How to Clean Pavers: Step-by-Step for a Like-New Patio

Cleaning pavers starts with dry debris removal, then the mildest cleaner that works, a stiff nylon brush, and a full rinse — pressure washing only at low settings.

Joint sand that disappears under a blasting nozzle, a brick face scarred by a wire brush, a concrete patio streaked by the wrong acid — nearly every paver cleaning gone wrong came from skipping straight to the aggressive move. The sequence below goes the other way: gentlest method first, and only climbing the ladder when a stain refuses to budge.

What Do You Remove Before Any Cleaning Starts?

Loose dirt and sediment come off first, with a broom or a blower, before any water touches the surface.

QUIKRETE’s cleaning guidance puts debris removal at the front of the job, and for good reason: wet grit turns into a slurry that gets pushed into joints and pores, and it also hides the stains you’re actually trying to find. Once the surface is dry and clear, walk it and note what’s there — general grime, green growth, black spots, or a fresh oil mark. Each one responds to a different treatment, and pavers of different materials (concrete, brick, natural stone, colored and sealed units) tolerate different products. That diagnosis step decides everything after it.

Which Cleaner Should You Use On Pavers?

Start with dishwashing detergent and water, scrub with a stiff nylon-bristle brush, and rinse with a garden hose — that handles light dirt on concrete and general grime on brick.

This mild mix is the cheapest and safest first attempt, and it succeeds more often than people expect. Pour a small amount of liquid dish soap into a spray bottle of water, wet the surface, scrub in sections, and rinse thoroughly.

For green algae, moss, and black staining, a bleach-free outdoor cleaner labeled for pavers, stone, brick, and concrete is the practical middle step. Some concentrates dilute at 1 part to 3 parts water to make 4 gallons of ready-to-use solution, go on with a standard tank sprayer, and need no scrubbing, rinsing, or pressure washing afterward. These gradual products work on their own schedule — green stains may lift in about a week, black stains and moss in a few months. Apply on a cool, dry day and let the surface dry fully before rain arrives.

Stubborn marks escalate to a paver-compatible product such as a cleaner, etcher and degreaser, mixed exactly per the bottle and tested in an inconspicuous corner first. If you’d rather compare ready-made options than mix your own, this roundup of the best paver cleaners tested covers what works on concrete, brick, and stone.

How Do You Pressure Wash Pavers Without Ruining Them?

Three habits keep it safe: hold the wand moving rather than dwelling on one spot, start wide and work closer only if needed, and stay off a single paver until it’s clean.

Protect the surroundings too. Plastic sheeting over nearby plants and against the house keeps spray and runoff off them, and eye protection, gloves, long pants, and sturdy shoes are the minimum for the person holding the wand.

What Mistakes Damage Pavers?

The damaging moves are wire brushes, bleach and acid on concrete, and strong cleaners that aren’t meant for a pressure-washer tank.

• Wire or metal brushes scratch concrete and brick. Stiff nylon only.
• Bleach and acidic cleaners can discolor concrete and harm plants and surrounding materials unless the paver maker specifically approves them.
• Any cleaner untested on colored, sandstone, or sealed pavers is a gamble — test on a hidden spot first.
• Concentrates in a detergent tank: some outdoor cleaners dilute 1:1 and specifically aren’t recommended for pressure washers; those go on with a pump or tank sprayer.
• Rinsing skipped: leftover detergent leaves film and discoloration, so rinse until the water runs clear.

Once the patio is clean and fully dry, sealing is the follow-up — concrete pavers generally want resealing about every two years, sooner in high-traffic or worn areas. Some cleaners release their results over weeks rather than minutes, so judge the job only after the surface has dried completely.