Yes i noticed it was clean to start with! That drive didn’t need cleaning, block paving gets a surface coating of dirt which attracts both black and white lichen , the bricks are hard enough to withstand black lichen ingress, the main reason for jet washing is the build up of weeds and moss between the bricks…..this had none! I would suggest that if you just need a chemical treatment then you get a professional to apply some Sodium Hypochlorite and finish with a biocide treatment for continued protection. Household bleach is 3% SH is 14-15%
I've bought specialist paving cleaner and used a jet washer before now (latter takes hours and makes a mess). . Now I just wait for it to rain and pour on cheap bleach...works perfectly. I only use the kettle for making a cup of tea. Cheap, time saving and very effective.
I have been doing this for years. Two things to add, No need to use a kettle, hot water from your tap will do. Be aware of getting bleach on your shoes and clothes as it will stain them. Agree, by the time you have set up the Karcher, bleaching will have it done.
Done mine Stephen as you did , it’s not come up as good a jet washing it BUT it’s plenty good enough for me a 20 minute job against 3 hours jetwashing and much less messy . 👍👍
Ah great … glad it worked for you … you can always do it again in a few months to keep improving it I do mine every spring as a rule but sometimes again in the autumn to keep it like new 😀😀😀👍
This was really helpful thank you. I agree about the mess that jet washers make. It's too much work to have to clean the windows, front door etc. I'd rather take my time and take care of it by hand.
Yeah works much better using a watering can as a sprayer mist tends to blow all over the place and even onto the person doing the job and could be dangerous if it gets into your eyes 😀👍
I had Cotswold stone clippings and they had become grubby, with earth and mud in them. I bought a plastic wheelbarrow, drilled holes in it and used a hosepipe to wash them. The dirt dropped through the holes, leaving the stones clean and ready to relay.
I didn't actually realise how dirty block paving becomes and the nightmare of the moss and weeks growing in the gaps. I now regret doing block paving and I should have opted for just tarmac. It's smooth and resists dirt much more. Block paving looks nice for the first 6 months and then it starts to discolour and have crap growing out of it. I hate it.
The drive in the video has been down 7 or more years now and still looks like new, it’s a matter of repeating this operation at least once a year in spring otherwise it’s what you describe I’m afraid to say Try the advice in the video a few times over the next months and it should come up without too much effort 😀😀😀👍
Completely agree, i absolutely hate block paving. I'm going to remove mine all out and replace with tarmac or resin bond. Anything that doesn't have any gaps.
I used thick bleach on York coloured paving slabs which were black and mouldy with black spots. Did a small bit to start with and the transformation is amazing. Worked it in with a stiff brush. I hosed it all off into a drain and the patio looks brand new. Secret is to leave it on overnight and let it bite into the grime. Always be careful using it near hedges, plants and lawns and keep pets away from it.
I might give it a try, but your blocks at the start looked cleaner than mine do after they have been pressure washed! I pressure wash and re-sand mine very year, but right now they are terrible - it's not the moss - they are just so dirty looking - they are as bad as ever after 6 months. Also, I've got over 90 square metres and I think the run off will kill the lawn! The lesson for me is never have concrete paving blocks - false economy - always go for brick / clay which never need to be cleaned.
Ihave used vinegar, a little salt and dawn dish detergent, let sit and then scrub and rinse, found out by accident it works when spraying weeds between pavers~
You started off with very clean looking blocks, but I suspect most people will be looking to clean much dirtier blocks than these and that might need a yard brush to help it. And that, I can tell you, is hard work. A couple of years ago the neighbour used a jet wash on our shared driveway, it took them two days and they washed nearly all the sand away ! So now I've been given some 'Spray and Leave' and will be using it in a couple of days. I'll give it a fortnight and report back what happens. EDIT. I gave the Spray and Leave a fortnight (which included one or two days of rain in the second week) and the very clean part is slightly cleaner, but the dirty part of the block paving appears to be as dirty as it was before I applied it. And by the way, I am talking about the blocks, not the small gaps where the moss usually grows. Fortunately it only cost me the time to apply it. New Edit: About 5 or 6 weeks on now and the whole block paved drive is looking cleaner just from the 'Spray and Leave'.
Guess my blocks start off clean because I’ve done them once a year for past 7 years since I laid the drive but a few days ago I’ve done a drive for a local neighbour who asked me and that hadn’t been touched for 5 years since being laid and the moss was quite thick in the joints….I did the same as the video and within minutes I could see the moss turning brown and dying and no need of any hard scrubbing…..just water on and leave the bleach to do it’s job 👍
@@chrisbodum3621 I guess I’ve always cleaned mine before it gets so bad you can’t see the drive for the moss but it’s only once a year and it works fine 👍😀😂😁😎👍
Moss, camomile and erigeron self sown and naturally growing in the joints mature a block paved area. Need to get rid of some weeds though. Bleach and any sort of weedkiller are a no no.
Yes the bleach solution will kill everything it’s poured on so if you want to keep some of the stuff growing you will have to pick out the weeds by hand I guess 😀😀👍
You can buy patio cleaner which is essentially highly concentrated bleach and costs a lot less than buying bottles of house bleach. Boiling water isn't required it just makes the cleaning action work a bit faster. Get the Sodium Hypochlorite based cleaners as the others are all pretty much useless. Best thing about the specialist cleaners is they contain fungicide which makes it take longer for moss and algae to come back.
I've stopped buying any products from the garden centre that promises miracles and never does. They are expensive too. I use bleach for most things except where flowers, grass or veggies are growing. It not only cleaned my patio, the bleach kills the soil on my path so prevents weeds. Weedkiller was useless compared to bleach. Each to our own I suspect.
I usually do mine once a year around spring and it lasts ok …. Guess it all depends on how much rain we get through the year though …. Once you see the mould and moss reappear you can always do it again but I shouldn’t think it would need more than twice a year at most 😀😀😀👍
No, power washing doesn’t destroy pavers. Mine are 30 years old and absolutely fine. Using a jet washer also clears out all the mud in the gaps where weeds harvest. Then brush fine sand over. Bleaching will just kill surface weeds and liken but leave mud in gaps so weeds have got a nice place to harvest for later. So, bleach, jet wash and sand.
