6 Common Patio Cleaning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Our outdoor spaces are more important than ever before. In fact, nearly 90% of American homeowners report feeling like they value their yard space more now!

There’s nothing like spending time on your patio space. Whether you’re hosting your family and friends for a get-together or want to enjoy a quiet family dinner outside, keeping your patio in great shape is essential.

However, there are common patio cleaning mistakes many homeowners make when trying to maintain the appearance of their backyard paradise. Keep reading to learn what these errors are and how to avoid them in order to refresh your patio cleaning routine.

1. Using the Wrong Products

We’ve all been there before. You set your mind to cleaning, only to find that you’ve used the wrong product, and now your space looks worse than it did when it was dirty.

Unlike a t-shirt that gets bleached or a pillow that smells funny due to the incorrect cleaning product, fixing this mistake on your patio can be pricey.

Before you clean, you’ll need to ensure that the patio cleaning supplies you plan on using are intended for the material your space is constructed of. Popular options are concrete, stone, brick, and granite, so purchasing the proper cleaner for your patio is paramount.

Before you clean, you’ll want to test the product in an inconspicuous spot. This will help alert you should the cleaner cause any issues like patchiness or fading without ruining your entire outdoor space.

2. Letting Stains Set

When you’re hosting a party, the last thing you want is to seem like the typical frazzled host. While accidents do happen if something spills on your patio, cleaning it as soon as possible is essential.

Patios tend to be made from porous materials, meaning they absorb spills quickly and are tough to remove. If you don’t act fast, you may be left with an eyesore on your patio.

Cleaning patio spills is essential, as you’ll want to treat the area before it stains. Most patio materials can handle Dawn dish soap, as it’s tough on stains without ruining your pavers. However, you’ll want to ensure that this works for your specific material before stains occur so you can handle them with ease.

3. Not Cleaning Your Doors

Though you may think your patio space is exclusively the paved space in your yard, it encompasses everything! This includes your dingy doors that lead from your outdoor escape into your home.

If you take the time to thoroughly clean your patio pavement, you’ll want to ensure that the rest of the area is up to par. If your doors look worse for wear, this can be an eyesore and negate all of the cleaning you’ve done.

Taking the time to wipe down and restore your Renewal by Andersen patio doors can help transform the overall appearance of your patio space. Investing in a high-quality glass cleaner will ensure your windows are sparkling and streak free.

4. Weeds Running Rampant

A nuisance for every homeowner, weeds can ruin the appearance of your patio. However, many don’t realize the implications they can have on your patio.

While weeds tend to grow between pavers placed incorrectly, they find even the smallest crack to stake their claim in. These can not only ruin the appearance of your patio, but can lead to costly damages.

Ensuring you take the time to weed your patio and prevent new growth from popping up can help make your cleaning process easier.

There are plenty of weedkillers available if you don’t want to pick them by hand. However, weedkiller is concocted with harsh chemicals, so finding an environmentally friendly option is even better.

5. Relying Only on Pressure Washing

While you’ll want to break out the pressure washer every once in a while to give your patio space some much-needed TLC, you don’t need to do it every time you clean.

Though a pressure washer is one of the most popular patio cleaning methods due to its ability to cut through built-up dirt and grime, you may find that it does more harm than good.

It may seem silly to suggest that you can over-clean your patio, but you’d be surprised. Using a high-power pressure washer to clean your outdoor space can damage any sealant you have on top while fading the color away.

Powerwashing less frequently is recommended if your pavers are looking worse for wear, as the high pressure can only make the issue more prominent.

6. Skipping the Sealant

It’s no secret that adding a top layer to materials will help them look better and offer advanced protection – your patio is no different!

Adding a sealant to your patio pavement is like putting a screen protector on your phone – it helps defend the surface of your space from fading, stains, and minor damages.

Investing in a sealant is protection for patios as it can help keep your patio space secure, clean, and free of the aforementioned nightmare of weeds. Though you’ll need to perform maintenance every few years on your sealant, it’s a worthwhile time and money investment.

Avoid These Headache-Inducing Common Patio Cleaning Mistakes

Though it may not seem important, keeping your patio in good condition is essential as it adds value to your home. Not only will potential future buyers see an unkempt patio as an eyesore, but it can be a turn-off as they will need to invest money in sprucing the space up.

If you found this guide to the most common patio cleaning mistakes informative, you’re in luck. You can visit the rest of our blog for more helpful home improvement content to help you achieve the property of your dreams.