This is great. I have 5 concrete slabs on my doorstep and they're looking quite unappealing. Providing the weather's dry, I'm going to try this tomorrow. Many thanks for sharing this video with us.
Great little informative video, never thought to use bleach. I’ve got to remove 3m by 3m decking and the slabs underneath will need a good clean. Also the slabs aren’t the same colour as the others so I was looking to paint them with weather shield paint to try and match them up this would be an idea cleaning agent instead of borrowing a power washer.👍🏻
Glad you enjoyed it! I actually found it quite relaxing as well. If I lived in America where everyone has a therapist I'd be charging $1000 / hour for that! Lol. Stay safe and well mate, Des
Great video and thank you even though it is three years old.. good wine matures with age! I have just starting a pressure cleaning service and trying to learn as I go. Your video gives me the confidence to push on. Thank you most sincerely. Any good literature on the subject?
Well done Caveman, you rescued, recycled, and helped out the public, and the enviroment with your idea, i enjoyed the video, and will give it a go, in my back garden, outside my kitchen, the amount of waste, in many areas, is sickening, you got your neighbours, Slabs, and used them for yourself, i did the same with my neighbours shed, who was going to throw out and send it too the tip, we got it over my fence, and i rebuilt it, in my back garden, he said i did him a favour, by him not going down the tip. It still stands today. You can recyle, reuse, rescue, just like the 21st Century Caveman.
Hello there and thanks for your very kind support. Unfortunately, we do live in a very wasteful society and it is a tremendous shame indeed when people can't see the value in anything which requires a little work to make it more useable again. Very best wishes, Des
I would highly recommend using mortar stain cleaner by bostik which can be found at toolstation and retailers like that. It works even better at removing cement stains from brickwork and paving but it’s essentially hydrochloric acid. If doing a small job with minimal stains I would advise to dilute it down just like you did with the bleach used here
I have mortar staining on my newly installed patio where i filled in the joints with mortar, soon as i filled in the joints i used a wet sponge to remove the excess from the edges of the joints. But once the slabs were dried it left a yellowish straining on my textured buff slabs, so would the bostik remover do the job for the stain removal
@@jasminejohnstone1803 Yes, I use daz washing powder. Simply sprinkle on concrete to kill all green moss and algae. It brings up the slabs and lifts off all the dirt whilst killing weeds at the roots. Simply leave on and allow the rain to wash it off.
Sweet. But if you're a scummer like me and either don't have a pressure washer or are skint then this is a great alternative. Stay safe and well my friend, Des
Problem is they make a right mess and blow any jointing out from between pavers. A lot of people have given up with the pressure washer idea, pipes all over and dragging the damed thing around. My went to the tip last year.
Great job ..... after brushing in if you ket wash them they will come out even better ..... and to make the job even easier before scrubbing put on some cooking salt
I did some painting on a front door and shed. Some oil based undercoat has dripped and landed on older course steps and flag stones and dried. Is there a good way to clean undercoat paint off these before I start the gloss final finish?
Going to give this a try, my slabs are black from grime but originally white, i can't afford to hire a pressure washing company or purchase a machine, i also don't have a tap that can recieve hose attachments So if some bleach and elbow grease are all that is needed then i will be a happy chap
Hey thank you for the video! I have th exact same issue. This is so helpful can you please tell me when you actually rinsed them down? Was it the next day?
There are precautions about using bleach in terms of paver integrity & colours fading. You did speak on it briefly- in your experience has this occurred (given you made this video 3 years ago). It's probably overstated, but I'd like to hear your experience before embarking on it. I'm going to use bicarbonate + dish washing soap to start off with
Hello there and thanks for your message. I've bleached a number of pavers over the past 3 or 4 years to save money and cost of buying new. Never had a problem. So nothing negative to report in this regard. However, what I would say is to make sure you bed them down properly so any weight placed upon them is distributed evenly just in case it does make them weaker. Bottom line? Still going strong with no probs. Hope that helps. Des
I personally wouldn't even bother trying mate. There will be much better products out there for this but they will be quite expensive that's the only problem. Also, I'm not sure what effect the bleach may have on the mortar which binds everything together. I think it could possibly weaken it but I maybe wrong. ATB, Des
I have concrete around my house how do I get it up better I have white spots on concrete and black iv used tones of bleach still haven't. Moved please????
there white spots i assume is lichen that has been killed due to the bleach (used to be yellowy/orange before treatments?). a pressure washer should remove quite easily. black spots need a stronger solution and a pressure washer to get rid off effectively (and even then its not guaranteed to remove them)
you can use bleach just ensure you wet the grass well before you do it and don't leave the bleach on as long 15 - 20 mins should be long enough generally then rinse really well this will dilute solution enough to not damage the grass (not a guarantee) if needs be treat a second time with the same process. just be careful when applying the bleach and rinse thoroughly.
