Clean Patio Pavers

Materials

• 2-4 lbs depending on patio size Oxygen bleach powder (e.g., OxiClean or generic percarbonate) (Safer for plants and paver color than chlorine bleach; mix according to package strength for outdoor cleaning) — $8 - $15
• 1 quart Degreaser for masonry or concrete (Necessary only if you have oil stains from grills or vehicle drips) — $10 - $18
• 1 bottle (16 oz) Rust remover for stone or masonry (Use if metal furniture or planters have left orange stains; follow product safety instructions carefully) — $12 - $20
• 50 lb bag Polymeric or standard joint sand (Only needed if cleaning washed sand out of joints; polymeric sand resists washout better than standard sand) — $18 - $35

Step by step

1. Prep · 20 min

   Clear the deck completely

   Remove all furniture, planters, and grills from the patio. Sweep thoroughly with a stiff outdoor broom, working debris out of the joints and off the surface. Pay attention to corners and edges where dirt accumulates. You want bare, dry pavers before any water touches them.

   Tip: Sweep twice — once to get the loose stuff, once to catch what the first pass stirred up but did not move.
2. Spot Prep · 15 min

   Target stains before full clean

   Identify oil stains, rust marks, or organic discoloration. Apply a degreaser to oil spots and let it sit for ten minutes. For rust, use a commercial rust remover made for masonry. For general grime and mildew, mix oxygen bleach powder with warm water according to package directions and apply liberally to problem areas.

   Tip: Oxygen bleach works slower than chlorine but will not kill plants in the joints or lighten the paver color unevenly.
3. Application · 30 min

   Saturate with cleaning power

   Mix your oxygen bleach solution in a pump sprayer or large bucket. Wet the pavers completely with a hose first, then apply the cleaning solution generously across the entire patio. Work in sections if the area is large. Let the solution sit for fifteen to twenty minutes so it can break down embedded dirt.

   Tip: Wetting the pavers first keeps the cleaning solution on the surface instead of soaking straight down into the stone.
4. Scrubbing · 1-2 hours

   Work grime out thoroughly

   Use a deck brush on a pole or a handheld scrub brush for smaller areas. Scrub in overlapping passes, working the bristles into the texture of the stone and along the joint lines. You will see dirty water and foam — that is the grime coming up. Re-apply cleaner to sections that dry out before you finish scrubbing.

   Tip: A push broom with stiff bristles works faster than a hand brush, but you lose precision around edges and tight spots.
5. Rinse · 30 min

   Flush away every trace

   Use a garden hose with a high-pressure nozzle or a pressure washer set to 1500-2000 PSI. Rinse each section completely, working from one end of the patio to the other so dirty water does not pool on cleaned areas. Make sure all soap residue is gone — it will attract dirt if left behind.

   Tip: Angle the spray toward drainage or lawn edges to move dirty water off the patio, not into the joints.
6. Touch-up · 20 min

   Catch stubborn problem spots

   Once the pavers dry, walk the surface and check for stains that did not lift. Stubborn oil spots may need a second degreaser treatment. Rust stains sometimes require a poultice application. Address these individually rather than re-cleaning the whole patio.

   Tip: Some stains have etched into the paver surface and will not scrub out — that is permanent wear, not dirty stone.
7. Joint Repair · 30 min

   Restore sand between pavers

   Check the gaps between pavers. If polymeric or regular joint sand has eroded, sweep new sand across the surface and work it into the joints with a broom. Mist lightly with water if using polymeric sand to activate the binding agents. This step stabilizes the pavers and keeps weeds from taking hold.

   Tip: Do this on a dry day after pavers have fully dried — wet joints will not take sand properly.
8. Drying · 24-48 hours

   Wait for complete dryness

   Allow at least 24 hours of dry weather before moving furniture and planters back onto the patio. This gives the pavers time to dry through and lets any residual moisture evaporate. If you plan to seal the pavers, wait 48 hours and ensure they are bone dry before applying sealer.

   Tip: Darker pavers will show a color shift when fully dry — that is your confirmation they are ready for foot traffic or sealing.