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Our Top Tips On How To Clean Stone Patio & Outdoor Tiles​

  1. Introduction
  2. Tips On How To Clean Patio Slabs and Paving Slabs
  3. The Vinegar Method
    1. The vinegar method: Step 1
    2. The vinegar method: Step 2
    3. The vinegar method: Step 3
  4. Power Washing Your Natural Stone Patio Safely
    1. Power Washing Natural Stone Slabs: Step 1
    2. Power Washing Natural Stone Slabs: Step 2
  5. Stontex All-in-One Outdoor Cleaner 
    1. Stontex Stone Cleaning: Step 1
    2. Stontex Stone Cleaning: Step 2
    3. Stontex Stone Cleaning: Step 3
    4. Stontex Stone Cleaning: Step 4
    5. Stontex Stone Cleaning: Step 5
  6. Stontex All-in-One Outdoor Cleaner in Action
  7. Alternative Natural Stone Paving Slab Cleaning Products
    1. Grout Removal
    2. Stubborn Dirt And Grime Removal
    3. Rust Removal
    4. Black Spot Remover
  8. Conclusion
  9. Why Tile Merchant?

Introduction

In this blog, we’ll share some of the best tips for cleaning patio tiles and outdoor tiles, helping you maintain your paving slabs and 20mm outdoor porcelain tiles for the long run. We’ll also mention a few recommended outdoor tile cleaners. Keep reading to learn how to clean patio slabs, stones and tiles effectively!

There are a few different products and techniques you can use to help keep your patio clean and glowing.

This is a guide intended for Irish homeowners and cleaning professionals, designed to help you learn how to wash outdoor tiles and give insights into effective cleaning products, such as the best outdoor granite cleaner and more.

A clean patio featuring natural paving slabs
Tips on how to clean patio slabs and paving slabs

Tips On How To Clean Patio Slabs and Paving Slabs

Natural stone paving slabs and outdoor tiles are a fantastic solution for garden renovations, providing homeowners, designers and installation professionals with attractive and long-lasting, durable, family-friendly materials for patios, porches, driveways and more.

Whilst natural stone paving slabs—be they made from limestone, sandstone or granite—are strong enough to withstand heavy foot traffic and Ireland’s notorious climate, they do require a level of maintenance which can prove challenging to the uninitiated.

However, with a little help from this Tile Merchant guide, it should prove no problem to keep your natural stone paving slabs clean, safe and durable throughout their lifespan.

Below, we take a look at the three most common and effective methods for cleaning patio tiles and stones.

The Vinegar Method

Cleaning outdoor tiles and paving slabs with vinegar is our top recommended method for tackling soft dirt. If you’re looking for how to clean outdoor tiles naturally, this approach offers an effective and eco-friendly solution.

Before you start, we suggest removing all plants and outdoor furniture from the area. Vinegar is a contact herbicide, so you can unintentionally kill plants in your garden if you accidentally spray them with vinegar.

Sweep away any dirt and remove any weeds from your patio. These foundational steps help prepare any natural stone slab or outdoor tile for a thorough cleaning.

The vinegar method: Step 1

Once you’ve cleared the area you intend to clean, create a solution with a 50:50 ratio of distilled white vinegar to water. Once have your solution ready, pour it onto your patio, ensuring it is spread evenly and covers the entire patio area.  

The vinegar method: Step 2

Allow the solution to sit on the natural stone slabs for approximately 20-25 minutes. After allowing the solution to soak in to the surface, scrub the area with a brush.

The vinegar method: Step 3

Once these steps have been completed you can put all your garden furniture back to its original place and you can relax and enjoy your garden!

Power Washing Your Natural Stone Patio Safely

The quickest way to clean your patio is to use a power washer. However, because this is a quick-fix option, caution is advised when using this method as the high water pressure does have the potential to cause damage to your patio or paving.

Power Washing Natural Stone Slabs: Step 1

Prepare the area as described above, by clearing it of furniture and plants and sweeping the area free of other debris.

Power Washing Natural Stone Slabs: Step 2

When you are using your power washer you should start at a low setting to reduce the risk of damaging your patio area. When using a power washer be careful when washing grouted areas, as these sections are more prone to be damaged by high pressure.

Stontex All-in-One Outdoor Cleaner 

Above we’ve described two methods for how to wash outdoor tiles and cleaning patio tiles. However, power washing has the potential to damage paving slabs, whilst the ‘vinegar method’ is only really effective for cleaning mildly-dirty slabs.

Of course, there will naturally come times when neither of the above methods are suitable. Either because you don’t have a power-washer or want to risk it, or because your natural stone paving requires a deeper clean.

For more demanding natural stone paving cleaning tasks, you’ll need something a bit stronger.

