How Can I Remove Stains From Paver Bricks?

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Things You'll Need

  • Broom

  • Garden hose

  • Large bucket

  • ½ cup liquid laundry detergent

  • Stiff bristled scrub brush

  • Dishwashing soap

  • ¾ cup chlorine bleach

  • Sponge

  • Old toothbrush

  • Lemon juice or distilled white vinegar

  • Piece of cloth

Paver bricks can be a cheap and cheerful way to change the look of your garden or yard.

Paver bricks are a simple way to enhance your outdoor décor. Used to create walkways, driveways, patios and exterior floors, paver bricks are readily available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and colors. However, due to their exposure to the elements and the high traffic they tend to receive, over time paver bricks can become dirty and discolored. Made from a combination of cement and sand, the porous material absorbs whatever it comes into contact with, leaving an assortment of unsightly stains behind. Fortunately, there are a number of common household items that can be used to remove stains from paver bricks.

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Step 1

Clean the paver bricks prior to treating them for stains. Sweep the area with a large broom to remove any surface residue, soil, dust or debris. Wash the bricks once they have been swept by spraying them with water from the hose or by dumping buckets of water over them, rinsing all of the loose dirt away.

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Step 2

Place ½ cup liquid laundry detergent and 5 gallons of hot water into a large bucket. Stir briskly until suds begin to form. Dip a stiff bristled scrub brush into the soapy water and apply the soap to any discolored paver bricks. Scrub vigorously until the stain is reduced in either size of color. If the stain persists, squirt liquid dishwashing soap directly onto the spot and scrub. Rinse the soap away with cool water. Stains caused by oil or grease may require multiple applications of soap.

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Step 3

Treat any remaining stains with bleach. Combine ¾ cup chlorine bleach and 1 gallon of cool water. Sponge the bleach solution over the stain, saturating the blemished brick. Allow the bleach to sit for five minutes and then scrub the treated area with an old toothbrush, working the bleach into the surface of the stone. Rinse with copious amounts of clear water.

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Step 4

Remove stubborn stains with either lemon juice or distilled white vinegar. Simply soak a cloth with the solvent of your choice and place it over the stain for 30 minutes. Place a weight upon the cloth to press the material into the brick and allow the acid in the liquid to work its way into the surface. Then, remove the cloth and pour 1 tbsp. of liquid directly onto the stain. While the area is still wet, scrub with a stiff bristled brush. Rinse the solvent away.

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