Natural stone is a great choice when it comes to a material for a patio, and one of the most popular options is Indian sandstone. And there's no secret why - an Indian sandstone patio can really set your property apart from others and make a statement.
The only issue is, it can be hard to clean Indian sandstone slabs if you don't know how best to handle it. Indian sandstone paving slabs, like any natural stone, require much more care when it comes to removing debris and build-up from the stone's surface.
This is why it is usually not advisable to pressure wash your Indian sandstone yourself. Pressure washing sandstone incorrectly can be incredibly detrimental to the material. If you need your Indian sandstone patio cleaning, hire experts like the NW Wash team to help. Our team of professionals will have your Indian sandstone sparkling in no time at all, and will do so without causing any damage whatsoever!
Pressure washing Indian sandstone is possible. With the right skills and knowledge, you can jet wash Indian sandstone relatively easily, bringing your Indian sandstone patio back to brand new. Our teams of expert patio washers know exactly how to use a pressure washer on an Indian sandstone patio to best remove dirt and grime from the surface of the stone.
When we use a pressure washer or a power washer to clean Indian sandstone paving slabs sandstone, we make sure to consider all of the following:
The main thing we have to consider when using a pressure washer on Indian sandstone paving is the pressure setting. You want to use a low setting.
A low-pressure setting will minimise the risk of damage to the Indian sandstone slabs. We will start at a low setting on your outdoor surfaces and, if needed, we can adjust the pressure as we work. But if we use the high-pressure setting from the get-go, the paving slabs are likely to be damaged.
In addition to ensuring we use a lower setting, all of our power washer experts will use a wide-angle nozzle to clean Indian sandstone slabs. By relying on the wide-angle fan spray pattern, NW Wash's experts can avoid concentrating the stream of cold or warm water from the power washer in one place.
By distributing the stream of water in such a way, we can clean Indian sandstone without using such high pressure. This dramatically reduces the risk of damage to the Indian sandstone slabs.
When using a power washer on the stone's surface, it is really important to hold the pressure washer between 12 and 18 inches away from the stone's surface.
This is the only way to safely use a pressure washer when cleaning Indian sandstone paving. Holding it too close to the stone will clean Indian sandstone and damage the stone. Holding the pressure washer too far away may not remove the surface debris well enough, it may just about remove the loose dirt.
It's crucial when cleaning any surface for the first time that a patch test is done. NW Wash always ensures that a full test patch is completed before our team sets out to clean Indian sandstone paving.
This patch test must be done on an inconspicuous area. It allows us to test the pressure of the pressure washer and ensure that the jet washer will not permanently discolour or damage the Indian sandstone paving.
Using the pressure washer right is the most crucial part of cleaning Indian sandstone. Holding it in the wrong position can stop it from removing loose dirt and cause it to damage the Indian sandstone permanently.
When cleaning Indian sandstone, the jet washer must be held at a 45-degree angle. This prevents the water from hitting the stone directly, minimising the risk of damage. It doesn't prevent the jet washer from being an effective method and cleaning solution, but does wonders to keep the natural stone safe.
In some situations, it is necessary to use a mild detergent alongside the jet stream. When it comes to natural stone, however, you have to be really careful. Using household bleach or a bleach mixture can be incredibly damaging to natural stone if used wrong or too strong a mixture is created. Harsh chemicals like a poorly created bleach solution could damage and stain the warm colours of the sandstone, even if used at low pressure.
Sodium hypochlorite and other mild detergents can be used to clean Indian sandstone slabs so long as the manufacturer's instructions are followed exactly. And, as mentioned above, a patch test is essential.
With the help of a cleaning solution, cleaning Indian sandstone slabs can be a much easier job. In some situations, using cleaning solutions can replace the need for elbow grease and a stiff brush. It can even help with moss removal and green algae growth, and, in some situations, a thorough cleaning can help prevent weed growth.
It's illegal in the UK to dump wastewater in storm drains. It is also bad for the environment to dump any water with detergent in it. So be aware that if you use detergent when cleaning, you may have to be careful with your wastewater.
Pressure washing is not the only way to clean Indian sandstone slabs. It is the most effective and often the quickest, but it is not always suitable. For stubborn stains or natural stones that have been damaged, another cleaning process might be required.
You can try to use soapy water and a soft brush instead. This cleaning method is a popular technique among many, especially in between high-pressure washing. It is a great tool to help remove dirt caused by the great British weather in between deep cleans. With the help of a quality sealant, hose washing can work as great regular maintenance when you can't do jet washing on a regular basis.
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Using a soft brush, remove debris from the stone's surface. Avoid using a stiff broom for this as it could scratch the surface. If you must use a stiff brush, do so carefully.
You will then need to dilute any cleaning solution you're using. There will usually be instructions. You may need to use warm water or just clean water - always read the manufacturer's guidelines.
Once you have chosen your cleaning solution, you need to test a small area of your patio. This is especially important if you're using an equal parts bleach solution, but regardless of whether you're using soapy water, washing up liquid, or a specially designed detergent, a patch test is required.
Before you start cleaning, you should then remove any plant pots and garden furniture from your patio before you begin. You may be using less pressure to clean than if you had a jet washer, but the chemicals may still damage the items. They may also get in the way.
Scrub and rinse the Indian sandstone until all the dirt, algae, moss, and whatever else is gone from the surface. Follow instructions on the cleaning bottle to do this.
Repeat the process if necessary. If you can't tackle the stubborn marks, it may mean that you need to pressure wash the patio. Hire professionals like the team at NW Wash to help with this.
Learn more: What Is Industrial Floor Cleaning
Even if you clean Indian sandstone slabs with less pressure, you should be careful. Even clean water and soapy water, if used incorrectly on Indian sandstone, can cause damage. It can encourage algae and moss to grow, and algae can leave permanent discoloration.
That's why it's always advisable to hire professionals like NW Wash to get that perfect eye-catching finish. We can prevent uneven cleaning, and damage, and do so without relying on all the bleach-based products!
If your patio needs cleaning and you're worried about damaging it by doing it yourself, then contact the team of experts at NW Wash today for a free, no-obligation quote.
