Patio Cleaning

Slabs cleaned of dirt, algae and grime, with a soft wash treatment for the black spot that pressure alone leaves behind.

Getting your patio ready to use again

A patio is meant to be somewhere you sit and enjoy the garden, but slabs have a habit of turning green and slick, with dark spots dotted across them that no amount of scrubbing seems to touch. Often it is the first thing people notice when the weather improves and they step outside.

We clean patios by pressure washing, which removes dirt, algae, grime, stains and debris without damaging the surface. For the small black spots that sit tight in the face of the stone, we use soft washing, because patio black spot responds to a cleaning solution rather than to extra force.

Where it is needed after cleaning, joints can be re-sanded and the surface treated and re-sealed, so the patio stays looking good for longer.

Patios are often cleaned alongside the driveway or the decking at the same address, which saves a second visit. We are open seven days a week, travel up to 45 miles from our Washington base, and any damage to your property is covered by our insurance. If you are unsure whether your slabs need a pressure wash, a soft wash or both, send us a photo when you ask for a quote and we will explain what we would do and why before any work is booked.

Pressure washed

A strong stream of water shifts dirt and algae from the slabs and joints.

Black spot treated

Soft washing removes patio black spot, lichen and mould that pressure leaves behind.

Joints refilled

Re-sanding, treatment and re-sealing are available after cleaning if required.

Fully insured

Any damage to your property is covered by our insurance.

About black spot

Why some marks survive a pressure wash

Green algae and surface dirt usually come away with washing. The small, round black marks on many patios are different. They are a lichen that grows into the surface of the stone, so blasting harder mostly just damages the slab around them.

Soft washing tackles black spot with a dilute solution that works on the growth itself. That is why we pair it with pressure washing on patios: one lifts the general dirt, the other deals with the marks that are rooted in.

Shaded patios and those under trees tend to suffer most, because they stay damp for longer. Keeping on top of cleaning stops the growth becoming established again.

What a patio clean includes

  • Pressure washing of slabs and joints
  • Removal of dirt, algae, grime and debris
  • Soft wash treatment for patio black spot
  • Lichen and mould removal
  • Re-sanding of joints if required
  • Treatment and re-sealing if required

Signs your patio needs cleaning

  • Small black spots across the slabs
  • A green film that turns slippery when wet
  • Weeds and moss growing in the joints
  • Slabs that look dull and uneven in colour
  • Staining around pots and furniture
  • Joints that have lost their sand

How we clean a patio

  1. 1

    Check the slabs

    We look at the stone, the joints and whether black spot is present.

  2. 2

    Clear the area

    Weeds and loose debris come out so the washing reaches the surface.

  3. 3

    Pressure wash

    The patio is washed to remove dirt, algae and grime.

  4. 4

    Treat black spot

    A soft wash solution is applied to the rooted marks and lichen.

  5. 5

    Finish the joints

    Re-sanding and sealing are carried out if you have chosen them.

Patio cleaning questions

See decking and fence cleaning

Where we work

We travel up to 45 miles from our NE37 base in Washington, seven days a week, which takes in Sunderland, Newcastle, Gateshead, Durham and the towns listed on our areas page.

See the towns we cover