Getting Rid of Black Lichen with Sodium Hypochlorite
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ย. 2024
- We have a real problem with Black Lichen on out patio slabs. Every year it gets worse and it looked so bad this year that I decided to try and get rid of it using Sodium Hypochlorite. In this video I demonstrate how effective this is.
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Sodium Hypochlorite 20L
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We followed your advice and our patio has been totally transformed! Got rid of all the black spot beautifully. Many thanks for the great video with step by step instructions.
Glad I could help Andrew! :-)
Close your eyes and ned stark tells you how to clean your patio.
Cheers Ned.
Have just used the technique and quantities suggested. It worked a treat and we now have a perfectly “spotless “ patio, the first time since laid in 2008. Thoroughly recommend the process. most impressive.
That's hilarious
Thank Goodness for this short and sweet demo' and explanation of how to clean your patio with SH. So many others drone on for ages, whereas this gets to the point in no time. Pretty much 1 to 1 ratio of hypo to water, aka 7%. Spray it on dressed like a tramp, let the magic happen, and rinse. No scrubbing necessary.
Brilliant!
Thanks for your efforts producing this video.
Simple, well shot and well explained.
🙏👍👏
Thank you Antony! :-)
Effective but a word of caution...please NEVER add water to the concentrated acid or base. Always, always do it the other way round - add the solute to the water. This is for safety, you don't want concentrated acid or alkali in your eyes. Also, if you are using an open bucket and accidentally drop something unintended into it some reactions can be splendidly exothermic though your skin and lungs might see it differently.
That's what I was gonna say!
Spot on Video. So succinct and to the point so I could actually watch it all the way through! Thank you.
Glad it was helpful! :-)
I am on the other side of the pond so perhaps the situations differ here, that said I have found that pre-wetting the surface then using a more diluted bleach solution works well. Just make sure to keep the surface moist as the bleach does its job. You can apply by downstreaming through your pressure washer with a rinse tip (low pressure and no misting). In my experience it works just as well as using a strong solution with a hand type sprayer, and has less chance of leaving various levels of cleaning or color fading. It also uses less bleach and has less damage of doing harm.
PS loved the vid, just passing along some alternative methodology.
Thanks for the info. :-)
Sure made a big difference and it's a lot cheaper than a new patio thanks for the tip
It is a quick and easy way of sorting out the patio. :-)
Brilliant, mate. Do you know if this will be effective at deodourizing my mother in law?
LOL - sure thing Jonathan, it's industrial strength!!! :-)
@@RussellPlatten hahaha~~~~~~
@@jackiechen4634 :-)
1l in her tea should do the trick🥵💤
Thank you for great video ....... followed your instructions and before I started my indian stone patio was black with black spot and was like brand new after finishing. Thanks Russell.
:-)
You can use that chemical on Indian stone natural stone it take face off it makes go flaky after few years 🖐️☹️
Super job. Took your advice and got some sodium chloride. It done the job even on the wall capping. Many thanks for your time and information,👏👏👏👏
Glad I could help James! :-)
Great job there well done, once they are clean perhaps the area should be sealed to prevent further problems, and make further cleaning easier.
Sealing it is a good idea. :-)
What product would be good for sealing it? Thanks 😉😉
Thank you for this, I bought 5lt from ebay, off the back of this Video, just done mine. Left for 45 minutes and its come up night and day. Mixed it 50/50
:-)
Great job and tips. Patio looks great. Many thanks. I’m going to try the same for sure!! Your lovely to watch!!! 👍
Thank you! :-)
Russell,
Thank you for taking the trouble to film and share your secrets. I'm going to follow your technique. Mike
Good luck with the Lichen Mike! :-)
Russell Platten - it worked a treat! Thank you so much. Any thoughts on patch pointing and sealing?
