If you do want to use some kind of sandstone cleaner to clean your sandstone pavers you should consider using diluted household chemicals.
There are so many things you can do with sandstone pavers, from the driveway to garden paths and even for your poolside. But maintaining their look is a different story because it demands more time, effort, and money. Due to the porous nature of sandstone that absorbs dirt, grime, or oil stains very easily, and these types of stains become permanent if not properly treated. Although this material is a very attractive option to have in your landscaping and around your home, it requires a lot of effort and time to keep them looking good. This might be a daunting task for many but with a few simple steps then you will have the most amazing sandstone pavers that add value and beauty to your home.
The first thing you need to do when cleaning sandstone is sweeping and cleaning off dirt, dust, leaves, and vegetation from the surface of the sandstone pavers immediately after every rainfall. This is because water can cause stains, making cleaning sandstone pavers on your patio more difficult to remove later on. Sweep away all the grit and debris (such as leaf litter and other vegetation) and leave the surface by putting something inflexible like plywood or boards where you intend to sweep off dirt, dust, grit, and debris. Sweep or brush the surface of your sandstone pavers seasonally after every rainfall to get rid of leaves, dirt, grit, and debris.
Another thing you can do is use mildew remover for a small area with a stain on your sandstone pavers using a stiff bristle brush. You can also spot clean larger surfaces but ensure that the products you are using don't damage the texture of your sandstone pavers. Rinse thoroughly with water from your garden hose afterwards to remove any residue before it penetrates deep into the pores of the sandstone pavers. If you don't, these things can make cleaning sandstone harder later on.
You have probably have heard about cleaning sandstone by scrubbing it with vinegar. Vinegar is a very cheap sandstone cleaner and it will make your sandstone pavers shine. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water to make a cleaning solution before using your hands or mop to scrub the solution into the surface of the sandstone pavers using a scrub brush, working from top to bottom. Wipe clean with a damp mop, soft cloth, or towel, and use a nylon brush to clean the corners and edges if necessary after scrubbing. When wiping clean, use a soft, gentle touch so you don't damage the sandstone surface.
Pressure washing sandstone pavement is not advisable. Not only will the high pressure of water force sandstone particles out of the surface, but also, there is an added risk that unwanted chemicals may force their way into the pores of the sandstone paving causing future problems or damage to sensitive sub-grade materials. Using a high-pressure washer to clean your sandstone pavers can potentially damage the sandstone surface and almost certainly force particles of stone out from between the joints. This would allow some area for the growth of moss and algae in the future and it could lead to staining problems. If you use a very low-pressure setting, such as 30-40 PSI (2.4 - 2.8 bar) then there is still a risk that chemicals or loose particles may force their way into the pores beneath your sandstone tiles leading to future problems such as staining or discolouration. If you need to rinse down the sandstone surfaces, one of the best ways to do so is to use water from your garden hose instead.
Vinegar is generally safe to use on most types of natural stone, but there are a few exceptions. Limestone, marble, and travertine are all sensitive to vinegar. Acidic substances such as vinegar react with the calcium carbonate in these stones, sometimes resulting in etching of the surface which can lead to staining problems. This kind of damage would not be immediately obvious - it could take years for a stain or other discolouration to manifest themselves. If you have limestone, marble, or travertine paving then never use any acidic cleaning products to clean the stone's surface. Avoid vinegar, lemon juice or even a small amount of fruit juice spilled accidentally. If you have sandstone paving then it is not recommended to use a bleach-based cleaner because they could also damage your sandstone pavers. Remember these restrictions are only to ensure the longevity of your sandstone - the acidic content in most of these chemicals is usually high enough to cause some problems but the alkaline materials in these products will cause etching and staining over time.
One of the best ways to clean your sandstone paving is to try using just water and a soft brush - scrub away any stubborn surface dirt that may be built up on the surface without resorting to strong detergents that might remove the colour from your sandstone pavers or corrode and damage the stone itself. Cleaning should take place in good weather so that excess water can dry out naturally after the job is done.
Preferably use a soft brush with just water to clean so you can avoid damaging the stones with chemical products or a high-pressure washer. Make sure you don't use a pressure washer to clean fly screen windows, even if it seems like an easy task.Try to avoid using bleach, a bleach solution, or bleach-based products on sandstone pavers. This type of solution will damage the surface causing discolouration in the future. Take care to avoid any kind of acidic cleaner - these can cause staining problems over time if used to clean sandstone paving, due to reactions between acids and calcium carbonate found in limestone paving.
If you do want to use some kind of sandstone cleaner to clean your sandstone pavers then consider diluted vinegar or soda crystals (sodium bicarbonate). This type of cleaner is a safer option for cleaning sandstone surfaces that will not damage your sandstone pavers like bleach can. Either of these will clean the surface and remove hard water deposits without any risk of etching or staining your stone.
Mould can be a problem if it is allowed to grow on your sandstone for a long time, especially black mould which is often indicative of a serious moisture problem.
If you have black or dark green mould or exceptionally stubborn algae growing on your natural stone paving then this could mean that there is too much moisture trapped in the sandstone surface. If this continues unchecked over a long period of time then not only will it cause staining and discolouration but also you run the risk that acid from the mould itself could start etching into the stone's surface which would weaken it.
Mould is usually present in dark patches that look like discolouration.