Stontex All-in-One Outdoor Cleaner is a high-performance cleaner which should serve as your first port of call for intensive cleaning of your patio and regular slab maintenance. The cleaning product is best suited to natural stone paving, concrete driveways and paths, as well as composite and wood-effect outdoor decking and wooden garden furniture

This clean is also supremely effective against organic stains such as lichen, algae and moss. It cleans by penetrating the material and lifting the stains out of the patio. 

We advise customers to wear gloves and protective clothing when working with this solution.

Stontex Stone Cleaning: Step 1

Prepare the area as described above, by clearing it of furniture and plants and sweeping the area free of other debris. Then wet the area with a hose, before applying the Stontex.

Stontex Stone Cleaning: Step 2

For very dirty areas apply the cleaner undiluted, for general cleaning dilute with a 50:50 ratio of Stontex solution and water. 5L of this product will treat approximately 200sqm.

Stontex Stone Cleaning: Step 3

Like the many other products we stock for outdoor tiles cleaning and stone slab maintenance, we suggest you use a bristle brush to apply the solution until it fully covers your chosen surface.

Stontex Stone Cleaning: Step 4

Let the Stontex/water mixture sit on the surface of your outdoor stone paving slabs for 10-20 minutes.

Stontex Stone Cleaning: Step 5

Rinse off the Stontex/water cleaning mixture from your outdoor paving slabs with plenty of water (either cold or warm will do, provided it is clean and you allow the surface to dry afterwards). For particularly stubborn stains and marks, repeat steps 1-5 until you are satisfied with the state of your outdoor natural stone paving slabs.

Stontex All-in-One Outdoor Cleaner in Action

Freshly cleaned patio stones in a backyard setting. To reach this level of clean we ued stontex all in one cleaner
Spotless patio stones on a modern outdoor backyard in Ireland

Above you can see some of the remarkable effects of the natural stone patio cleaners we offer.

Alternative Natural Stone Paving Slab Cleaning Products

We’ve demonstrated three of the most effective methods for cleaning your natural stone patio.

However, if you’ve got particularly stubborn stains or marks, black mould, or rust, or if you want to remove grout so you can remove tiles or regrout, we also have the cleaning product solutions you need!

Grout Removal

If you’re looking to remove grout rather than just clean the grout and stones, we also have the solution in the form of Stontex Cement Away 5L.This market-leading product contains a safe level acid supported with very good reviews. It is used for removing grout film, lime mortar and cement residue from surfaces, both internal and external. Cement away is ideal for acid-resistant surfaces such as ceramic and porcelain or most other stones, however it should not be used on either marble or limestone.

Stubborn Dirt And Grime Removal

For removing serious dirt and grime which regular patio cleaning products can’t quite handle, you can use Stontex Heavy Duty Grime Remover instead! This will give your pavement a very professional and clean look. It is a perfect product to treat both marble and limestone

Rust Removal

We all know that rust reduces both the lifespan and the naturally attractive looks of your stone paving slabs and outdoor tiles. To remove rust from slabs and tiles effectively, be sure to use Stontex Rust Off 1La unique gel formula cleaner used for removing iron-oxide based stains from surfaces both internal and external.

Patio stones looking fresh and clean after washing with Stontex Rust Remover
Stonetex Rust Off 1L

Black Spot Remover

For removing black spots, mould and heavy grime from your patio or outdoor stone slabs, we stock a product designed specifically for the task: stontex black spot remover.

Stontex Black Spot Remover 5L is a much more powerful version of the All in One Outdoor Cleaner.

Like all of the products we’ve spoken about, this is also a high quality cleaner which will remove even the most stubborn stains such as oil, grease, moss and algae. After applying it to a surface, leave it to work overnight.

We can guarantee this is the best patio cleaner for black spot.

Patio stones with a clear, polished surface after cleaning stontex black spot remover
Black Spot Remover

Conclusion

When it comes to how to clean your natural stone patio effectively, quickly, and carefully, we would always recommend you start with the least powerful cleaner first: i.e., using hot water and/or the vinegar method.

If these cleaning methods don’t work, however, then you can move on to trying stronger patio and natural stone paving slab cleaning products from the Stontex range—just be sure to do your research before you choose the cleaner best suited to your patio’s unique cleaning and maintenance needs.

For more insights and how-to instructions on outdoor patio cleaning, installation, and more, browse the Tile Merchant Style & Advice blog today. Alternatively, shop our website for all your outdoor patio and stone paving slab needs!

Why Tile Merchant?

We offer extremely competitive pricing on our entire range of tiles and likewise. We stock a huge range of wall and floor tiles and our prices are competitive for retail and trade. Our stock is widely available in our tile stores in Dublin and Ashbourne (Co. Meath) which are open 7 days a week.
Alternatively, if you’d prefer to shop our tiles online, we can supply you with samples delivered for free.


Tile store in Dublin, paving store in Dublin

Article written by Tile Merchant