Just do them once a year in the spring usually … sometimes twice depending on what weather we get but no more than this … the bleach continues to work well after the application and keeps the blocks looking good all year round really 😀😀😀👍
Your paving looked far better at the start than any average drive had you done it before coz mines far more dirty and weedy! I dont think bleach will do mine?
Hypochlorite works wonders just wet the paving dilute hypochlorite 3 to 1 put in watering can use a rise on end of spout sprinkle on light scrub with a broom rinse job done and if your looking to really improve the colours use resi block paving sealer expensive but just see the difference. Also re sand if you want to
It’s usually ok as I do my patio which has grass and flowers too although I do tend to keep the watering can close to the slabs so that the mixture doesn’t go all over the grass and flowers The bit that runs off the edges into the soil doesn’t seem to do any harm Hope this helps 😀😀😀👍
But bleach works better with cold water, the boiling water will render it less effective. It even says on the back of bleach to use cold water with it.
@@ChungustavYou should never clean with these two ingredients combined. Mixing chlorine bleach, which contains sodium hypochlorite, with any type of acid like vinegar creates chlorine gas, a dangerous chemical that's deadly in high volumes
Hi , does the resiblock seal the sand ? I'm trying some pro sand which is supposed to work but it's just like kiln dried to be honest. Any advice greatly received thanks
I have a rather large 5th floor balcony not tiles though. No idea and it is filthy from carbon monoxide Yep way under is a 6 lane road ..Dread to think what my lungs are like .Bleach worries me somewhat in that it may be too strong .Vinegar + baking soda and boiling water Would that work ??
The bleach will be fine as it’s outdoors and the smell soon goes It can’t be any worse than all those dreadful car fumes rising up there You could try the vinegar and baking soda as it may work but not something I’ve used so can’t really say for sure 😀👍
@@stephenmaddocksDIY Thanks a lot Oddly enough , fumes I never notice but the carbon particles in the air I do re my balcony .Bleach is available here but frowned upon since going in the water table it Isn't welcome .Tell you cleaning is never simple .Will do a small area as you did and same with vinegar and soda and hopefully note the difference.. Great channel you have .-)
Each to there own, but it seems to be the thing that everything must look like the day it went down, was made, the need for all things as close to perfect...too little time in life to worry about about a drive thats fine...
That 750 ml of Bleach you have I`m not familiar with it here and don`t know if they sell that in the States ? Can I use a gallon of regular Bleach and how much scalding water to add to it ? Thank you very much !
Hey my friend you will need to split the gallon of bleach into roughly 5 equal parts then add to kettles of hot water to each part into your watering can Or 10 kettles of hot water to the full gallon but you will need such a large watering can for this amount in one go So try splitting it into 5 equal parts …. It doesn’t have to be completely accurate so don’t worry too much Hope this helps 😀😀😀👍
@@stephenmaddocksDIY Top of the morning to ya ! as grandpa used to say LOL !! That kettle you have does it hold a gallon of liquid ? Thank you for the fast reply !! What part of England do you hail from ? Grandpa was from Wigan, Lankashire. His dad and he and brothers were coal miners. Great grandpa was a fire boss. I have Grandpa`s miners light. Take care and looking forward to seeing the rest of your video`s !!
@@markcampolo577 guess it doesn’t hold a gallon it’s just a normal size kettle one uses in the kitchen for making the tea and coffee So I put two of these to a 5th of the gallon of bleach. It doesn’t matter too much on the measurements just give it a go and make adjustments if you think you need a stronger or weaker mix I’m from Nottingham by the way 😀😀😀👍
I've watched this 3 times but I'm still nervous! I have two questions: 1) will the bleach solution kill the grass as my pavers look like yours only its a path so there is grass either side. 2) every other video/site using the bleach method seems to suggest you rinse off the bleach after some time - is it really ok to just not rinse it at all?? thank you in advance !!
@@Dr_KAP Hey thanks for your questions …. I have a lawn against my patio and flower borders too down the path and the bleach is fine as long as you are careful when pouring it from the can onto the area of concern …. What I do is keep the can close to the slabs near the edges so it only runs off the edge and seeps a little into the soil along the edge of the path …. I never rinse off after applying the mixture either as the bleach continues to work after applying it each time it rains so give it a go and I’m sure you’ll be ok. Just try a small area first to see the difference and until you gain confidence … I’ll share the other video to you that I have on this subject in case you haven’t seen it and I think I explain on there not to rinse it off but to leave it to do it’s job over time. Hope this helps SmilinSam 😀😀😀😀👍
@@stephenmaddocksDIY thank you so much! I did it today, it’s definitely better but I think needs a round 2 as they were quite bad. Thank you once again !
@@Dr_KAP Yes it may need a few goes if it’s never been done …I do mine once a year usually in the spring but depending on the weather I sometimes do it again in the autumn too … don’t forget to share the video with your friends for me as it helps the channel grow and provides helpful advice for free for those who want it … Take care and thanks for watching …and please let me know if there are any videos you’d like me to make on any diy projects for the future 😀😀😀👍
If the drive is laid properly it should have a weed barrier which stops the worms coming up from the earth below so the birds won’t be on the blocks 😀😀😀👍
If you have a more difficult drive, so like too many years of mold etc, you can also use Sodium Hypochlorite, which is basically the same as bleach, but if you get 5L of this you can vary the concentration of it. Basic household bleach is maybe only 5 to 10% Sodium Hypochlorite so would be OK for most drives, but I use that as its more powerful - it blitzes it !.
IIRC bleach will only remove colour if the item has been dyed. If it's still naturally coloured, there's nothing for the bleach to remove. Some people have the same misunderstanding with black mould and say that bleach doesn't kill it, it just turns it white. If that was the case, how does the black mould change colour to match the tan grout we have in our downstairs toilet? But yeah, I'd test a patch first if unsure.