@@21stcenturycaveman33 Bleach is not kind to anything...grass..plants..insects...birds....animals...the water table! DO NOT USE BLEACH Outdoors at all!
Hi there. Good question. That depends on your pressure washer. A powerful one will always win hands down but you have to be prepared to pay the price. You can get a decent one (see the Titan range) for around £100.00. However, even if you have one it won't get rid of every spec of dirt and the black spots unless you use the nozzle which gives you the tiniest possible jet and the greatest pressure. This will take ages though as you're literally cleaning a 3mm strip at a time. The bleach will definitely help to brighten up the slabs even after pressure washing. Just using bleach: you will still need to wash these down before you start with a hosepipe to get rid of the layer of muck first. You will then need to scrub them with a stiff brush (this takes the place of the pressure washer). Then apply the bleach - you may need a couple of goes with this and you will still need to give them a bit of a scrub to remove any stubborn bits. You will need to rinse them thoroughly afterwards. Conclusion: a decent pressure washer will win every time but you may still need to bleach them afterwards if they're badly stained. The cheapest way is definitely to scrub with bleach which costs mere pennies but you may need to use a bit of elbow grease to clean them up really well. However, you can do this just as quick than with a pressure washer. The best solution would be to combine both methods for the most severe jobs. ATB, Des
Good question and one that I've thought about myself previously. I'd say don;t risk it. I'm not a chemist but I would be concerned that bleach would weaken the slabs and cause them to crack / break under pressure (i.e. when walked on). The other thing is that you shouldn't need to leave them that long anyway. Personally, I wouldn't do it and don't think you need to even try. Best wishes, Des
I did a load of slabs at work I forget what chemical we got but it was strong stuff, I just sprayed it onto the slabs and you could see the colour changing with in a few minutes of doing it, and that was without any scrubbing, it was strong stuff it was heavy going on the chest and eyes.
Hiya G. Bet it was expensive as well mate. I'm sure that with some of the industrial strength chemicals out there you'd need respirators, goggles and the rest mate. Stay safe and well, Des
Hiya Jane. Will obviously kill plants so don't do this near any you want to keep. I normally clean up my slabs on gravel driveway which helps to also keep down the weeds. Basically, a win, win situation. ATB, Des
Kills plants and insects...and injures or kills the birds or other animals that eat the insects. Bleach shouldn't be used like this. It's VERY toxic and remains in the water table for a very long time.
Hi there. I can confirm that the hedge is absolutely fine. Still growing at a tremendous rate and strong as ever. Honestly, just ignore the fainthearted, the bleach has done absolutely no damage whatsoever. Best wishes, Des
I just did this.. and I stupidly added fairy liquid.. and now there is suds everywhere and I can’t wash the suds away 😩 I can’t keep hosing because the neighbours will hate me for wasting so much water.. help. Should I just let it dry up? Will the suds come back if it rains? HELP
appreciate this is a video about "cheapest way" but one has to love people who really don't understand why they are doing what they are doing and therefore how to do it more effectively.
Hello there. There will always be different ways of achieving the same objective. Some better, some worse than others. However, fact remains that this is a very cheap and very effective way of cleaning up old slabs. Fact. Best wishes, Des
So essentially, diluted hydrochloric or muriatic acid, yes?? Methinks you need to be a bit more careful mate! Especially around your greenery. Have you tried vinegar as a safer solution?? Also, you must obviously use PPE!
Hi there, yes either of the two you mentioned - they're just acids after all. Obviously don't do this near shrubs or plants - common sense required. Unfortunately, this is greatly lacking with some people. Do it out of the way where you have weeds, gravel, etc ATB, Des
Hello there. Nearby bushes still thriving, old trainers and trousers still going strong although obviously a few splashes. That said, who would wear anything decent doing this sort of job? Best wishes, Des
Hi there and thanks for dropping by. If it is done on an area like this it will simply keep the weeds back and little more. We have 3 cats and virtually every neighbour has either a cat or dog. All animals are healthy. Unfortunately, the weeds do return but that is to be expected. Just a quick scrub like this will cause little if any long term harm at all. ATB, Des
Хобби
" in case your wondering I'm using a hosepipe" 🤣🙃😅 thank you, I'm dying....
