Paving Cleaning

Paving‘s a mixed bag of surface types and porous levels, which means grime and gunk latch on differently depending on what you’re walking on:

• Concrete pavers: Affordable and porous, they stain easily and love holding onto oil and tannins.
• Clay brick pavers: Dense but prone to moss and algae between joins.
• Natural stone: A beautiful appearance but soft varieties like sandstone or bluestone can scratch, chip, and crumble if cleaned the wrong way. Being a natural material, it requires correct solutions and a gentle touch.
• Exposed aggregate: Great traction, but every little crevice collects dirt.

Add in weather extremes, dodgy drainage, pets, BBQ fat, and leaf litter — and you’ve got a cleaning process that demands more than just soapy water and good intentions.

We get asked this all the time: “Can I just blast it with a pressure cleaner?”

Well, yes… but also no. High-pressure cleaning has its place — mainly on hardy surfaces like driveways — but it can cause more harm than good on delicate or older paving. Etched surfaces, dislodged grout, and paver flaking are all too common after someone’s gone ham with a 4000 PSI blaster.

Soft washing, on the other hand, uses lower water pressure in combo with biodegradable cleaning solutions to do the grunt work without brute force. Especially handy for algae, mildew, and black mould where pressure alone won’t cut it.

Our rule of thumb:

• Concrete or sealed surfaces? Light pressure cleaning is fine.
• Natural stone, older brick, or heritage pavers? Soft wash every time.

If you’re game to tackle your paving yourself, here’s how to do it without stuffing it up:

What You’ll Need

• Garden hose (or low-pressure washer)
• Stiff outdoor broom or brush
• Eco-friendly paver cleaner or active dirt remover with good cleaning properties
• Spray bottle or watering can
• Bucket and gloves
• Protective clothing and footwear (essential if using any chemical cleaning agents)

Step-by-Step:

• Clear the area: Move furniture, pots, and anything in the way.
• Sweep off loose muck: Leaves, dirt, and sticks go first.
• Apply your cleaner: Follow the label’s batch size and mix guidelines, especially when diluting acid to water.
• Let it sit: Most need 5–10 mins to loosen grime — don’t let it dry.
• Scrub gently: Use a stiff broom to agitate — this brush-in cleaning technique helps lift embedded grime.
• Rinse thoroughly: Use clean water to wash off all solution and gunk.

Note: For oil stains or grease, chuck some absorbent material (like kitty litter or sawdust) on it first. Let it soak up, sweep away, then treat with degreaser.

We’ve cleaned up after more DIY disasters than we can count. Learn from their mistakes:

• Using bleach on natural stone: One time we saw sandstone bleach-stained so bad, it looked like tie-dye.
• High-pressure cleaning old grout: Blasted half the filler into the garden bed. Not fun.
• Letting detergent dry in the sun: Baked-on cleaner turns into a residue nightmare.
• Wrong ph for the surface: Acid cleaning on concrete? That’ll burn in deep.

If your pavers are covered in heavy growth, have deep-set bore water stains, or it’s been a decade since their last clean — give us a bell. We’ve got the know-how and gear to clean the lot without causing surface damage.

At Mitch B’s Crew, we use:

• Soft washing for delicate surfaces
• Pressure cleaning for robust jobs
• ph-balanced solutions for specific materials
• Water-efficient systems to suit council guidelines
• A wide range of equipment tailored to different surfaces and dirt types

We’ve cleaned patios in Perth during fire season, pool surrounds in Cairns after The Wet, and commercial courtyards in Melbourne’s pollen-crazy spring. Local knowledge matters.

Here’s a rough guide for staying ahead of grime:

If you’ve got heavy tree coverage or poor drainage, you might need to clean more often. And if you’re in QLD or the NT, The Wet will bring its own layer of cleaning chaos.

Absolutely — if done right. Sealing helps:

• Repel stains and water
• Reduce moss and algae growth
• Make future cleaning quicker and easier
• Extend the service life of your paving

Just make sure it suits your surface type. Some sealers can darken or change the finish. We always test a patch first and recommend breathable, non-gloss finishes for Aussie conditions and quality materials.

Drop us a line. We’ve tackled everything from turmeric spills on travertine to car oil on clay brick. Our cleaning arsenal’s ready for the worst of it.

And if you’re in Melbourne, don’t forget — the Window Cleaning team in Melbourne can sort your glass while we scrub your stone. Between both teams, it’s quality service across your whole exterior cleaning checklist.

Regular cleaning keeps your outdoor space safe, sharp, and long-lasting. Don’t wait for the algae to make it a skating rink or the stains to become permanent. A bit of elbow grease or a quick call to the pros can save your stone surface (and your backside).

Need a hand or just want to make sure you’re using the right method? Flick us a message — we’re happy to take a look and offer advice for every range of industry and surface need to keep your pavers clean and looking a treat.