Short answer
You can clean a patio well without a pressure washer using a stiff broom, a suitable patio cleaner and a hose. Sweep, weed the joints, apply the cleaner, give it time to work, scrub hard in sections and rinse thoroughly. It takes more effort, but it is gentler on natural stone and pointing.
Why clean by hand?
There are good reasons to leave the pressure washer in the shed. Natural stone such as sandstone and limestone can be roughened by high pressure, crumbly or older pointing can be blasted out, and a pressure washer can spray dirt onto walls, windows and furniture. Some people simply do not own one, or have neighbours close by.
Hand cleaning relies on the cleaner and the brush doing the work instead of water pressure, so choosing the right product and giving it time are what make the difference.
What you will need
A stiff-bristled yard broom or deck scrubbing brush, a smaller hand brush for corners and steps, a weeding knife or joint brush, a bucket or garden sprayer, a patio cleaner suitable for your paving, a hose or watering can, and gloves and eye protection.
A long-handled brush saves your back. Synthetic bristles are kinder to stone than a wire brush, which can scratch softer slabs and leave metal marks that rust.
Step by step: cleaning a patio by hand
- Clear the patio and sweep it thoroughly.
- Remove weeds and moss from the joints with the weeding knife or joint brush.
- Wet the surface with a hose or watering can.
- Apply the cleaner with a sprayer or watering can, diluted as the label instructs, after testing it on a hidden spot.
- Leave it for the manufacturer's recommended contact time without letting it dry out. This step does much of the work.
- Scrub firmly in small sections, using the hand brush on corners, edges and steps.
- Rinse with plenty of clean water, pushing the dirty water away from the house with the broom.
- Let it dry and repeat on any stubborn areas.
Choosing a cleaner
Patio cleaners come in several types: everyday cleaners for general grime, products aimed at green algae and moss, and slower-acting treatments that are left on and work gradually as the weather washes them in. Read the label to check the product suits your paving, especially if it is natural stone or porcelain.
Warm water with a little washing-up liquid can lift light dirt from concrete slabs. Avoid bleach on natural stone and near plants, and never mix different cleaning products.
Making the rinse count
Without a pressure washer, rinsing is where hand cleaning can fall short. Use plenty of water and sweep it across the patio as you go, so loosened dirt is carried away rather than drying back onto the surface. A hose with a jet setting helps. Rinsing each section as you finish scrubbing it works better than leaving the whole patio until the end.
Stubborn marks
Black spots that remain after scrubbing are often lichen, which needs a different treatment; see our guide to removing black spots from a patio. Thick moss and green algae in shady areas are covered in our guide to moss and algae on patios. For the general method, including when a pressure washer is appropriate, see how to clean patio slabs.
When to call a professional
Hand cleaning a large patio is hard work, and some marks will not shift without professional equipment. Consider a professional if your patio is large, heavily soiled or made of delicate stone, or if scrubbing is not making a difference.
When we clean patios, rotary surface cleaners and controlled pressure are matched to the stone, weeds and moss are removed from the joints, and a biocide treatment can be added to help slow green growth returning.
Rather have it done for you?
Sandstone, porcelain, slabs and decking brought back to life. Family-run by Jason and Lucas Prior, covering south Essex.
Frequently asked questions
Can I clean my patio with washing-up liquid?
Warm water with a little washing-up liquid can lift light dirt from concrete slabs when scrubbed in. For green growth or heavier grime, a patio cleaner suited to your stone usually works better.
Is a wire brush okay for patio slabs?
It is best avoided on most patios, as it can scratch natural stone and porcelain and leave metal marks that rust. A stiff synthetic brush is safer.
Do I need to rinse off patio cleaner?
Most cleaners need rinsing, but some slow-acting treatments are designed to be left on. Follow the instructions on the label for the product you are using.
Related guides
- How to clean patio slabs: the general method for most patios, when a pressure washer helps and when it does more harm than good.
- How to remove black spots and lichen from a patio: why black spots survive scrubbing and pressure washing, and how to treat lichen without damaging the stone.
- How to get rid of moss and green algae on a patio: clearing slippery green growth from paving and joints, and the shade, damp and debris that let it return.