Very useful. I have used 20 litres so far on some areas and it is very very effective. I used a watering can and mostly did it neat (some 50% but that didn't seem as effective) . I have a huge vast area to do however so just ordered another 20 litres. I have a much large patio that this one at the back and then a much much bigger area even that that of paving and other paths. I took 8 sessions of 1 - 3 hours along just to do the pressure washing first this year. I am wondering whether to buy the back pack device. Will try the next 20 litres with the watering can and then decide. I already bought and used plastic eye protector things and water proof trousers over my wellingtons. Be safe people and can be best to wet the whole area first before applying it to make it soak in better (and don't put it on near plants unless it is weeds you want to kill)
I know this is old now and I'm sure you've learnt a lot. Though 1) you should really wet the ground first especially if it's hot and 2) add some surfactant into the mix it'll bond to the patio much better and give it more time to react. If you don't have surfactant which 99% people won't, just add some fairy liquid into the mix this will help it foam up. You'll notice a big difference.
Thank you for the tips! :-)
I used this last year for quite a bad case of blackspot on my Indian Stone. It got rid of about 95%+ at the first try so used it again a few weeks later. It cleared the lot and I've not had any since. I used it on a cool damp day so it wouldn't evaporate too quickly before washing off. Highly recommended but do follow the safety advice re masks and pets etc.
:-)
Great video Russell thankyou, and all the added advice in comments is extremely helpful.
Glad it was helpful! :-)
Dude....Hypo and Crocs ...very professional !
He is a homeowner not a pro. This is his patio.
lol I don't understand these folks wearing flimsy stuff on their feet, I seen another and they guy was was slippers with a rubber bottom lol.
Good job. However the patio should've been hosed down and soaking wet first before application. It should never be applied to a dry patio as you can end up with white blotches. You should also mix a surfactant with the hypo to keep it on the surface longer to kill any growth. Let it dwell for at least 20 minutes sometimes longer. If it starts drying out then apply a spray of water to keep it wet. Then finally rinse off.
Good advice, thank you. :-)
What is a surfactant example?
@@20wrighty12 you really think someone would mix mustard in this? That comes later at the barbecue....
@@kriscook6830 Fairy liquid? Normal dishwashing soap? Just makes it stick better.
JohnstonPettigrew you have mustard with a bbq? You strange alien
Would suggest anyone spraying this wears a decent mask not a cheap nuisance dust mask from DIY store. The fine mist will irritate the fine hair like structures inside the lungs.
Would also suggest not to have 20l of hypo ready to leak down your back.🤣
It was 5l of hypo.
Beltin Video Russell straight to the point no fuss brilliant . Thanks once again
Cheers Isaac! :-)
What a well presented video. Welldone
Great video well explained, now just have to wait for a good weekend and I can get going!
Good luck Paul. Remember to wear old clothes!! :-)
Thanks Russel, this is a really great explanation. I can’t wait to crack on with this at the weekend. Noted added the chemical to the water 👍
Glad I could help Carl! :-)
Hi Russel,
Job done!
Looks like new!
I used it at 100% concentration as the black spot was very bad.
Any tip on sealing it would be appreciated 👍
Great video thank you! Clear instructions and good tips..particularly about not wearing good clothing to do it!
Glad it was helpful Tina! :-)
Great video! Thank you so much for creating this very informative video!
:-)
Yes absolutely 💯 video loved it, where can I purchase this chemical please
For anyone struggling to find it a company called Chemiphase has it with free UK delivery. They suggest starting with a 50/50 solution. 5L £16, 10L £25 etc etc. No information on coverage though
Thank you Richard, it's nice to know of other suppliers! :-)
You should consider using a clear waterproofing sealer to prevent mold from growing back. Olympic makes a multi surface sealer for concrete and masonry surfaces.
I will have a look at that. :-)
Great video, great job thank you for the tips I will certainly try it out. all the best now
Cheers Denis. :-)
Followed your advice and worked great - thanks!
Glad I could help! :-)
great video for showing how to DIY it - I wonder how bad the smell / breathing was as in all the professional videos they wear respirators, must be a reason for that, even using outdoors.
I never had any issues. :-)
Im just about to purchase, this stuff acts like magic in front of your very eyes!
:-)
Excellent video. I have a lot of sandstone flags which attract a fine green lichen. I'll give the latter a going over with the SH solution and hopefully get similar results.