@@IRISH-SPARTAN No I’ve always used hot boiling water but you could try a patch with cold water to see …. If it works you’ll save a bob or two on the lecky 😀😀😀👍
Well i tried it both ways and the cold water gave me the best results, probably because it sits on the driveway longer as I found the boiled water evaporated fairly quickly
Yes if the drive way has got a bit overgrown it would be a good idea to remove the thick moss and weeds first then sweep or hoover and then apply the bleach mixture It may need a couple of shots to bring it up to scratch but once you get on top of it you will be able to keep it right by applying the bleach mixture once a year or so Hope this helps 😀😀😀👍
I live in Canada and will try the weed killer, but don't think I can do the caulking part as we get very cold winters and hot summers here and so there would be no way for the contraction of the pavers, so I don't think that will work here
A few litres of Patio magic will do the job. No need for boiling water . Twice a year spring and Autumn and my block paving still looks like new 20 years on
You should find the sand cleans up nicely too and because it’s a new drive it’s good to do the cleaning once a year to keep it nice….it’s a matter of preference if you want to re sand it after but mines been down 7 years or more and I’ve never re sanded as yet 😀😀😀👍
@@stephendodds6480 No I do know because I have used it on tarmac outside my home and it’s fine on mine but I didn’t want to say so for yours as I’ve not seen it so if you’re unsure I suggest a test patch first to convince yourself 😀😀😀👍
Do you mean the strip drain tops? If so you don't have to its just mine tends to get full of leaves so I clean them out every now and then Hope this helps 😁😁😁👍
No I’ve never used a jet wash on it … it’s clean because I do it every spring using the method described in this video … it works a treat with very minimal effort required and certainly a jet wash is a much harder method which just blasts out the sand and shoots it all over your front door and windows 😀😀😀👍
@philtucker1224 I've always used hot water but some on here are saying it works better with cold water so I'm gonna try cold water next time and save on the lecky if it works
@@stephenmaddocksDIY yes, any school cleaner or public toilets cleaner will verify that. (My late uncle was a brewery maintenance engineer, he tought me that many years ago.
Thanks but one problem exists: Where you have pavers adjacent to the lawn, you destroy the lawn edges. My pavers are slightly higher than the lawn so I'm faced with runoff.
Ah sorry to hear that … you could try placing some plastic bin bags along the edge of the lawn first to stop this happening… but you will find the lawn grows back anyway after a short while as grass is quite resilient… also go easy near the edges to avoid a lot of run off too … hope this helps 😀😀😀👍
Hopefully we’ve done this before the moss is too thick….I’ve always done mine once a year in the spring so the moss never gets a chance to grow to the extent it would need raking or sweeping off….if the moss is really thick due to neglect previously it may well need a good sweep once it’s all died off and then make sure to re apply the idea on a yearly basis….hope this helps 👍😀😀😀😂👍
The block paving survives and keeps looking like new …. Sure driving cars and flying in planes and so forth causes much more damage to the environment but guess we all do it 😀😀👍
Listen by the time you’ve finished it’ll be dark and how many bottles off bleach did you use 10-15 , Half an hour with the jet wash job done , boiling kettles are you having a laugh sorry you are it was April fools day yesterday, 🤣🤣🤣
They should be fine …I’m sure like you and I they wouldn’t contemplate drinking anything that taste’s foul 👍 If you have pets keep them off till you finish and the surplus runs off and dries 👍 Hope this helps 😀😀😀👍
@@stephenmaddocksDIY I refer to the multitude of worms, centipede and a whole host of burned alive insects Stephen . Your cleaning method is barbaric 😞
@@martwilliams4290 Uhm I guess if your drive is built properly like mine you have a 65mm thick block on top of 50mm dept of washed sand on top of 450mm depth of compacted road stone with several layers of weed barrier in between. There shouldn’t be any soil in sight for our lovely insects and wildlife to nestle in….And I guess if any stray ones do get killed along the way by the method you describe it’s no worse than being eaten alive by the birds which is what Jehovah intended them for among other things….if you feel so strongly for the insects you shouldn’t even have a blocked paved drive and shouldn’t even be watching the video but rather have a beautiful lawn where the insects can enjoy paradise conditions forever 😀😀😀👍
Consider the fact that the ‘build up’ you refer to is mostly insect made as they inhabit the voids between the pavers. Also consider that boiling water and bleach should NEVER be mixed . As an experienced exterior cleaner I consider your cleaning method unnecessary, barbaric and very dangerous
Sorry but I would not feel comfortable with poring gallons of poison into the ground which would eventually be absorbed by the trees and plants around my home.
OK, so it all comes down to ... - DIY attempt at applying sodium hypochlorite (bleach) to a flat surface. I note you appear ignorant of the use of a surfactant in the mix. - how much did it cost you to boil those kettles compared to leaving a (cold) surfactant mix for an "adequate" dwell time. as for the idea that pressure washing creates mess, then apparently you either used a cowboy company or again have no idea what you are talking about. Ever seen a flat surface cleaner attachment?
Ah really sorry to hear this … you’re the first out out of 453 thousand that it’s not worked for Perhaps give it bother you as it always works if the procedure is followed correctly It may need a couple of goes if the driveway is really overgrown with moss ect 😀😀😀👍
I guess it’s only kept clean because I do it once a year to keep it that way. Any run off on mine goes down the strip drain too so nothing to worry about there Hope this helps 😀😀😀👍
Lazy way and no good for dogs , cats , wildlife flowers. And no mention of safety first or wearing gloves safety glasses. This video is a total no no just a lazy old man doing very dangerous way and the wrong way .please DO NOT COPY
Ah sorry you feel this way but we all have our opinions and choices I guess …. Hope you manage to keep your drive clean another way that’s perhaps more friendly in your opinion and if so please share your technique with us all😀😀😀👍
@stephenmaddocksDIY basically you are a old man who has a passion for killing animals and the local eco system.. bleach really let's hope you don't go blind using it raw and not wearing any safety gear .. keep up the great work @lazy_old man
Ah sorry to hear this and I can’t understand why it didn’t work unless the drive was in a real sorry state…in that case it may need a few goes …. You’ve only to look at mine in the video … I do it once a year in the spring and it still looks like new and it’s eight years old now. 😀😀😀👍
Then the house would be covered in muck and grit 😀🤣🤣👍 the white marks are there from the bleach when it dries and after it rains it disappears completely so much easier….uses much less water than the jet wash too 😀🤣🤣👍
It won’t poison the block paving and sure the weeds won’t feel anything …. Pets and wildlife won’t drink anything that tastes horrible either so bit like us really … guess we’re all safe and we end up with a clean driveway with not much effort involved 😀😀👍
Fair comment as I know it’s not a solution everyone wants as we all have free choice and different views … you may opt for plain boiling water to kill the weeds as it will do this but it won’t clean the block paving
![8 tips against weeds in driveways and sidewalks [How to get rid of weeds permanently]](/img/1.gif)
Paving was clean to start with.
