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You can easily clean terrace slabs without chemical cleaning agents or great effort if you have the right household products at hand. They receive the material used for the plates and ensure cleanliness.

In a nutshell

  • Before using special cleaning products, the terrace must be swept and cleaned with washing-up liquid as required
  • Household remedies should be given preference to chemical agents for ecological reasons
  • Avoid strongly acidic cleaners such as vinegar essence
  • The individual agents are suitable for different materials
  • Pressure washers should be used either with a cleaning attachment or very carefully

Basic cleaning with washing-up liquid

In order to be able to use the agents listed below, a thorough cleaning is recommended beforehand. Start by removing moveable pieces of furniture and objects from the terrace and choose a day when it doesn't rain and the sun doesn't shine too much on the terrace. Proceed as follows:

  • Sweep the terrace
  • remove green waste with a leaf broom
  • Moisten plates
  • edit with scrubber
  • clean stubborn stains with dish soap and water
  • work in with a brush
  • Exposure time: 20 minutes
  • finish with a brush
  • wash off
  • let dry

Tip: For basic cleaning, however, you should use a biodegradable cleaning agent. Such products protect your soil, do not negatively affect groundwater and are not harmful to people, animals and plants.

soda

Soda is an excellent tool for cleaning wooden, WPC and concrete decking. After the basic cleaning, the agent can be used to clean the terrace after a long time when dirt has settled. The powder is used in a different way for each material. To get concrete slabs clean, make a paste of a tablespoon of soda and some water. Apply, work in and leave on for five to six hours. Then rub off and rinse with water. If you want to clean wooden or WPC terraces, you have to proceed in the following way:

  • Sprinkle powder on patio
  • Exposure time: 1 to 2 hours
  • rinse with clear water
  • If necessary, treat with a scrubber
  • Finally, sweep the water off the terrace

If you're not sure if the soda is too harsh, apply it to an inconspicuous area. This way you can be sure that your terrace will not be damaged.

Baking soda instead of baking powder

Baking soda has also proven to be effective for cleaning patio tiles. Due to the ingredients, it has an effective effect on natural stone in particular, without damaging it. That's not the case with baking soda, which is a popular substitute for baking soda. Baking powder is enriched with a proportion of starch and a proportion of acid, which has a negative effect on the structure and color of natural stones. For this reason, baking soda is a good choice as a cleaning agent for your patio. For the application follow these instructions:

  • Moisten the terrace with lukewarm water
  • Distribute the powder generously
  • work in with a scrubber
  • then rinse off with clear water

baby powder

Baby powder can be used to clean grease stains on all decking materials. Due to the dry properties of the powder, the grease is drawn out of the top layers of the material, which makes cleaning noticeably easier. At the same time, the agent is gentle and does not pose any danger to the plates. Sprinkle the powder on the grease stain and leave it on for about 24 hours. Then rub it off with a damp cloth and rinse with water. Repeat if necessary.

cola

Due to the phosphoric acid it contains, cola is an ideal cleaner for rust stains on all materials from which patio tiles are made. The amount is so small that there is no discoloration or damage to the surface. Since rust spots mostly appear locally, the application is only slightly time-consuming and can be implemented without great effort. In addition to the soft drink, you need a lint-free cloth and a brush. Ideally, the basic cleaning should remove any rust film. Apply the remedy as follows:

  • Soak the cloth in coke
  • place on rust stains
  • Leave to soak for 12 to 24 hours
  • rub off afterwards
  • use brush as needed
  • rinse with clear water

Notice: An alternative to Coke is lemon juice mixed with heated water, applied in small amounts to a cloth and rubbed over the rust stains until they are gone. Remove the residues of the mixture with a damp microfiber cloth so that the panels do not subsequently discolour.

high pressure cleaner

The topic of pressure washers is often discussed in relation to patio tiles. Although it is possible to use the device to effectively clean the slabs, the pressure can damage natural stone slabs. For this reason, the use of the device is discouraged, which does not have to be the case. With the right equipment for your pressure washer, you can use it without any problems and without damaging the plates. You will need a cleaning or washing brush attachment. These are available in hardware stores or online shops for a variety of models. The attachment softens the water pressure by rotating the jet and deploying it through two or more jets. With the attachment, even the joints can be cleaned without any problems. Pay attention to the following points with this method:

  • work away from the facade
  • Splashes on the facade are avoided
  • thoroughly clean the patio tiles
  • Don't forget feet

Alternatively, use the high-pressure cleaner without an attachment at a height of at least 30 centimetres. You should significantly reduce the pressure, especially in the joints, to avoid possible damage.

frequently asked Questions

Which home remedies are not suitable for cleaning?

Salt and vinegar-based products are among the oldest home remedies for cleaning patio tiles. The cleaning results are reliable, but natural stones in particular are permanently damaged by the mixture. In addition, sealed surfaces may not be cleaned with these products by law, as they can seep into the groundwater, which irrevocably pollutes it.

How to protect patio tiles from excessive moisture?

There are several ways to protect the panels from moisture and thus the accumulation of green growth. You can either cover or seal the patio. The canopy means less rain gets onto the panels, while a seal covers the material like a protective layer. An advantage of the seal is the additional protection against dirt, but the effort is much more complex. The cost of the two methods can vary widely.

How are joints effectively cleaned?

Decking joints need to be cleaned regularly as dirt and weeds can accumulate. If you want to reduce the effort and don't want to tackle the matter with a grout scraper or boiling water, rely on a flame burner. These clean the grout with fire, which is quick and effective as you only need to bring the flame close to the floor.

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Garden design