:-)
Very informative, Russell. Needed this. Sodium Hypochlorite is strong bleach...did not know that. So I know what I'm dealing with.
Nice. Clear and informative. Thank you
Glad I could help! :-)
Beautiful home
Thank you. :-)
Hi Russell, thank you for posting a useful video. Can I ask what's the ratio of water to the liquid you have used?
5 litres of Sodium Hypochlorite to 4 litres of water. :-)
Thank you very much
Hi Russell - great video - thanks! I know it was recorded a while ago - but did you have any problems with the hypochlorite attacking or corroding the Oregon sprayer ? TIA. Martin
Another good way to do it is mix the solution up and apply it using a watering can.
Yes, that will work, but I reckon it would use more solution. :-)
I do this every year, but i add it to a old watering can and brush it in and working it in. I also jet wash first and apply to wet slabs
:-)
@@RussellPlatten
obviously i jet wash again after, i leave it to dwell an hour . You will get far better results.
Thank you, very informative and ps you have a lovely patio / house .
Thank you! :-)
Brilliant - Super helpful !
I'm gonna do exactly what you did - Just ordered 4 x 5 litres of Sodium Hyporchlorite.....wish me luck :-)
Good luck Paul. Remember not to wear decent clothes, they will be ruined. :-)
Thank you so much... I have this same bad problems. I tried bleach but it no where near this good. Thank you sir, will try Caustic Soda this weekend.
The bleach I use is way stronger than the bleach you get from the supermarket. :-)
Great video I am going to try this on my Indian sandstone today!! Is it safe to use on cobblellock driveways? All the driveways in my estate seem to have ugly black and white spots!! Thanks so much for video!!
Not sure about the cobbleblock, it should be aright, it is just strong bleach. You should test an 'out of the way' area to check Anne. :-)
Buy some lauryl dimethyl amine oxide to add to it, (it can be bought online) it will foam up and stay in contact longer, I definitely wouldn’t leave it longer than 60 mins as it needs to be washed off.
For nearby plants and grass, ensure these are well soaked before applying it will reduce the concentration when jet spraying it off and they’ll be safe
Thanks for the tips Paul! :-)
Just spent a fortune on proprietary branded products for getting rid of black spot from block paving. Didn’t quite complete, saw your video and decided to go down the same route as you have shown to finish off.
Just a quicky...I’ve just ordered a new sprayer (same one as yours) as the old one had a metal lance which got a hole in it, has yours got an all plastic lance?
From one old Hull boy to another (that has to be were you’re accent’s from) nice video.
I am pretty sure the lance is plastic Jeremy. Yes I am a Hull lad, our accent is pretty easy to recognise eh! :-)
Sodium Hypochlorite is definitely the way to go for black spot lichen. I've tried various other methods but hypo works. Purchase 15% Sodium Hypochlorite, bear in mind it does degrade over time so don't buy an old batch. I don't dilute but 50:50 mix with water may be fine for most. My driveway is porous concrete block and lichen gets in there so trial and error I need undiluted. Word of warning, sodium hypochlorite at 15% will eat through stainless steel in hours, so that includes the spring in your spray lance trigger and the spray lance rod if it's stainless, wash these out thoroughly....I know to my cost.
Mine is due to be done again darren. I reckon I'll do it next spring. :-)
Good video and clear instructions
Glad it was helpful Maureen! :-)
Brilliant product used it on my sandstone paving worked a treat many thanks. Boy does it stink!
Glad to help! :-)
It helps if you danpen the slabs first, stops them dryiny too quick and hypo gets a bit longer to work
So.. we will never see a fat person ever again since this is so good and so easy .. incredible … really incredible !
:-)
Looks like you have a great view from that patio.
We do! :-)
Hi Russell - going to try this tomorrow
That was very informative. Now to do mine....
I am thinking about re-doing mine. :-)
Great tutorial video, thanks for sharing
Glad it was helpful Danny! :-)
Thanks for your great video. Do you need to worry about the rinse off killing the grass or anything?