That’s because I use this method yearly 😀😀😀👍
Yes i noticed it was clean to start with! That drive didn’t need cleaning, block paving gets a surface coating of dirt which attracts both black and white lichen , the bricks are hard enough to withstand black lichen ingress, the main reason for jet washing is the build up of weeds and moss between the bricks…..this had none! I would suggest that if you just need a chemical treatment then you get a professional to apply some Sodium Hypochlorite and finish with a biocide treatment for continued protection. Household bleach is 3% SH is 14-15%
@@glennbraiden3310 There was definitely moss between the bricks beforehand and the bleach would definitely kill it.
Thank you for this. A Citronella candle tipped over on my new paver patio - tried everything to get it out. This worked like a charm. Priceless!
Great glad it worked for you …. Please share to your friends too 😀😀😀👍
I’ve washed our slabs for years with a good bleach and hot water
I've bought specialist paving cleaner and used a jet washer before now (latter takes hours and makes a mess). . Now I just wait for it to rain and pour on cheap bleach...works perfectly. I only use the kettle for making a cup of tea. Cheap, time saving and very effective.
Nice one glad it’s working 😀😀😀👍
Hi what bleach do you use and can a dog walk in it after
I have been doing this for years. Two things to add, No need to use a kettle, hot water from your tap will do. Be aware of getting bleach on your shoes and clothes as it will stain them. Agree, by the time you have set up the Karcher, bleaching will have it done.
Yes thanks for the tips … help save a few bob on the lecky 😀😀😀👍
Done mine Stephen as you did , it’s not come up as good a jet washing it BUT it’s plenty good enough for me a 20 minute job against 3 hours jetwashing and much less messy . 👍👍
Ah great … glad it worked for you … you can always do it again in a few months to keep improving it
I do mine every spring as a rule but sometimes again in the autumn to keep it like new 😀😀😀👍
What a great (and easy) method 👍. Will be giving it a go in the next day or two. Thank you
Great stuff .... better than the old jet wash machine hey! 😁😁😁👍
This was really helpful thank you.
I agree about the mess that jet washers make. It's too much work to have to clean the windows, front door etc. I'd rather take my time and take care of it by hand.
Great idea to use a watering can instead of a sprayer. I will do this now.
Yeah works much better using a watering can as a sprayer mist tends to blow all over the place and even onto the person doing the job and could be dangerous if it gets into your eyes 😀👍
Probably a good idea to use jet wash first if there is heavy build up and then use this method as preventative maintenance.
Yes I agree … a jet wash would take the thick off first of all … then clean it up with the method described and should work a treat 😀😀😀👍
@@stephenmaddocksDIY cheers
I find cold water mixed with rock salt and white vinegar in a fine garden sprayer keeps my block pave drive weed free and it’s relatively cheap.
Thanks … it’s good to learn of other ideas and ways too …. especially now everything is costing more 😀😀😀👍
Nah, your thinking of fish and chips mate.
I had Cotswold stone clippings and they had become grubby, with earth and mud in them. I bought a plastic wheelbarrow, drilled holes in it and used a hosepipe to wash them. The dirt dropped through the holes, leaving the stones clean and ready to relay.
Excellent…it’s good to learn of different techniques 😀😀😀👍
I didn't actually realise how dirty block paving becomes and the nightmare of the moss and weeks growing in the gaps. I now regret doing block paving and I should have opted for just tarmac. It's smooth and resists dirt much more. Block paving looks nice for the first 6 months and then it starts to discolour and have crap growing out of it. I hate it.
The drive in the video has been down 7 or more years now and still looks like new, it’s a matter of repeating this operation at least once a year in spring otherwise it’s what you describe I’m afraid to say
Try the advice in the video a few times over the next months and it should come up without too much effort 😀😀😀👍
Everything needs maintenance and definitely nicer to look than tarmac. When does anyone say." Nice bit of tarmac love"😂👌
Completely agree, i absolutely hate block paving. I'm going to remove mine all out and replace with tarmac or resin bond. Anything that doesn't have any gaps.
We have a tarmac driveway and it's full of moss / algae.
I used thick bleach on York coloured paving slabs which were black and mouldy with black spots. Did a small bit to start with and the transformation is amazing.
Worked it in with a stiff brush.
I hosed it all off into a drain and the patio looks brand new.
Secret is to leave it on overnight and let it bite into the grime.
Always be careful using it near hedges, plants and lawns and keep pets away from it.
Yeah I was thinking I am a bit scared to use it thinking of the cats, I also have hedgehogs that visit the garden. x
I might give it a try, but your blocks at the start looked cleaner than mine do after they have been pressure washed! I pressure wash and re-sand mine very year, but right now they are terrible - it's not the moss - they are just so dirty looking - they are as bad as ever after 6 months. Also, I've got over 90 square metres and I think the run off will kill the lawn! The lesson for me is never have concrete paving blocks - false economy - always go for brick / clay which never need to be cleaned.
Ihave used vinegar, a little salt and dawn dish detergent, let sit and then scrub and rinse, found out by accident it works when spraying weeds between pavers~
You started off with very clean looking blocks, but I suspect most people will be looking to clean much dirtier blocks than these and that might need a yard brush to help it. And that, I can tell you, is hard work.
A couple of years ago the neighbour used a jet wash on our shared driveway, it took them two days and they washed nearly all the sand away !
So now I've been given some 'Spray and Leave' and will be using it in a couple of days. I'll give it a fortnight and report back what happens.
EDIT.
I gave the Spray and Leave a fortnight (which included one or two days of rain in the second week) and the very clean part is slightly cleaner, but the dirty part of the block paving appears to be as dirty as it was before I applied it. And by the way, I am talking about the blocks, not the small gaps where the moss usually grows. Fortunately it only cost me the time to apply it.
New Edit: About 5 or 6 weeks on now and the whole block paved drive is looking cleaner just from the 'Spray and Leave'.
Guess my blocks start off clean because I’ve done them once a year for past 7 years since I laid the drive but a few days ago I’ve done a drive for a local neighbour who asked me and that hadn’t been touched for 5 years since being laid and the moss was quite thick in the joints….I did the same as the video and within minutes I could see the moss turning brown and dying and no need of any hard scrubbing…..just water on and leave the bleach to do it’s job 👍
@@stephenmaddocksDIY It must be your water then.
