Patio Cleaning Pressure Washing - Black Spot Lichen Removal. Killing Lichen with Sodium Hypochlorite
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 มี.ค. 2017
- Black spot lichen removal, is it possible? Yes it is with the right equipment. Removal of lichen (black spots) and staining on a concrete patio. Using sodium hypochlorite as a biocide to kill off heavy spores.
- แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
One of those jugs was enough to do that patio about ten times. One cup (14%) per gallon of water is a super potent mix. I'm amazed you could even breath with that mix you made.
Bloody brilliant. Just had my sandstone patio refurbished after it was terribly laid by a cowboy- 60 Stone’s had to be relaid and completely repointed. Stones were black. No amount of power washing was getting the really dark spots off. Quick visit to a pool shop for the strong bleach and two hours later it looked like new! Thanks so much for the tip!
Did you rinse the strong bleach off or just apply with stiff broom and leave it?
Thank you so much for sharing this very useful and informative video! Your answers to comments are also most helpful.
Man, you're a gent! :)
NoAxe
Hello from the other side of the pond. When you search for removing black lichen from stone most of the results come from the UK. Must be the world capital for lichen. Your video helped me clean my flagstone patio. Most cleaners in the US have about 5% sodium hypochlorite so it's too weak to have a big impact and are pricey at about $10 a gallon. (7.5 pounds) Your cleaner is a potent 15%. I found out the swimming pool shock has 12.5 % SH and is cheap at about $5 a gallon, a much better bang for the buck. Your suggestion of mixing in a little water and applying via bucket/brush made a lot of sense as you can just get on with it. Work up a sweat scrubbing and then "hurry up and wait". I let it sit wet for 2 hours before power washing. Two sessions of this a day apart brought about great result. Thanks!
Yes I have heard that you don't seem to get the hypo as strong in the US. Our run of the mill household bleach is about 4.5% but it doesn't do a great deal on lichen. Our strong swimming pool chlorine is 14/15% which works a treat. To be fair you don't really need to scrub it but it does make you feel like you've earned the results lol.
Hi Phil, thanks for your video. It looks great and very informative 👍🏾. Great job so I am going to have a go at mine little patio. 😀
Just come across this video and found it very interesting. I have a swimming pool so always have concentrated sodium hypochlorate to hand. Some years ago, faced with the black lichen problem on my patio, I used a 33% solution in a watering can with a fine rose and simply pre-damped the patio and then "watered" it with the solution. Left it for around 45 minutes before spraying off with a garden hose (mainly to dilute the strong chlorine smell). Works a treat and saves time and effort.
Yes it works a charm, depending on the type of stone and the length of time the lichen has been active would depend on the concentration of hypo needed. Yorkstone tends to be the hardest to get full removal on due to its porosity.
Brilliant video! Thanks a lot for the tips and detailed info.
Your welcome
Brilliant, unbelievable results for our Patio and entrance.
Many thanks
Fantastic job well done 👍👍👍👍
Excellent video - I learnt a lot.
Just followed your instructions and it’s an absolute belter of a job. Thanks for the great advice. I’m going to let it settle for a few days then put a sealant on the slabs. Thanks guys x
Glad it worked, just make sure it's all rinsed fully before sealing. Ensure any salty residue has gone. Dont do any sealing if it's damp or is going to rain...trust me. Phill
Dirty Drive-Away Thanks for the advice Phil and who am I to argue with an expert. Big thanks again, the Missus is delighted. More jobs to do and plenty of time with the current world situation.
Are you still open for questions?
Hello Phil, Can I congratulate you on a very informative video! I have recently purchased a proprietary brand of block paving cleaner. It has worked, but is very expensive. I shall buy sodium hypochlorite and follow your advice. Thanks again!
cicero2 hi, yeah all this stuff they sell doesn't work perticularly well. Been in the game long enough to have tried most things... good luck. Phill
ABSOLUTELY SUPERB Video. Thank you so much. Going to use Sodium Hypochlorite exactly as you explained on a few Black Spot areas on my Sandstone path. Teddy UK.
Can I wash my car with it ???? 😂😂😂 I used this stuff today on a patio it’s amazing ! Great vid btw
You are the master!......I done the same as you and it didn't work as well... Great job.. I think you must have used more elbow grease than me.......I would have been very pleased if you done my patio like this.
wide awake did you use it neat or diluted? Was it 14/15% sodium hypo?