Excellent service very interesting saves lots of money no needs to buy expensive stuff
Yes indeed! Best wishes, Des
Such good technique, my budget was the 75p to a £1 (which in my head meant put on the never never) you’ve actually made this achievable thanks 👍
Lol. My pleasure. Sounds like the old flexible friend took a bit of a spanking. Best wishes, Des
This is great. I have 5 concrete slabs on my doorstep and they're looking quite unappealing. Providing the weather's dry, I'm going to try this tomorrow. Many thanks for sharing this video with us.
My pleasure. Take care, Des
did it work?
0:40 Glad you confirmed it because for a second I thought you were taking a slash. :)
Great little informative video, never thought to use bleach. I’ve got to remove 3m by 3m decking and the slabs underneath will need a good clean. Also the slabs aren’t the same colour as the others so I was looking to paint them with weather shield paint to try and match them up this would be an idea cleaning agent instead of borrowing a power washer.👍🏻
Cant wait for the video of you laying the paving des will look nice and tidy outside the mancave 👍👌😎
Coming soon! Stay safe and well, Des
Great results! Also was very therapeutic watching you wash down them slabs!
Glad you enjoyed it! I actually found it quite relaxing as well. If I lived in America where everyone has a therapist I'd be charging $1000 / hour for that! Lol. Stay safe and well mate, Des
🤣🤣🤣 the chemistry bit made me giggle
Great video and thank you even though it is three years old.. good wine matures with age!
I have just starting a pressure cleaning service and trying to learn as I go. Your video gives me the confidence to push on. Thank you most sincerely. Any good literature on the subject?
Well done Caveman, you rescued, recycled, and helped out the public, and the enviroment with your idea, i enjoyed the video, and will give it a go, in my back garden, outside my kitchen, the amount of waste, in many areas, is sickening, you got your neighbours, Slabs, and used them for yourself, i did the same with my neighbours shed, who was going to throw out and send it too the tip, we got it over my fence, and i rebuilt it, in my back garden, he said i did him a favour, by him not going down the tip. It still stands today. You can recyle, reuse, rescue, just like the 21st Century Caveman.
Hello there and thanks for your very kind support. Unfortunately, we do live in a very wasteful society and it is a tremendous shame indeed when people can't see the value in anything which requires a little work to make it more useable again. Very best wishes, Des
My Sunday's job!
Enjoy! Des
I would highly recommend using mortar stain cleaner by bostik which can be found at toolstation and retailers like that. It works even better at removing cement stains from brickwork and paving but it’s essentially hydrochloric acid. If doing a small job with minimal stains I would advise to dilute it down just like you did with the bleach used here
Thanks for your valuable feedback - appreciated. Des
I have mortar staining on my newly installed patio where i filled in the joints with mortar, soon as i filled in the joints i used a wet sponge to remove the excess from the edges of the joints. But once the slabs were dried it left a yellowish straining on my textured buff slabs, so would the bostik remover do the job for the stain removal
Good job!!... thanks 😊
You're most welcome. Des 😊
Cheap laundry powder mixed in warm water also works too ! Leave it on 2 hours. Done
That's a new one. Will bear that in mind for next time. Thanks, Des
Will it remove white and black spots from concrete please?????
@@jasminejohnstone1803 use thin bleach undiluted in a sprayer. Spray and leave to dry
@@jasminejohnstone1803 Yes, I use daz washing powder. Simply sprinkle on concrete to kill all green moss and algae. It brings up the slabs and lifts off all the dirt whilst killing weeds at the roots. Simply leave on and allow the rain to wash it off.
Thanks for the info m8
No problem m8 👍
just did my slabs recently with a jet wash and they come out perfect
Sweet. But if you're a scummer like me and either don't have a pressure washer or are skint then this is a great alternative. Stay safe and well my friend, Des
Takes the surface off!
@@marypetrie930 And you think a strong chemical won’t… 🤣🤣 I swear people are getting dumber.
Problem is they make a right mess and blow any jointing out from between pavers. A lot of people have given up with the pressure washer idea, pipes all over and dragging the damed thing around. My went to the tip last year.
Great job ..... after brushing in if you ket wash them they will come out even better ..... and to make the job even easier before scrubbing put on some cooking salt
Impressive
Can't complain for @ £0.75p buddy! Stay safe and well, Des
I did some painting on a front door and shed. Some oil based undercoat has dripped and landed on older course steps and flag stones and dried. Is there a good way to clean undercoat paint off these before I start the gloss final finish?