@@chrisbodum3621 I guess I’ve always cleaned mine before it gets so bad you can’t see the drive for the moss but it’s only once a year and it works fine 👍😀😂😁😎👍
So how did it go?
Killed everything in site 😁👍
Moss, camomile and erigeron self sown and naturally growing in the joints mature a block paved area. Need to get rid of some weeds though. Bleach and any sort of weedkiller are a no no.
Yes the bleach solution will kill everything it’s poured on so if you want to keep some of the stuff growing you will have to pick out the weeds by hand I guess 😀😀👍
Thank you for this!
No worries … Glad it’s helped …Thanks for watching 😀😀😀👍
You can buy patio cleaner which is essentially highly concentrated bleach and costs a lot less than buying bottles of house bleach. Boiling water isn't required it just makes the cleaning action work a bit faster. Get the Sodium Hypochlorite based cleaners as the others are all pretty much useless. Best thing about the specialist cleaners is they contain fungicide which makes it take longer for moss and algae to come back.
I've stopped buying any products from the garden centre that promises miracles and never does. They are expensive too. I use bleach for most things except where flowers, grass or veggies are growing. It not only cleaned my patio, the bleach kills the soil on my path so prevents weeds. Weedkiller was useless compared to bleach. Each to our own I suspect.
How long does it take for the mold to come back again. How often do I have to do this
I usually do mine once a year around spring and it lasts ok …. Guess it all depends on how much rain we get through the year though …. Once you see the mould and moss reappear you can always do it again but I shouldn’t think it would need more than twice a year at most 😀😀😀👍
No need for boiling kettles, just use sodium hypoclorite and it will sort out any lychen black spots as well as leaving your drive like new.
Power washers destroy pavers so this is a great alternative. Thanks!
Yeah much better 😀😀😀👍
@johnmeigs719 Never has done in 20 years 😀😀😀👍
No, power washing doesn’t destroy pavers. Mine are 30 years old and absolutely fine. Using a jet washer also clears out all the mud in the gaps where weeds harvest. Then brush fine sand over. Bleaching will just kill surface weeds and liken but leave mud in gaps so weeds have got a nice place to harvest for later. So, bleach, jet wash and sand.
Heading off to my garden to try. Thank you
Have fun 😀😀😀👍
The blocks before he started looked as though they had been cleaned last week!
Just do them once a year in the spring usually … sometimes twice depending on what weather we get but no more than this … the bleach continues to work well after the application and keeps the blocks looking good all year round really 😀😀😀👍
Woww thank you for the tip! Will do it tonite!
Great sure you’ll be impressed 😀😀😀👍
Your paving looked far better at the start than any average drive had you done it before coz mines far more dirty and weedy! I dont think bleach will do mine?
Yeah I do mine yearly so keeps it ticking over nicely 👌
Give it a go it may need a couple of goes to get it looking right but it will work
@@stephenmaddocksDIY😊 0:47
Thanks this was really helpful.
Great ..glad it woke ok for you
Hypochlorite works wonders just wet the paving dilute hypochlorite 3 to 1 put in watering can use a rise on end of spout sprinkle on light scrub with a broom rinse job done and if your looking to really improve the colours use resi block paving sealer expensive but just see the difference. Also re sand if you want to
Neighbours: "There goes Kevin vacuuming his driveway again:
Neighbours 5 minutes later: "There goes Kevin watering his driveway..."
🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂👍 Bet his driveways cleaner than the neighbours 😂😂😅🤣🤣😂😂👍
What about it running the patio onto the grass / flower beds etc ?
It’s usually ok as I do my patio which has grass and flowers too although I do tend to keep the watering can close to the slabs so that the mixture doesn’t go all over the grass and flowers
The bit that runs off the edges into the soil doesn’t seem to do any harm
Hope this helps 😀😀😀👍
@@stephenmaddocksDIY thank you Stephen
But bleach works better with cold water, the boiling water will render it less effective. It even says on the back of bleach to use cold water with it.
Ok Great stuff saves on the lecky too as cost of boiling 2 kettles adds up a bit these days 😀👍
Add 1 part vinegar, 1 part bleach 8 parts water. Bleach needs to be at pH 6.5 to 7.5. Out of the bottle is is between 11 and 12
@@ChungustavYou should never clean with these two ingredients combined. Mixing chlorine bleach, which contains sodium hypochlorite, with any type of acid like vinegar creates chlorine gas, a dangerous chemical that's deadly in high volumes
Of lauw water
A full kettle of boiling water, you must have won the lottery at the cost of electric :o) 😁
Yeah two in each can 😁😁😁👍
Jer wash resand then seal with resibloc just done mine after 10 years looks brand new and will be moss free
😀👍
Hi , does the resiblock seal the sand ? I'm trying some pro sand which is supposed to work but it's just like kiln dried to be honest. Any advice greatly received thanks
Does it work on tarmac ..?
Yes I have some tarmac on the pavement outside our home and I use it on that and it works fine so you should be ok 😀👍
@@stephenmaddocksDIY thank you
Thank you my back garden is north facing hence the patio gets lots of green mold I gonna follow you next spring 👍
Great sure you’ll get on alright with it and it really does work well 😀😀😀👍
I have a rather large 5th floor balcony not tiles though. No idea and it is filthy from carbon monoxide Yep way under is a 6 lane road ..Dread to think what my lungs are like .Bleach worries me somewhat in that it may be too strong .Vinegar + baking soda and boiling water Would that work ??
The bleach will be fine as it’s outdoors and the smell soon goes
It can’t be any worse than all those dreadful car fumes rising up there
You could try the vinegar and baking soda as it may work but not something I’ve used so can’t really say for sure 😀👍
@@stephenmaddocksDIY Thanks a lot Oddly enough , fumes I never notice but the carbon particles in the air I do re my balcony .Bleach is available here but frowned upon since going in the water table it Isn't welcome .Tell you cleaning is never simple .Will do a small area as you did and same with vinegar and soda and hopefully note the difference.. Great channel you have .-)
@@HelenaMikas I’d be interested to know your results of your experiments 😀👍
Each to there own, but it seems to be the thing that everything must look like the day it went down, was made, the need for all things as close to perfect...too little time in life to worry about about a drive thats fine...