Great job excellent!👍
Brilliant stuff I went out and bought some and it really works
I know it's wicked, I will only make videos on stuff I can rely on. Phill
This is great, thanks
Thats brilliant, I'm going to try this, thanks for the great video Sir.
Your welcome. It does work
The minimum falch will jet is 200bar at 16lp. But it really isn't worth investing in on a low power machine. The nozzle is £1700 so needs to be used on an adequate machine. Falch are really picky on who they sell too aswel.
OopsI! I just saw you're answer below! Thanks again!
Thanks for the video great advice cheers
Lovely. I have massive areas at home and did one today which took ages but it certainly is a good chemical. Don't do what I did - pour it too fast - I had a splash on my face but got that straight off and my eyes were protected anyway. I dilute it 50/50 in the same kind of bucket - 10l watering can of water in and then 2 5l of the hypo. Even that as I have a vast area to cover is not enough so I need at least 4 or 5 times of that to do one of my areas. Loads of black spot where I am.
Thanks so much for this info - been really unhappy with my sandstone patio for the last couple of years after it turned almost black with lichen in places. I’d tried power washing to no avail then bleach which had removed a little, but I’ve just tried this and it’s like I have a new patio!
Pack Sorted your welcome, glad it sorted it for you. Nothing worse than a dirty patio you can't clean.
Glad it all worked for you. Never underestimate the power of common items.
O wow just put up this exact question, sand stone downs approx ten years and did not know should I paint it ,its so bad with the black spots, how well did it work with the chemical for you, was your slabs really bad, sorry for all questions thanks Ciara Ireland...
Cool video thanks
Totally agree with you on the hypo chlorite. I did some research into bleaches and although they say 4.6%, that is only the amount of hypo chlorite in the bottle not the strength of the hypo chlorite used. I hope that makes sense. I also did some calculations and it turns out that thick bleach is only around 1% strength when used neat. At least with hypo chlorite you can determine the strength you want to use by diluting it down from 15% downwards..
David Gorman its magic stuff. If im on a lichen kill job i use it neat on a damp surface. 2hrs and its pretty much gone, if im just doing residual dirt algae i do a 50;50 mix. You can use it weaker but it takes longer. Apparently you can leave the stuff overnight for really bad lichen. Problem is that means a second trip out and more dosh for the customer. Not sure i would want to leave it down neat overnight. Not done any test to see what it will do. I know using it neat as a softwash, works in about 15-20 mins.
Thank you for sharing - just ordered some 14/15% sodium hypo
Where did you order your sodium h? Cheers
@@JackKing12. ebay - Forward Supplies Ltd
@@lespearce1472 cheers 👍
Looks very good...doing my slabs with bleach and oh man...back breaking...
nice job
Excellent info thank you. Lost count of the “ obviously’s “ but still very good !
Very informative...many Thanks! Would you recommend using a concrete sealer after the acid job?
This is not acid its sodium hypochlorite. Don't mistake the 2 as they are completely different. No sealers on concrete don't tend to do a great deal. Not saying you can't but I've never been asked to seal concrete flags.
Wow, good results. My patio looks ok in the sun, but as soon as it rains there is an ugly greenish black hue to everything. Might be time to order some sodium hyperchlorite.
Hypo may help, it depends on the stone. I see a lot of that greeny/black hue on porcelain tiles it its more down to acid etching from the rain then from algae etc
Wow brilliant video excellent job, was going to paint sandstone slabs as they completely look black now with all the lichen down 12 years approx, do you think this would work the hydro acid instead as would much prefer that, any advice would be extremely grateful, thanks...
No don't use acid, it doesn't work the same way, it can easily burn the slabs causing irreversible damage. Sodium hypochlorite will remove heavy lichen, even old stuff as its a biocide which kills the spores.
Hey Phil,
Keep up the great videos. I do some patio cleaning and was wondering if you’ve ever used the chemicals offered by the blackspot company. They charge £70/4 litre can and it doesn’t go very far. I’ve used it and it really does work well and have always wondered what sort of mix is inside it. Perhaps sodium hypochlorite but something more than 10-15%? Have you ever used it before and would you say it works better than normal 10% sodium hypo or the difference isn’t worth the massive price difference?