It might affect the edge of a grassed area, if I had no pets I would not have rinsed it off. :-)
@@RussellPlatten thanks again an thanks for the reply 2 years on on still replying to messages 👌 much appreciated.
@@R1chardH :-)
Great video Russell, this is exactly what I'm going to try this week, thanks for the info, was wondering what ratio mix to use. Will use 50/50 or 60/40. Cheers!
Hell no. Not 50/50
I use a 18 gallon tank with a 5 gallon per min pump on it. For 18 gallons my mix is 1, 10% bleach per 18 gallons.
If I have any of those deep spots that simply refuse to come out, I use Olympic deck and stain full strength, the spots disappear like magic. These friggin fly by night pressure washing people using those electric , or 2 gallon per minute washer are stupid. Plus who the hell does not use surface washers.
Darren, If the area is heavily soiled you can use a 15% solution diluted at the rate of 5:1 i.e. 1 litre hypochlorite in 5 litres water. For normal use dilute at the rate of 10:1.(apply with knapsack sprayer). It is preferable to spray on to damp surfaces - a dry day is not recommended as it can result in staining. light rain soon after spraying helps to clean the area.
He uses 5l hypo to 4l water. Try it in a test batch in similar ratio to start with and see how it goes for your application. I used it and it was brilliant - very successful. I rewet and brushed in after 30 mins - very hot and dry. Just take it steady.
Hi there, we have a huge work yard which is absolutely overtaken by moss and other nasty. The brick work is just awful. We want to avoid using hydrochloric acid if we can, looked into hydrogen peroxide but it’s so expensive, and seeing your video makes me think that a few tubs of that should be ideal to take the work yard back from nature. Really appreciate the video thanks
Nice informative video. Thanks for sharing 👍
Glad I could help! :-)
Brilliant job well done I am going to do our patio next week .where did you buy ur solution please ? Many thanks
There is a link in the video description. :-)
Great vid.
Cracking video, cheers mate
Glad I could help Matt! :-)
Fantastic job well done 👍👍👍
Thank you. Cheers! :-)
Mint upload. Thank you
Thank you! :-)
Great video.thanks 😊.
Thank you! :-)
Job done!
Well done Carl! :-)
Thank you 👌👍
Cherrs 😁🇪🇬
Glad I could help! :-)
Great useful video. Thanks.
:-)
Thanks it works
:-)
Beautiful job mate, love your work
Thank you. Cheers! :-)
I've no doubt it clears the mould but read the COSHH assessment. This substance must only be used by operators who are suitably trained and competent to carry out this work.
:-)
Came for the patio advice. Left with an idea to put a cat flap in the kitchen window
LOL - it gets a lot of use Dominic! :-)
My sodium has arrived - how long do you leave it on or do you just let it dry off naturally ?
Why not coat with a no-slip plastic coat? You could add a bit of color that brings it back to life for years to come.
Great video very helpful, cheers.
Glad it helped. :-)
Russell many thanks. I understand transparent (non slip?) sealant can be applied to patio stone surface and garage driveway stone surfaces, which last several(?) years. Have you tried it and made a video? Does it work? And most importantly which sealant(s) work and would you recommend? Is there a downside to sealing?
I am sorry again Robert. I have never sealed the patio and have no experience of using it. I have heard it is very effective, but did not want to take a chance. :-)
great video apart from the obvious lack of self protection, boots, face mask, goggles, gloves...it is bleach not washing up liquid you are using. couldn't help but giggle to myself when he said high pressure washer and he pops up with a karcher 10 quider :) but it works so it's been worth watching, cheers russell
:-)
Thanks for making this video, I'm thinking of trying this on the paths around a old peoples home but am worried about the smell how long did it take for the smell of bleach to go from your patio?
Not very long. I did not really find the smell an issue. :-)
Good idea, it will probably help mask the smell of piss!
Should always wear PPE when using this stuff. Especially in a sprayer. Face mask and goggles etc.