So good for the environment 😢
No different for the environment from all those chemically produced cleaners. If fact bleach or vinegar is probably better.
That 750 ml of Bleach you have I`m not familiar with it here and don`t know if they sell that in the States ? Can I use a gallon of regular Bleach and how much scalding water to add to it ? Thank you very much !
Hey my friend you will need to split the gallon of bleach into roughly 5 equal parts then add to kettles of hot water to each part into your watering can
Or 10 kettles of hot water to the full gallon but you will need such a large watering can for this amount in one go
So try splitting it into 5 equal parts …. It doesn’t have to be completely accurate so don’t worry too much
Hope this helps 😀😀😀👍
@@stephenmaddocksDIY Top of the morning to ya ! as grandpa used to say LOL !! That kettle you have does it hold a gallon of liquid ? Thank you for the fast reply !! What part of England do you hail from ? Grandpa was from Wigan, Lankashire. His dad and he and brothers were coal miners. Great grandpa was a fire boss. I have Grandpa`s miners light. Take care and looking forward to seeing the rest of your video`s !!
@@markcampolo577 guess it doesn’t hold a gallon it’s just a normal size kettle one uses in the kitchen for making the tea and coffee So I put two of these to a 5th of the gallon of bleach. It doesn’t matter too much on the measurements just give it a go and make adjustments if you think you need a stronger or weaker mix
I’m from Nottingham by the way 😀😀😀👍
I've watched this 3 times but I'm still nervous! I have two questions: 1) will the bleach solution kill the grass as my pavers look like yours only its a path so there is grass either side. 2) every other video/site using the bleach method seems to suggest you rinse off the bleach after some time - is it really ok to just not rinse it at all?? thank you in advance !!
@@Dr_KAP Hey thanks for your questions …. I have a lawn against my patio and flower borders too down the path and the bleach is fine as long as you are careful when pouring it from the can onto the area of concern …. What I do is keep the can close to the slabs near the edges so it only runs off the edge and seeps a little into the soil along the edge of the path …. I never rinse off after applying the mixture either as the bleach continues to work after applying it each time it rains so give it a go and I’m sure you’ll be ok. Just try a small area first to see the difference and until you gain confidence … I’ll share the other video to you that I have on this subject in case you haven’t seen it and I think I explain on there not to rinse it off but to leave it to do it’s job over time. Hope this helps SmilinSam 😀😀😀😀👍
Here’s the other video link for you 😀😀😀👍 ruclips.net/video/R6d1OaM6bbs/видео.htmlsi=94GzTAURP1IxU8HU
@@stephenmaddocksDIY thank you so much! I did it today, it’s definitely better but I think needs a round 2 as they were quite bad. Thank you once again !
@@Dr_KAP Yes it may need a few goes if it’s never been done …I do mine once a year usually in the spring but depending on the weather I sometimes do it again in the autumn too … don’t forget to share the video with your friends for me as it helps the channel grow and provides helpful advice for free for those who want it … Take care and thanks for watching …and please let me know if there are any videos you’d like me to make on any diy projects for the future 😀😀😀👍
If you were to sit down on that, would you be prosecuted for "bleach of the piece" ?
Probably 🤣🤣🤣👍
😂@@stephenmaddocksDIY
I wait until a hot day then put a gallon of white vinegar down.
it works great .no water . make sure you wash the watering can out after
Ah that’s good to know … save on the lecky too 😀😀😀👍
so is it undiluted vinegar? do you rinse after? cheers
@@ronrichardson3103 it’s diluted bleach not vinegar and no don’t rinse after just leave it to work and put your feet up 🤣🤣🤣👍
Hell of a way to go for all the worms that come up and poor birds that seem and try to eat them
If the drive is laid properly it should have a weed barrier which stops the worms coming up from the earth below so the birds won’t be on the blocks 😀😀😀👍
First thing I thought of was the wildlife, nesting birds are looking for food in the springtime what a terrible idea🫣
Worms don't live in paving stones. LOL.
Get a firm scrubbing brush and use elbow grease is the most successful non chemical, non machine way to do it.
Yes good call … saves joining the gym too I guess 🤣🤣🤣👍
Great. Thanks.
Glad it’s helped 😀😀😀👍
Hi. Do you use one part bleach and one part water? Thanks for the video
One bottle of bleach and two kettles of water in the can 😀😀😀👍
@@stephenmaddocksDIY Thanks Stephen. I was just going to do a test patch first. I'll experiment🙂
If you have a more difficult drive, so like too many years of mold etc, you can also use Sodium Hypochlorite, which is basically the same as bleach, but if you get 5L of this you can vary the concentration of it. Basic household bleach is maybe only 5 to 10% Sodium Hypochlorite so would be OK for most drives, but I use that as its more powerful - it blitzes it !.
Hey that’s good to know … always looking for a cheaper and more powerful solution now we have so much rain making stuff grow! 😀😀😀👍
Fred dibnah narrating
Ah …. Did ya like that 😀😀😀👍
Will this not discolour the paving as it's bleach
It’s been ok on mine for a good number of years but I guess if you’re worried you can always try a test patch first to see if it’s ok 😀😀👍
IIRC bleach will only remove colour if the item has been dyed. If it's still naturally coloured, there's nothing for the bleach to remove. Some people have the same misunderstanding with black mould and say that bleach doesn't kill it, it just turns it white. If that was the case, how does the black mould change colour to match the tan grout we have in our downstairs toilet? But yeah, I'd test a patch first if unsure.
Couldn’t help noticing the lack of algae before it was “ cleaned “
Yes because I do this process each spring it never gets so bad you’re tripping over it 😀😀👍
What about wildlife, creatures etc?
Never had any bother myself and if you have pets just keep them off the driveway while it dries 😀😀👍
Has anyone tried it? Great video if it works 😊
Works a treat that’s why I do it and share it with others 😀😀😀👍
@@stephenmaddocksDIY will give it a go 👍, did you try it with Cold water?
@@IRISH-SPARTAN No I’ve always used hot boiling water but you could try a patch with cold water to see …. If it works you’ll save a bob or two on the lecky 😀😀😀👍
@@stephenmaddocksDIY 😆, will try it both ways, Cold would save a lot of time,as I have a very large area
Well i tried it both ways and the cold water gave me the best results, probably because it sits on the driveway longer as I found the boiled water evaporated fairly quickly
Astonished
Great … glad it’s worked for you 😀😀😀👍
Would the bleach not fade the stone finish ?