Thanks ben
Yes I have and it doesn't work anywhere near like hypo. Using that product once was what made me go onto bleach and hypo. It's a complete rip off what they sell it for. If you've used it you will know it smells like bleach, 14/15% hypo works much quicker and better and is also way cheaper. Depending on the severity of lichen will depend how well anything works, heavy infections will usually need a stronger dose of hypo. You won't get stronger than 14/15% hypo and even that strength you can water it down.
Hi, great video. I don't have a pressure washer is it still as effective using a hose to wash it off afterwards? Also what if a customer has grass near the patio will it kill the grass what is the best way around this? Thanks
Soaking the grass beforehand can help stop the grass absorbing it. It doesn't really kill the grass but it can turn the edges white. It grows back in time and never had any issues. A pressure washer can lift more if the residue when it's had its time, it can leave the dirt behind if not rinsed properly.
Great job , how long did it take you overall to complete the job ?
Darrin Perkins hi darren, thanks. Wasnt too long, about an hour to clean, and then couple hours to let the chemical work. Probably 4hrs in all. Phill
Could you use a pump pressure sprayer to apply that stuff? Thank you
I now use a spray pack with a 12v viton pump.
Great video. Clear and to the point. Many thanks. Couple of questions:
1. Do you need to power wash the paving slabs first or is it unnecessary given the Sodium Hypochlorite treatment?
2. I have a wall bordering my patio which is discoloured, like the one in your video. Sodium Hypochlorite clean that, too?
Hi Andy, power washing first will remove as much of the dirt as possible, this gives the hypo an easier time and ultimately works more effectively. Sodium hypochlorite will basically attack the first thing it contacts, if you have lots of dirt and grime it can take longer for the hypo to penetrate and lift deeper dirt. By removing as much of the surface dirt as possible makes the hypo work quicker. Yes depending what's actually on the wall hypo can clean black stained etc from that too. Phill
@@DirtyDriveAway Thanks for clarifying and for taking the time to reply..
Is it better to put some soap in also, (as long as it says you can mix them ) and also is it not better to use the hypo meat. Sorry for all the questions
I use hypo neat all the time, mainly on heavy lichen. You can add a surfactant soap but usually only something like baby shampoo. You will need to add a fair bit for it to do anything. I tend to use a dedicated surfactant soap as its more concentrated.
Really nice informative vid. If grass borders the slab areas you have treated, will the rinse off kill or damage the grass?
Yes it can do. Usually it turns the edge of the grass white but it grows back, never had anyone say it kills it. If you pre wet the grass first it can help dilute the effects.
@@DirtyDriveAway Cheers appreciate the reply 👍👍👍
@@Banditmanuk welcome.
Hi Phil, do you ever clean brick walls? because as in the wall in the background of your vid i have a housewall wich has black stains on it. Does sodium hypochlorite help on those stains as well or do you have any other recommendation i can use to clean brick walls? Greetings Sam
Sam Cremers hi sam, hypo works well on brick too. Its a much better option than using brick acid. I have successfully removed black stains from brickwork with hypo. You can use it a lot stronger on brick for best results. Phill
Hi there. I have old about 3feet tall wall made from building blocks. Who knows how old it is but I guess at least 15y and never has been cleaned. It does have all sort of spots on it. White and black ones.
Question1: will sodium hypo get rid of it?
Question2: I do have some plants right next/at the base of the wall. Will it kill them?
Question3:where did you buy hypo in UK.
Thanks
Hi, hypo will remove black lichen and fungus aswell as a lot of black staining. The downside is you'll need to use it pretty strong and you may need to add some form of surfactant or thickener to get it to stick to vertical surfaces. Adding some baby shampoo can help it stick better but your plants at the base of the wall may not survive such a strong hit of hypo. You can give the plants a good soaking beforehand but if they are in the rinse path then all that hypo will just wash straight onto the bed. Hypo doesn't tend to kill off white crusty lichen spores, a strong jet wash is needed for those. Hypo is available online but it is pricey because of postage, you could try and find a local swimming pool chem supplier who will stock it. You can get it on eBay for around £30 per 20L delivered but I have done that in the past and questioned its age and strength as it goes off. Phill
Hi Phil, can you recommend anything where the patio/pathway is flush against grass? I don't want to use something that will kill the grass and jet washing isn't doing the job.
It won't kill the grass it will just turn the edges white, It will grow back. If there is drainage then it won't be an issue but if it flows back to the grass then you'll end up with white bits. If the grass has had a good soaking before application it can help slow the absorption.
