How to Clean Pavers | A Safer Way Than You Think

For the full breakdown, see our best Concrete Paver Cleaner guide.

Most paver patios and walkways look worse than they are. A layer of dirt, a few weeds, and some moss make a perfectly good surface seem worn out. The fix for how to clean pavers without damaging them comes down to one rule: start gentle and escalate only if needed. Belgard, a major paver manufacturer, recommends clearing the area, hosing the surface, scrubbing with a stiff brush, and rinsing — no machine required for routine cleaning.

Why Broom and Soap Beat a Pressure Washer

Your first pass should always be the low-tech one. Move furniture, planters, grills, and toys off the surface. Sweep or blow away loose dirt, leaves, and twigs, and pull any weeds poking through joints. Then hose the pavers down with clean water to loosen embedded soil and pre-wet the surface.

Mix a mild detergent, dish soap, or a paver-safe commercial cleaner according to the manufacturer’s dilution instructions, then scrub with a stiff-bristle broom. Keep wire and steel brushes away — they scratch concrete and strip sealant. Rinse thoroughly with a garden hose and repeat on any stained spots. That routine handles most of what a patio sees in a season.

Pressure washing works on concrete pavers when done carefully, but it is not the default. Kärcher advises holding a dirt-cutter attachment almost vertically about 15 cm (roughly 6 inches) above the ground, keeping the wand moving, and never aiming into joints — direct blasts erode the sand that locks pavers together.

Protecting Your Pavers and Everything Around Them

Two safeguards matter more than the cleaning method itself. First, protect nearby grass and landscaping with plastic sheeting, because even mild soap runoff can stress delicate plants. Second, wear goggles and rubber gloves when working with any paver cleaner.

Sealed pavers need extra caution. Acid-based cleaners can eat through the sealant, and a pressure washer can strip it off entirely. For grouted interior pavers, Belgard notes that sweeping, mopping, and spot-cleaning with a gentle, non-acidic multipurpose cleaner is usually enough. If you pressure-washed and displaced joint sand, refill those joints afterward — skipped re-sanding is the root of most wobbly-paver problems.

Matching the Cleaner to the Stain Type

Different stains demand different treatments, and the right match saves you from scrubbing a stain that plain soap will never touch.

Before treating the whole patio, test any cleaner on a small, hidden spot. Skip the test, and you risk bleaching or etching a large area you now get to look at every day. If you’re weighing which product to keep on hand, our roundup of the best concrete paver cleaners breaks down what actually works on each stain type.

When Pressure Washing Is Worth the Risk

A pressure washer earns its place for big surfaces, heavy moss, or a patio that has gone years without cleaning. The technique is simple: use moderate to low pressure, hold the wand moving at all times, and test an inconspicuous corner first. Never hold the nozzle close to the surface or lock the spray on one spot — both will carve grooves in the paver face and blow out joint sand.

Cracks, chips, and areas where sealant is visibly wearing are signs to skip the washer entirely on those spots. For natural stone or porcelain pavers, the risk is worse: a pressure washer can pit the surface, and a wire brush will scratch it. Stick to the broom-and-soap method on those materials, and if a stain won’t lift, treat it with the stain-specific product from the table above rather than turning up the pressure.

FAQs

Can I use bleach to clean pavers?

Household bleach can whiten or discolor pavers, especially colored or sealed ones. Oxygen bleach products are a safer alternative for mold and algae because they clean without the harsh side effects. Whatever you choose, test it on a small hidden area first and rinse thoroughly afterward.

How often should pavers be cleaned?

A routine sweep-and-rinse once a month keeps most patios presentable, while a full scrub with mild soap twice a year handles deeper buildup. Pressure washing is rarely needed more than once a year, and only if your regular cleaning is not keeping up.

Do I need to reseal pavers after cleaning?

Not automatically. Only reseal if the existing sealant is worn or if your cleaning method removed it. Check whether water beads on the surface; if it soaks in quickly, the seal is gone. Clean the pavers fully, let them dry completely, then apply a fresh paver sealer.