If unsure I always advise to do a test patch first to see … but it should be ok 😀😀😀👍
Do you have to get rid of the heavy moss and weeds before you hoover or do you just hoover straight away
Yes if the drive way has got a bit overgrown it would be a good idea to remove the thick moss and weeds first then sweep or hoover and then apply the bleach mixture
It may need a couple of shots to bring it up to scratch but once you get on top of it you will be able to keep it right by applying the bleach mixture once a year or so
Hope this helps 😀😀😀👍
I live in Canada and will try the weed killer, but don't think I can do the caulking part as we get very cold winters and hot summers here and so there would be no way for the contraction of the pavers, so I don't think that will work here
Sure it will work fine for you 😀😀😀👍
Your paviours don’t expand or contract..
@@philtucker1224 Ah ok guess due to the extreme temperatures 😀😀😀👍
A few litres of Patio magic will do the job. No need for boiling water . Twice a year spring and Autumn and my block paving still looks like new 20 years on
Great save a few bob on the old lecky too I guess 😀😀😀👍
Will the bleach discolours the pavers? I have some red ?concrete pavers. I don't have a pressure washer.
Should be ok but always best to test a bit first just to see 😀😀😀👍
Bleach bleaches things remember..
Good tip. I am going to try that. Sounds like you are from Derby or Nottingham, am I right ?
Yes I’m from Nottingham so we’ll done for that …. Sure you’ll be happy with the results 😀😀😀👍
@@stephenmaddocksDIY Thanks mate, thought I recognised the accent. I lived in Derby for 34 years.
Going to try this as only had my patio done last year. Do you resand after?
You should find the sand cleans up nicely too and because it’s a new drive it’s good to do the cleaning once a year to keep it nice….it’s a matter of preference if you want to re sand it after but mines been down 7 years or more and I’ve never re sanded as yet 😀😀😀👍
Can’t help thinking my dogs prefer the power washer
Is this safe for pets and forest animals?😊
Never had any problems myself during the last 15 years of applying this method of cleaning the driveway and patio 😀😀😀👍
Can you do this on tarmac ?
Should be fine on tarmac but if unsure I would advise doing a test patch first of all just to make sure you’re happy with the result … take care 😀😀👍
you mean you don’t know
@@stephendodds6480 No I do know because I have used it on tarmac outside my home and it’s fine on mine but I didn’t want to say so for yours as I’ve not seen it so if you’re unsure I suggest a test patch first to convince yourself 😀😀😀👍
I know that hot water neutralises bleach so I’m confused. (I wonder if it’s the bleach or actually just the hot water that is killing the moss?)🤔
Guess it’s a bit of both but I’m gonna try cold water next time as I’ll save on the lecky if nothing else 😀😀😀👍
Hot water at the temperature shown would coagulate the protein structures in any plant - including lawns!
Might have to get a bottle of own brand bleach from Aldi for this task. I'll save the Domestos for the bog and not annoy the Mrs.
My sentiments indeed and this method kills vine weeds to the root good for i use the same
😀😀😀👍
I put industrial strength weed killer down but my trick is not to put water with it😂
It’s so strong kills everything
Great gals that works well too … good to have a few tricks up our sleeves to keep things looking well 😀👍
Do I always have to lift the kettle up?
Do you mean the strip drain tops? If so you don't have to its just mine tends to get full of leaves so I clean them out every now and then
Hope this helps 😁😁😁👍
Cries in 600m2 pavement, powerwashing whole week.
Will this kill weeds also???
Yes it sure will 😀😀😀👍
Good grief your fussy it looked ok to start bet your house inside is like a new pin
Yes it does …. My wife is very house proud 😀😀😀👍
The algae and gunk were IN BETWEEN the blocks. In the grout.
@@sanitystringer I like the natural look if you clean em there back to normal in a month or so so what’s the point
Bleach does exactly what it says on the tin..... bleaches all the colour from the blocks so they end up sandy brown.Speaking from experience
My blocks have been down 8 years now and still look fine 😀😀😀👍
That paving has been jet washed it is far to clean for just after winter
No I’ve never used a jet wash on it … it’s clean because I do it every spring using the method described in this video … it works a treat with very minimal effort required and certainly a jet wash is a much harder method which just blasts out the sand and shoots it all over your front door and windows 😀😀😀👍
My grandad father showed me this methed 60 years ago
Great stuff …. It still works best 😀😀😀👍
Did he put hot water with bleach??
@philtucker1224 I've always used hot water but some on here are saying it works better with cold water so I'm gonna try cold water next time and save on the lecky if it works
@@stephenmaddocksDIY yes, any school cleaner or public toilets cleaner will verify that. (My late uncle was a brewery maintenance engineer, he tought me that many years ago.
Any rinsing involved?
No .... just water on and leave it to do its job
Just follow the steps in the video and you'll be amazed 😁😁😁👍
Can this technique be applied on Indian sandstone to kill the black spots/lychen ?
Can’t see why not…I’ve used it on sandstone before and works fine…if worried do a test slab first to see the difference Hope this helps 👍😀😀😀👍
@@stephenmaddocksDIY thanks
@RogueTrooper2911 unfortunately, I’ve bleached them and they look quite dull with white marks left on them 🙁
@RogueTrooper2911 😱
@RogueTrooper2911 all you needed to do was apply a brick seal to bring the colour back... save you money
Didn't look dirty to start with!!
Hey that’s because I do this each springtime to keep it looking like new 😀😀😀👍
Thanks but one problem exists: Where you have pavers adjacent to the lawn, you destroy the lawn edges. My pavers are slightly higher than the lawn so I'm faced with runoff.
Ah sorry to hear that … you could try placing some plastic bin bags along the edge of the lawn first to stop this happening… but you will find the lawn grows back anyway after a short while as grass is quite resilient… also go easy near the edges to avoid a lot of run off too … hope this helps 😀😀😀👍
@@stephenmaddocksDIY Thanks, Stephen. Stay well...
no chance of this working on my drive, if you think this will make things vanish then you believe in magic!
Strange … it works on everyone else’s 😀😀😀👍
The bleach finishes up in the water course to do more damage to rivers and wildlife
Not entirely sure of this but what it does do is keep your drive looking like new for years on end with little effort involved 😀😀👍
Check out its by-products. It breaks down to its constituents.