:-)
Good job
:-)
Thank you
You're welcome! :-)
If you brush it in , it will agitate and remove it more quickly, best of applying it on a non hot day as it can take up to 60 minutes to kill it ,
:-)
Where did you buy this sprayer tank, and how many litres is it?
From Amazon. th-cam.com/video/-KyA0ANECQQ/w-d-xo.html :-)
Great video
Thanks! :-)
Where do you buy the big drums of it?
This video was helpful,I cleaned a patio.Can I use Sodium Hypochlorite to clean roof tiles?
If I was thinking of trying it on my roof, I would research it online. :-)
It oxidizes with the lime in the concrete flags that's why you don't leave it on over night it can resolve anything lime based so I been told
:-)
Well done
:-)
Is that a swimming pool that I can see
My york stone has lots of black stuff that the usual garden centre solutions won't get rid of.
Is this stuff safe to use on York stone?
I think so. I am sure others have used it if you look through the comments. :-)
Hi Russell - just watched your amazing video. Where did you buy your product?
Followed your advice & went on line to purchase but the price differential between the various products is huge.
Can you advise please?
Hi Gill, I have just had a look on Amazon and added a link to the product I would go for in the video description.
20 litres of sodium hypochlorite. The product I originally purchased is no longer available on Amazon. Look around though, you may find it cheaper. :-)
Actually household bleach (thin or thick is usually 4.5 - 5%), and for this job I've seen others dilute that 15% product 1 part to 4 parts water.
You have seen others try it... You, yourself have never tried this. Now your an expert! Applying at a higher strength just ensures you get the job done 1st or second time round.... Not fifth or sixth time round.....
Regular 3% Bleach actually works, but not nearly as rapid as well as 14% hypochlorite, also hypochlorite bleaches very quickly but you need a clean surface first
3% still kills the algae and lichen, mix it with a strong caustic detergent to break down organics (they are compatible and household bleach contains detergent anyway) and that removes the lichen residue and algae when cleaning, or using a powerwasher
how do i know? as well as personally doing it repeatedly over the years on large block paving drives, concrete drives, stone slabs and brick walls, i was a professional specialist cleaner in the past, so I know what works, even if its not as fast, but much cheaper for the average person
@@chrisriley6256 Ahh, so now you're the expert! 🤣 In all seriousness though, diluting this concentrated product down to 3% should be adequate enough to kill moss, mould, algae whilst NOT killing soil life. This is what the soft washing companies do. If you've ever diluted bleach for indoor use, for disinfection purposes you'll 1.25% is fairly strong. Yet most retail bleach based disinfection products will have a strength of less than 1%. So, I would say 5% strength for use outside is overkill.
@@DG-EditsYT It seems you know what you're talking about having had the experience of working in that area. Diluting 15% hypo down 1:4 would indeed bring the strength down to 3%.
@@bitTorrenter Your talking rubbish pal
Pre soak with water first it actually helps keep the hypo active longer = better results
:-)
@@RussellPlatten comment wasn't meant as criticism, It was just something I found out, the longer it's wet the better the results, I normally do it when it's been damp weather on mine.
@@davyg1236 It wasn't taken as criticism Davy! Good advice! :-)
Good job thanks 👏👍
:-)
My boy hitting it with that puurrrrrrre lol
:-)
9litre of solution and 5 litres is sodium hypochlorite . Strongest I've ever needed was 5 to 1 🧐
Regular house hold bleach is 6% Sodium Hypochlorite and the solution you are using is 1.66% Sodium Hypochlorite, so you could just use dilute house hold bleach?
I am using a solution of 8.3%. 15% x 5/9. Household bleach is generally around 5% and contains other surfacants and ingredients. :-)
@@RussellPlatten Sorry I thought it was 1 to 9.
Fantastic job mate how much did it cost on bleach for that size ? For you know
I think I paid around 28 pounds for 25 litres. It is no longer sold on Amazon now. :-)
First, whats wrong with weathering on slabs ? Second whats the environmental inpact with putting all those chemicals into the soil ? If this gets mixed with other certain chemicals you get mustard gas ? Thirdly, no PPE.