I’ve got an approximately 6’ X 15’ patio on my apartment. After two years of the kids playing on it, its starting to look a little, well, tacky; missed soda and juice spills, ground in play-doh, just general kid grime. I’m looking for a cheap do-it-yourself way to clean it up. I’d rather not go the rent a pressure washer route. I’m OK with physical labor, but I don’t know what would be the best/safest chemicals/cleaners to use. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance - DESK
My husband bought several gallons of bleach to clean our driveway - I think he was planning on using a scrub brush. He hasn’t done it yet, and most of the bleach has quietly gone into the laundry room. If he ever actually does it, I’ll report the results.
Muriatic Acid aka Hydrochloric Acid. Check around in the paint thinner section of the hardware store, 5 bucks for a gallon. Dilute to about 10%. Just pour it on the stones and let it work. Hose it off when done.
Why?
It’s an easy, simple way to do this. And not really much in the way of ‘physical labor’, especially compared to getting down on your knees with a scrub brush. And I think it’s preferable to having any kind of chemical or acid cleaner around.
That was going to be my call. Zep makes some effective and biodegradable cleaning solutions you can buy at Home Despot and an electric PW unit can be rented on the cheap.
I agree with your suggestion but since commercial muriatic acid (hydrochloric) acid is normally sold as a 35-38% percent by weight HCl I assume that you mean dilute approximately 1 to 4 or do you mean to dilute down to about 3-4%? I would also keep it away from metal surfaces such as any patio furniture if it has any metallic components.
My dad always uses acid (pool acid or something maybe? It’s probably the Hydrochloric acid mentioned above) and a big, wide, bristley brush.