Refresh your Brick Patio and Walkway with Pressure Washing!

brick pressure washing

Brick patios and walkways add beauty and grace to your home's landscaping. But they take a lot of abuse. Salt, mildew, chemicals, grease stains, moss, mud and more, can accumulate. Use your pressure washer to remove these spots and bring out their original beauty!

Please keep these tips in mind:

Remember that pressure washing works best on patios and walkways that are joined with mortar or concrete. If they are only loosely set in sand I would NOT recommend using a pressure washer! The force of the pressurized water will remove the sand between the bricks and may destroy your area.

Also, I would not recommend pressure washing historic or handmade bricks. These bricks are usually very porous & soft and can easily become damaged. Extremely old mortar can crack or dislodge from the pressure of the water. I would first seek the advice of a professional, before cleaning historic bricks.

To prepare your brick patio or walkway for pressure washing, remove any furniture, pots, plants, grills, etc. Cover the legs/bottoms of any remaining fixtures that can't be moved & make sure they are unplugged. And if you have any electrical outlets or jacks, cover them to make them waterproof. As you know, water and electricity don't mix. Safety comes first!

And as I always say, wear your safety goggles! Your eyesight is precious & it only takes a moment to protect it.

There are some great surface cleaning tools that were once only suited for professionals but are now available for homeowners! Also, there are some very effective detergents on the market that are specially formulated to use on brick. Both detergents and cleaning tools help you clean faster and more efficiently and are worth considering.

If you're looking for a water broom or surface cleaner to help you clean your walkways, patios or driveways, I highly recommend the quality, price & selection at Northern Tool + Equipment . (FREE shipping too!).

Just click on the photo or link below to see the large selection of water brooms & surface cleaners at Northern Tool + Equipment :

Northern Tool Surface Cleaners

If you decide to use a detergent, use your low pressure (black) nozzle to apply it and allow the fluid to sit on the dirty brick patio or walkway for a few minutes. Detergents need time to work - follow the label's directions. And never, ever use home-made cleaning recipes or bleach!

After your detergent is allowed to sit on the surface, begin power washing your patio or walkway by holding your white nozzle 3-4 feet away from the dirty surface. Slowly move the nozzle closer, only IF needed. Change change from the white nozzle, to a more powerful nozzle, only if absolutely necessary.

Don't let your pressure washer spray deviate from the brick surface, otherwise, you may cut huge gouges in your nearby grass, etc.

You should also check out for pressure washers, water brooms & surface cleaners. is a great place to look for bargains!

A little practice makes perfect, but here's the general guideline for brick & mortar patios and walkways:

PSI Rating -- And Closest Nozzle Distance from Surface

2,000 to 3,000 PSI ---- 12� to 24�

3,000+ PSI ---- 18� to 30�

MY TIP: When you're power washing walkways & patios, you're most likely working next to your grass lawn. Because of this, I would heartily recommend using an environmentally friendly detergent that states that it is SAFE to use around pets, children, plants, trees, etc.! Some salts and chemicals can burn or kill grass, so you want to choose carefully.

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