No. Replace all of it.
Going to give this a try, my slabs are black from grime but originally white, i can't afford to hire a pressure washing company or purchase a machine, i also don't have a tap that can recieve hose attachments
So if some bleach and elbow grease are all that is needed then i will be a happy chap
Should work absolutely fine. ATB, Des
Can i paint them with masonry paint, after i clean them?
Right on the money caveman
Hey, thanks buddy. ATB, Des
Superb
Thank you! Cheers! Des
Hey thank you for the video! I have th exact same issue. This is so helpful can you please tell me when you actually rinsed them down? Was it the next day?
See vid
@@21stcenturycaveman33 I did hence why am asking you said leave 1 hour then didn't say if any longer
There are precautions about using bleach in terms of paver integrity & colours fading. You did speak on it briefly- in your experience has this occurred (given you made this video 3 years ago). It's probably overstated, but I'd like to hear your experience before embarking on it. I'm going to use bicarbonate + dish washing soap to start off with
Hello there and thanks for your message. I've bleached a number of pavers over the past 3 or 4 years to save money and cost of buying new. Never had a problem. So nothing negative to report in this regard. However, what I would say is to make sure you bed them down properly so any weight placed upon them is distributed evenly just in case it does make them weaker. Bottom line? Still going strong with no probs. Hope that helps. Des
Pool shock right??
Tea and wine, at the same time?
Would this also work on a normal brick back garden wall
I personally wouldn't even bother trying mate. There will be much better products out there for this but they will be quite expensive that's the only problem. Also, I'm not sure what effect the bleach may have on the mortar which binds everything together. I think it could possibly weaken it but I maybe wrong. ATB, Des
I have concrete around my house how do I get it up better I have white spots on concrete and black iv used tones of bleach still haven't. Moved please????
there white spots i assume is lichen that has been killed due to the bleach (used to be yellowy/orange before treatments?). a pressure washer should remove quite easily. black spots need a stronger solution and a pressure washer to get rid off effectively (and even then its not guaranteed to remove them)
I thought about this but I have grass adjoining the patio so will the bleach ruin the lawn when rinsing off the slabs. Thank you.
Hiya Chris. Don't use bleach as this will not be kind to the grass. A pressure washer would be perfect in this situation. Best wishes, Des
you can use bleach just ensure you wet the grass well before you do it and don't leave the bleach on as long 15 - 20 mins should be long enough generally then rinse really well this will dilute solution enough to not damage the grass (not a guarantee) if needs be treat a second time with the same process. just be careful when applying the bleach and rinse thoroughly.
@@21stcenturycaveman33 Bleach is not kind to anything...grass..plants..insects...birds....animals...the water table! DO NOT USE BLEACH Outdoors at all!
How does power washing compare to cleaning with bleach? Thanks for the video
Hi there. Good question. That depends on your pressure washer. A powerful one will always win hands down but you have to be prepared to pay the price. You can get a decent one (see the Titan range) for around £100.00. However, even if you have one it won't get rid of every spec of dirt and the black spots unless you use the nozzle which gives you the tiniest possible jet and the greatest pressure. This will take ages though as you're literally cleaning a 3mm strip at a time. The bleach will definitely help to brighten up the slabs even after pressure washing.
Just using bleach: you will still need to wash these down before you start with a hosepipe to get rid of the layer of muck first. You will then need to scrub them with a stiff brush (this takes the place of the pressure washer). Then apply the bleach - you may need a couple of goes with this and you will still need to give them a bit of a scrub to remove any stubborn bits. You will need to rinse them thoroughly afterwards.
Conclusion: a decent pressure washer will win every time but you may still need to bleach them afterwards if they're badly stained. The cheapest way is definitely to scrub with bleach which costs mere pennies but you may need to use a bit of elbow grease to clean them up really well. However, you can do this just as quick than with a pressure washer. The best solution would be to combine both methods for the most severe jobs. ATB, Des
Can you leave then until the next day then spray wash them?
Good question and one that I've thought about myself previously. I'd say don;t risk it. I'm not a chemist but I would be concerned that bleach would weaken the slabs and cause them to crack / break under pressure (i.e. when walked on). The other thing is that you shouldn't need to leave them that long anyway. Personally, I wouldn't do it and don't think you need to even try. Best wishes, Des
The bleach will also lighten it
I did a load of slabs at work I forget what chemical we got but it was strong stuff, I just sprayed it onto the slabs and you could see the colour changing with in a few minutes of doing it, and that was without any scrubbing, it was strong stuff it was heavy going on the chest and eyes.
