If you have a home patio, you can be proactive to keep it in pristine condition throughout the year. One of the common problems with patios is the accumulation and growth of moss and mold. It is important for you to clean these off of your patio before they become a problem that spirals out of control.
If you let mold and moss accumulate on your patio, you’ll find that they become slippery and quite dangerous to walk on. This can become a serious safety hazard for your family, especially if you have young children. Families with pets should be especially aware of their patio condition so that they don’t venture out and lick up moss or mildew.
How you can prevent mold and moss from taking over your patios
Be sure to sweep your patio on a regular basis. You should also give it a complete sweep before you perform a more intense and thorough cleaning with a power washer or other items. If your patio is exposed to the sun, there is no doubt that you’ll have the threat of moss year round. You’ll likely not be able to prevent the growth of moss unless you take preventative action in the form of a power wash. While you might have heard that power washing a patio can cause damage, this is a commonly held misconception. It is possible for power washing to cause some damage, typically in the form of discoloring the patio, but this is the exception to the rule.
When you power wash your patio, you’ll clean it not only of mold and moss but also of other dirt and debris as well. Do it on an annual basis to ensure that your patio maintains its like-new aesthetic and doesn’t end up in a condition where mold or moss can grow. Be sure to wear gloves and goggles while you clean your patio. As you power wash your patio, you should go back and forth in a motion from one area like the flower beds and spray from there on outward. Take care to not leave the spray in one place for too much time. It is always possible to go back and re-do the spaces that you missed on the first time around.
Many have found that a power jet wash with a detergent is the best way to thoroughly clean a patio. Try to find a power washer with a rotary patio cleaning attachment. It will empower you to cover a very wide area and clean the patio in a comprehensive manner. The power washer will have no trouble removing all of the moss, mold, stains, algae and grime from your patio even if it has been there for decades. Ideally, you won’t let it get to that point but the integrity of your patio won’t be compromised as long as you clean it in a reasonable time span.
If you’d prefer to use a brush and a cleaner instead of the power washer, you’ll find that you it doesn’t produce nearly the same results. Some have tried different types of brushes and various cleaning agents only to find that they hardly remove anything. Aside from power washing, you should apply a weed killer to your patio on a regular basis. Leave it in place for 2 hours and then apply another round. However, beware of spraying weed killer if you have young children or pets. They should stay away from the patio until the job is done.