Clean concrete patio safely ?

Carole
by Carole

How can I safely clean a small concrete patio which is surrounded by shrubs and evergreens? It looks dirty with black mold(?) covering most of it. Thank you.

  6 answers
  • Edie Edie on Sep 11, 2018

    I would use a pressure washer. They can be rented but you can purchase one for about $60. Great for all kinds of outdoor cleaning without chemicals...just water. Might even try a small plastic water concentrator on the end of your hose...this is just a screw on tip that creates a strong stream of water...about $2.

  • Dawn dish soap, vinegar (vinegar will kill the mold spores), a long handled stiff bristle push broom and a hose or pressure washer. Wet the area, squirt the dawn, brush brush brush, toss down a few cups of vinegar, Bush the surface again, then rinse. Vinegar can kill grass but mixed with the dish soap and gallons of water, it will be too diluted to harm anything. I do it a few times a summer to keep my patio clean. Mine is in blazing sun all day, but it is dusty here.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Sep 11, 2018

    After pressure washing, I would recommend wet & forget outdoor to keep it clean. It will clean it eventually but it's a slow process with this product.

  • Dokey Dokey on Sep 11, 2018

    Try Bleach, a hard brissle brush and water it off? I’ve heard of people using Bleach for mold? Just a thought


    I like Edie’s answer too, power washers are strong!

    • Eloise Eloise on Sep 12, 2018

      Regular household bleach will kill any plant it touches (I know this from experience), so if you go this route, be very cautious with the application.

  • Eloise Eloise on Sep 12, 2018

    Oxygen bleach: https://www.stainsolver.com/clean-patio-stains-with-stain-solver/


    It's harmless to plants/shrubs/grass, easy to use (no pressure washer required), and does a great job. It's a bit labor intensive, but that's a small tradeoff if you're trying to save your landscaping.

  • Oliva Oliva on Sep 18, 2018

    The vegetation is most likely causing your problem, particularly if the patio receives more shade than sun, is too wet, or the shrubs are mulched, which can result in "artillery fungus".