Hiya G. Bet it was expensive as well mate. I'm sure that with some of the industrial strength chemicals out there you'd need respirators, goggles and the rest mate. Stay safe and well, Des
Muratic acid or xylene
Ok so Home Depot here I come... let’s see how this goes!
Good luck 9not that you'll need it). ATB, Des
Don’t let the Hypo dry! Only needs to be on for 15 mins!
What is the affect on plants ie their roots?
Hiya Jane. Will obviously kill plants so don't do this near any you want to keep. I normally clean up my slabs on gravel driveway which helps to also keep down the weeds. Basically, a win, win situation. ATB, Des
@@21stcenturycaveman33 Thanks Des.
Kills plants and insects...and injures or kills the birds or other animals that eat the insects. Bleach shouldn't be used like this. It's VERY toxic and remains in the water table for a very long time.
Can you use this method when you have pets cats and a dog ?
Yes of course. No problemo. Des
Hi I am thinking of doing this but I am worried about the smell... when you wash the bleach away, does it still smell?
No, not once its dried. It'll be fine. ATB, Des
💯👍👍
Thanks for watching. Des
How did the hedge fair up with the splashes from the bleach / water ?
Hi there. I can confirm that the hedge is absolutely fine. Still growing at a tremendous rate and strong as ever. Honestly, just ignore the fainthearted, the bleach has done absolutely no damage whatsoever. Best wishes, Des
How can I remove rust without buying GIMIC products PLEEEEASE
Vinegar
I just did this.. and I stupidly added fairy liquid.. and now there is suds everywhere and I can’t wash the suds away 😩
I can’t keep hosing because the neighbours will hate me for wasting so much water.. help.
Should I just let it dry up? Will the suds come back if it rains? HELP
Oh dear ... lol. Just let them dry up my friend. You may get some suds when it rains but it won't be forever. ATB, Des
BTW, it's not stupid at all!
@@21stcenturycaveman33 Thank you! I let it dry up and the suds disappeared 👍🏼
Although.. it hasn’t rained yet 😬.. 😆
You have the exact same voice as auto shenanigans are you he?
I can neither confirm or deny ...................
appreciate this is a video about "cheapest way" but one has to love people who really don't understand why they are doing what they are doing and therefore how to do it more effectively.
Hello there. There will always be different ways of achieving the same objective. Some better, some worse than others. However, fact remains that this is a very cheap and very effective way of cleaning up old slabs. Fact. Best wishes, Des
So essentially, diluted hydrochloric or muriatic acid, yes?? Methinks you need to be a bit more careful mate! Especially around your greenery. Have you tried vinegar as a safer solution?? Also, you must obviously use PPE!
Hi there, yes either of the two you mentioned - they're just acids after all. Obviously don't do this near shrubs or plants - common sense required. Unfortunately, this is greatly lacking with some people. Do it out of the way where you have weeds, gravel, etc ATB, Des
Nice demonstration, but I fear it did no good for the nearby bushes, your trainers or your trousers!
Hello there. Nearby bushes still thriving, old trainers and trousers still going strong although obviously a few splashes. That said, who would wear anything decent doing this sort of job? Best wishes, Des
4
The camera shutter noise is horrendous.
Sorry about that. I just use a GoPro and cannot afford fancy camera's and stuff like that. ATB, Des
Would have been quicker to jet wash them.
Yes but I didn't have one at the time. Plus, this would certainly not be the cheapest way of doing it. ATB, Des
Great way to ruin your surrounding grass and plants 😂
Correct. That's why you ideally need to do it where weeds grow or where there are no plants or grass. ATB, Des
Give the grass and scrubs a good watering before you start and as you go. Then be careful as you spray around the edges of the patio. No worries !
I was looking for a way to clean my concrete slabs, this is way too nerdy 😂.
70 odd pee
Oh please! Filthy chemicals in the ground!? Please don't!
That picture noise just made me stop watching
You are all crazy.. this will just destroy all the soil around your garden, so selfish towards wildlife too
Hi there and thanks for dropping by. If it is done on an area like this it will simply keep the weeds back and little more. We have 3 cats and virtually every neighbour has either a cat or dog. All animals are healthy. Unfortunately, the weeds do return but that is to be expected. Just a quick scrub like this will cause little if any long term harm at all. ATB, Des