy water. For any stains or ingrained dirt, use an environmentally friendly cleaner.
Moisture and weather can harm your timber deck, so scan for damage. Check for any splits, cracks or unpainted areas and replace or fix any loose or damaged boards, hammer loose nails back in and tighten screws.
To wash your deck, Mark O’Connor from Monarch advises removing dirt, bird poo and general contaminants from decks by using a good quality cleaning product applied with a scrubbing brush. “Follow up by hosing with a pressure cleaner and allow the deck to thoroughly dry out before applying any new coatings,” he says. “If painting or re-staining, use a brush to apply your first coat to cover not only the top of each piece of decking, but also the sides of each plank. Then use a lambswool decking applicator for the second and third coats.”
Sweep your drive with a stiff outdoor broom or blower, then wash it down with soap to remove dirt and grime build-up. Next, apply a specialist concrete cleaner to tackle grease, rust and other stains without damaging the surface. Use a water blaster on stubborn spots. Top up the joint sand or repair mortar if necessary, and fill any cracks with an epoxy adhesive repair product. Finally, consider applying an acrylic sealer to concrete for longer lasting protection.
Check out our guide to sealing outdoor pavers.
Photo Credit: Cath Muscat, Getty Images, Cabot’s and Alamy Stock Photo