Wasn’t dirty in the first place
This is because I do it each spring and it keeps it clean all year round … it’s 8 years old now and still looks like new 😀😀👍
Use WET & FORGET you won't regret it...........
I assume the dead moss sill needs to be raked out!
Hopefully we’ve done this before the moss is too thick….I’ve always done mine once a year in the spring so the moss never gets a chance to grow to the extent it would need raking or sweeping off….if the moss is really thick due to neglect previously it may well need a good sweep once it’s all died off and then make sure to re apply the idea on a yearly basis….hope this helps 👍😀😀😀😂👍
The worst you can do for the environment! Nothing survives!
The block paving survives and keeps looking like new …. Sure driving cars and flying in planes and so forth causes much more damage to the environment but guess we all do it 😀😀👍
Listen by the time you’ve finished it’ll be dark and how many bottles off bleach did you use 10-15 , Half an hour with the jet wash job done , boiling kettles are you having a laugh sorry you are it was April fools day yesterday, 🤣🤣🤣
And the wildlife !?
They should be fine …I’m sure like you and I they wouldn’t contemplate drinking anything that taste’s foul 👍 If you have pets keep them off till you finish and the surplus runs off and dries 👍 Hope this helps 😀😀😀👍
@@stephenmaddocksDIY
I refer to the multitude of worms, centipede and a whole host of burned alive insects Stephen . Your cleaning method is barbaric 😞
@@martwilliams4290 Uhm I guess if your drive is built properly like mine you have a 65mm thick block on top of 50mm dept of washed sand on top of 450mm depth of compacted road stone with several layers of weed barrier in between. There shouldn’t be any soil in sight for our lovely insects and wildlife to nestle in….And I guess if any stray ones do get killed along the way by the method you describe it’s no worse than being eaten alive by the birds which is what Jehovah intended them for among other things….if you feel so strongly for the insects you shouldn’t even have a blocked paved drive and shouldn’t even be watching the video but rather have a beautiful lawn where the insects can enjoy paradise conditions forever 😀😀😀👍
Consider the fact that the ‘build up’ you refer to is mostly insect made as they inhabit the voids between the pavers. Also consider that boiling water and bleach should NEVER be mixed . As an experienced exterior cleaner I consider your cleaning method unnecessary, barbaric and very dangerous
Wildlife? You mean pest you weirdo
Sorry but I would not feel comfortable with poring gallons of poison into the ground which would eventually be absorbed by the trees and plants around my home.
No worries …. We all have choice 😀👍
Good for you. I'll do mine twice.
@@stephenmaddocksDIY😁👍
Well, I'm going to give it a go. Better than using gallons of water with a jet wash 😁
@@jeff.5380 yeah much less effort involved too 😀👍
OK, so it all comes down to ...
- DIY attempt at applying sodium hypochlorite (bleach) to a flat surface. I note you appear ignorant of the use of a surfactant in the mix.
- how much did it cost you to boil those kettles compared to leaving a (cold) surfactant mix for an "adequate" dwell time.
as for the idea that pressure washing creates mess, then apparently you either used a cowboy company or again have no idea what you are talking about. Ever seen a flat surface cleaner attachment?
What can’t speak can’t lie 😀😀😀👍 just check the results 😀😀😀👍 and yes I have and do own one 😀😀😀🤣
Tried this, waste of my time, don't waste yours !
Ah really sorry to hear this … you’re the first out out of 453 thousand that it’s not worked for
Perhaps give it bother you as it always works if the procedure is followed correctly
It may need a couple of goes if the driveway is really overgrown with moss ect
😀😀😀👍
Sorry should say perhaps give it another go ….
Get for pets and the environment lol
😀👍
The paving was already really clean, what a waste of time and money, be careful as run of will kill any plants in your garden. R. 🥵
I guess it’s only kept clean because I do it once a year to keep it that way. Any run off on mine goes down the strip drain too so nothing to worry about there
Hope this helps 😀😀😀👍
Been using it donkeys ears
😀😀👍
Lazy way and no good for dogs , cats , wildlife flowers. And no mention of safety first or wearing gloves safety glasses. This video is a total no no just a lazy old man doing very dangerous way and the wrong way .please DO NOT COPY
Ah sorry you feel this way but we all have our opinions and choices I guess …. Hope you manage to keep your drive clean another way that’s perhaps more friendly in your opinion and if so please share your technique with us all😀😀😀👍
@stephenmaddocksDIY basically you are a old man who has a passion for killing animals and the local eco system.. bleach really let's hope you don't go blind using it raw and not wearing any safety gear .. keep up the great work @lazy_old man
Didn't work. Waste of time!
Ah sorry to hear this and I can’t understand why it didn’t work unless the drive was in a real sorry state…in that case it may need a few goes …. You’ve only to look at mine in the video … I do it once a year in the spring and it still looks like new and it’s eight years old now. 😀😀😀👍
...... but your PAVING was all left with white marks on it............... GET IT JET-WASHED !!!
Then the house would be covered in muck and grit 😀🤣🤣👍 the white marks are there from the bleach when it dries and after it rains it disappears completely so much easier….uses much less water than the jet wash too 😀🤣🤣👍
@@stephenmaddocksDIY I had no idea , cheers for this info, I'm gonna try it.
@@BLUEHORIZON-g2b ok sure you’re gonna love the results always here to help 😀😀👍
Stick to jetwashing. If dirt goes on your car (which shouldn't be parked there anyway) and windows, just give them a quick jetwash at the end!
What and knock the muck back on the drive 🤣🤣🤣👍
No
Not sure on your comment. No it’s not a good idea? 😀👍
Bleach ?? too toxic .
It won’t poison the block paving and sure the weeds won’t feel anything …. Pets and wildlife won’t drink anything that tastes horrible either so bit like us really … guess we’re all safe and we end up with a clean driveway with not much effort involved 😀😀👍
This is a joke right?
🤣🤣🤣👍
Bleach...or any other horrible chemical..NO...JUST NO!
Fair comment as I know it’s not a solution everyone wants as we all have free choice and different views … you may opt for plain boiling water to kill the weeds as it will do this but it won’t clean the block paving
Totally agree
Should be a 1 minute video!