If you want to clean the mould and algae from your sandstone paving then the first step is to ensure that your sandstone tiles are not regularly getting wet and damp underneath. Sandstone has a porous nature, and a permeable sandstone patio surface will allow water to drain through easily and can help prevent moisture problems, as well as helping to avoid problems such as black mould which loves a high level of moisture. You may also find that there is a risk of some sandstone tiles lifting if the earth beneath them stays constantly wet over a long period of time. If tiles are lifting from the ground, touch the bottom of the pavers or the earth below to see if it is damp or wet.
Clean off any loose debris like leaf litter and other vegetation on sandstone pavers before starting work on cleaning the mould and algae - do this with just water and a soft brush. Using harsher chemical is a good way to damage the surface of your sandstone paving.
The next step in cleaning black mould is to scrub it clean with a dilute solution of vinegar or soda crystals - this solution will kill off much of the mould, leaving just discolouration on areas where there has been a lot of growth. To do so, mix equal parts of vinegar/soda crystals with water. If it's not effective you can add another part of vinegar to the mixture. Keep adding one part vinegar and testing until you're satisfied with the solution.
Once you have rubbed off any remaining patches or areas of mould and algae clean, wipe away any remaining solution with a mop, soft cloth, or towel. You should be able to make out faint outlines where the damage was done - these are usually quite dark and greasy looking because they are stained by dirt rather than being discoloured limestone itself. If you cannot clean such a stain completely then using a penetrating sealer to seal it in. These types of sealers might reduce stain visibility over time. Additionally, the sealer will also help protect your sandstone from other types of damage, and increase the longevity of the sandstone. The New South Wales Department of Health has some great information on natural products that kill mould.Natural stone pool surrounds need regular cleaning to avoid the build-up of algae and other gunk which will cause discolouration.
A professional can clean your sandstone paving for you. They will clean and scrub away stubborn dirt, algae, moss, and other similar materials with just water to leave them looking their best. You should then be able to keep up the good work by cleaning and washing down sandstone tiles at least once a year with just water from your garden hose to remove any surface grime that forms over time - this should also help prevent black mould from growing on your stones. Once you have it looking great, give the pool fence a quick go-over.Do not try cleaning the natural stone around pools with anything too harsh or acidic because this could cause damage, removing the colouring and etching into the surface of your sandstone pavers. No matter how much pressure is applied, always use soft brushes rather than abrasive tools like scrub brushes for this kind of cleaning because it will damage the stone.
Cleaning sandstone walls is exactly the same as cleaning natural stone pavers, with one exception - you may need to use something a bit stronger if your wall has been in contact with an acidic substance. This usually means that you will have to remove anything acidic before being able to clean your sandstone retaining wall properly. If this doesn't work then try using just water and soda crystals on the affected parts of the sandstone to see if you can get rid of any staining before cleaning away any mould which might have grown there. Cleaning sandstone retaining walls once every few months should be enough to maintain their appearance over time - do not wait until they are covered in moss, fungi, and other types of vegetation growth because this could damage the sandstone tiles when you clean them.
You could potentially damage your sandstone tiles if you use chlorine on them regularly - this kind of chemical is very harsh and may cause all kinds of problems with the colouring, smoothness, and other qualities. In fact, even occasional exposure could result in something bad happening to your sandstone tiles because it can destroy some of its natural protection from stains or discolouration. As long as you rinse off any chlorine quickly after using it then there should be no problems. However, it's not worth taking the risk when so many alternative options to chlorine are available. Some people like to use chlorine as a way of killing off algae and other forms of mould which might grow on their sandstone tiles - this is not advisable as chlorine can cause more problems than it solves.
Every so often, you might notice stains appearing on the surface of your sandstone pavers.
At times, they are easily visible and standing out in sharp contrast against the pale colouring of your stone, but other times they can be difficult to spot because the stains have mixed in with the dirt over time.
Whatever the case, these stains can be troublesome and you might find that they don't come off when you try and clean your sandstone pavers - if this happens then you will need to give them a bit of extra help.
You should start by examining the affected area closely; they might look like general dirt spots but they may also be more prominent and discoloured compared to the rest of the stone. This is usually because they are stained with something which has made its way into your sandstone tiles over time, for example, it could be caused by long-term exposure to oil or some other kind of contaminant which has been spilled onto your sandstone tiles and soaked in.
Try cleaning any affected area with just water from your garden hose first, to see what changes - if you notice some improvement then you will definitely need to do something else for cleaning away the rest of the dirt.
After that, give your sandstone pavers a thorough cleaning using just water and soda crystals - this kind of cleaning product is excellent at breaking down stains naturally so it's best to use it first before trying anything stronger. Once you have done that there are two options for how to finish the cleaning job:
If the stains are still visible after everything else has been tried then an acid-based solution can be applied by spray or brush onto any particularly stubborn area which won't shift. Again, take care when using this kind of solution to clean your sandstone surfaces. The reason for this care is that it could damage your sandstone paving if used incorrectly while cleaning.
However, if you're sure know what you are doing though then an acid-based product or solution should give you good results. Once you're done, wipe away any residue with a mop, soft cloth, or towel. You can follow a similar process for cleaning roof tiles.If you're still concerned about cleaning your sandstone pavers, considering hiring a professional company. They can advise on related issues including:
Everything to do with sandstone sealers, including what sealers to use on sandstone; why a sealer is important for your sandstone paving; whether your driveway needs to be resealed, or if the last application of sealer is still okay.
What types of material you can use to fix damaged or broken sandstone pavers so your driveway or patio area looks as good as new.
Fixing services for damaged sandstone pavers.
Setting up a cleaning and maintenance schedule.