Your patio pavers may be suffering beneath layers of built-up soil and unsightly mildew and algae, making your outdoor space look neglected and aged. Whether you have a sealed concrete, natural stone, or cement patio, here’s a step-by-step guide to using bleach to clean patio pavers, restoring your outdoor living area to its original beauty.

A man in an orange jumpsuit sprays water on a wall, likely for cleaning or maintenance purposes

How to Use Bleach to Clean Patio Pavers

To properly clean your patio paver with bleach, start by preparing the important supplies (brush, bucket, sprayer, garden hose). Sweep away debris and apply a carefully mixed solution of one part bleach to ten parts water to the pre-wetted surface. After letting the solution penetrate the stains, thorough scrubbing followed by a complete rinse will restore your patio’s original beauty without damaging its integrity.

Aviara Pavers can guide you through every step to keep your patio pavers well-maintained. We follow ICPI standards and certifications to plan, install, and replace driveway, patio, and pool decks. Discover tips and tricks on how a bleach solution can maintain your outdoor living space and extend the life of your hardscaping.

1. Gather Supplies

To clean your patio paver, start by preparing the right supplies. Improper handling of bleach can cause injuries and damage. Ready these tools to make the cleaning process more efficient:

Disinfecting bleach
Broom
Brush
Garden hose with a sprayer
Plastic bucket
Pump sprayer
Pressure washer
Protective gloves
Safety glasses
Non-slip footwear

2. Prepare the Area for Cleaning

Wear non-slip footwear, protective gloves, and safety glasses. Use a broom to sweep the patio to remove debris or dirt.

Make sure there’s no mud or dirt on the surface, as this can cause the bleach to streak. The best broom to use is a stiff-bristled broom.

3. Mix the Bleach Solution

In a large bucket, mix one part bleach with 10 parts water. If you want to add more ingredients to make the bleach more effective, do so at this point. The more potent the mixture is, the more quickly it will work.

However, use caution as a more concentrated bleach solution can damage the patio. You will not want your paver to start shining too brightly or become overly bleached. For effective results, use warm water as it helps the chemicals work faster.

4. Pre-Wet the Paved Area

Use a garden hose with a sprayer to wet the patio thoroughly. Proper pre-wetting helps the cleaning solution penetrate stains more effectively.

Likewise, this prevents a patio from absorbing too much bleach too quickly. Pre-wetting creates a protective barrier that minimizes potential paver damage and helps the solution work more evenly across the entire surface.

5. Test in a Small Area

Be careful when filling your pump sprayer with the bleach solution to avoid splashing and spills that might damage surrounding plants or surfaces. After that, test a small area before you start cleaning the entire surface.

Pour some of the solution onto a section of the patio and wait a few minutes to see how it reacts. If there is any discoloration or damage to the surface, stop and do not use that bleach solution. Add more water to dilute the solution to reach the desired strength.

A display of Zonrox bottles on a supermarket shelf

6. Apply the Bleach Solution and Brush the Paver Clean

Using a pump sprayer, start pouring the bleach solution over the patio. Be sure to cover the entire surface. If there are any heavily soiled areas, use a brush to help scrub it clean.

If there are some parts that have paints and sealants, avoid spraying bleach on them as it can strip off the paint or sealant. In this case, you can use a degreaser when scrubbing these areas. Still, you can consult Aviara Pavers to get the best results.

7. Leave the Bleach on the Patio Paver

Bleach is a great way to clean patio paving because it is a strong disinfectant. Allow the chemical to sit on the patio for about 10-20 minutes.

This step makes disinfecting and cleaning easy. It will also help remove any stains that are tough to remove and mold.

8. Rinse the Paver Using Clean Water

Once the chemical has had enough time to work, use a pressure washer or garden hose sprayer to rinse the patio. Start from the top and move downwards. Rinse off any excess bleach solution.

A sprayer can help remove any bleach solution that might have been left on the paver. If you don’t rinse the patio properly, chemical residue can cause the paver to become discolored over time. Also, take time to rinse the bucket or spray.

9. Dry the Patio Paver

Dry the patio off completely after rinsing it. Cleaning your paver on a sunny and windy day guarantees you the best results.

The sun helps to dry the bleach quickly, while the wind helps to disperse any fumes. When sun-dried, the chances of molds and bacteria growing back are minimal as opposed to if you cleaned the paver on a cloudy day.

Benefits of Cleaning a Patio Paver With Bleach

Cleaning your paver with bleach has a number of benefits:

Disinfecting the surface: Bleach is an effective disinfectant and can kill any bacteria or mildew. This will help to prevent any health hazards from occurring.
Removing tough stains: Bleach is also effective in removing tough stains. This can include oil, dirt, or rust.
Preventing algae and bacteria growth: One of the main benefits of using bleach is that it helps prevent bacteria from growing. Algae can cause a lot of damage to the paver and can be difficult to remove.

Downsides of Using Bleach to Clean a Patio Paver

While cleaning a patio using bleach solution has advantages, there are also potential drawbacks.

Discoloration: Cleaning chemicals can damage and discolor your patio paver over time. This may make them look worse than when they were just dirty and potentially require you to replace them prematurely.
Contamination: The harsh chemical solution can kill surrounding plants and grass when it runs off your patio.
Residue: If not scrubbed and rinsed properly using a garden hose spray, a slippery residue left behind can create a safety hazard on the patio.

Don’t worry! Applying our proper cleaning techniques can protect your patio and effectively remove any stains without the potentially harmful side effects of chemicals.

A woman is cleaning in an alley holding a hose

Conclusion

With these steps, you can safely eliminate unwanted organic growth and restore your patio's natural beauty. Using a bleach solution to clean patios gives homeowners an affordable solution to protect their investment and rid their outdoor spaces of unsightly growth and staining.

How to Clean Pavers With Bleach