I have an indian sandstone patio, it has a few black spots. I have power washed the area & want to clear all the spots and stubborn green algae as well. Can I use the same method ?
mike furno hi mike yes you can, depending on your area (grass etc) i would start with a 50/50 mix and leave for 2 hours+ if your trying to kill lichen, half hour or so for dirt and algae. If its a hot day try to keep the area damp. You can then treat any further stubborn spots with a slightly stronger mix if needed. Bear in mind that sodium hypo will destroy your clothes and most sprayers you put it in. Phill
Did you ever had discoloration of the tiles? I mean makes the SH the tiles more white, let say, you have dark coloured tiles, can they turn them white?
No because that's not what I will do. The colour is throughout the stone not just the surface. If the area turns powdery white its because its not been rinsed enough and the solution turn back to a salt.
@@DirtyDriveAway thanks for the answer, so i will not make a mistake🤗
Visit your local farm supply shop mate you can get a 5 gallon drum for about £15
Will be only 10 per cent though, which is fine depending how much black spot you have.
Hi mate
This stuff is amazing thank you for sharing with us just a quick question can you use this on decking
James Cain hi james, i would say avoid using it on decking as the bleach can really break down the woods natural binding fibres. Im sure you could use a weak mix but you will want to be able to neutralise it after, i think vinegar can help. When i do decks i gently pressure clean any dirt and algae off then i use a sodium percarbonate solution to help lift and residual oil and dirt, then a neutraliser/brightner citric acid. Phill
Dirty Drive-Away
Thanks for the advice mate
I’ve tried a few different things but mixed a real weak batch of sodium like you said and it done the job great
Thanks again for your video really helped me out in Milton Keynes
Top bloke
@@DirtyDriveAway BAC 50 would work very nicely and with no risk of damage to the wood .
Another great video. Thank you! Just wondering how you clean it to begin with before the hyphochlorite treatement ?
Just a jet wash, even a simple karcher will work before hitting with hypo.
@@DirtyDriveAway thank you good sir. Any tips for pricing. I'm just starting but unsure how to price. What would you charge for a set of steps and a small path as an Introductory offer? Trying use that to get my name out there as there are many sleepy dangerous steps here.
@@michaeloates732 well I charge a min price of £40.00 it doesn't get a lot but pricing depends on competition. Ideally pro rata your looking at a min of £20hr. For £40 I would be looking at 15-20sqM tops for min price. Depends how long the path is but as in introductory pricing on an average path and couple steps I would be looking £40-£60 depending on actual size, has to be worthwhile setting up.
@@DirtyDriveAway excellent that was my thinking. You're a good man thanks again. Have a profitable week!
great video. just got my delivery of this cleaner today. how long does any residue of this bleach remain on slabs? I've got children and pets. thanks.
photosmithy you will need to rinse it off well after a couple hours. once rinsed it will dry off just fine. it will smell for a bit but that will clear after a few days.
Dirty Drive-Away did the slabs and omg does this stuff work. jet wash , acid, chemicals didnt even touch a black discolouration but this stuff wow. next job sealant 👍
Excellent video. Quick question, how long afterwards would it be safe for kids to be around?
So long as its well rinsed pretty much straight away. I do advise people to ideally let it dry first.
Hi Phil on the hypo it says no people or pets on the patio for 2 days is this just to cover themselves
Not sure what you've bought but proper bottled sodium hypo wouldn't have that on the bottle. Sounds like somebody is bottling hypo up and selling it on. Proper hypo is just a chemical and not branded for patios etc, it's main use is swimming pool treatment. So long as the patio is properly rinsed it will be fine. Some people leave it down and let it dry which isn't good as it dries powdery.
Do you have to rinse the chemical off or just leave it to do its magic over time
Adam Simpson rinse off after apprix 2hrs. If its really bad you can make up a weaker mix and leave it overnight but thats best put down when the suns gone down as the heat will dry it too quickly.
Great tip is pour it onto the paving slabs using a regular gardening watering can
S4FC100 yes you could but it's a lot less controlable and you will use a lot more of it very quickly. It's ok for a one off job but if using it strong it will destroy the rose head quite quickly.
Don’t know if you’re still answering comments but I’ve sprayed my block paved drive this weekend with a ‘cleaner’ from a reputable company. It cleaned some parts lovely but other parts are still dark and look like I’ve ‘missed’ areas although as I sprayed my daughter was watching to make sure we didn’t miss places so I’m sure we didn’t. So I’m thinking it is lychen. First thing we said when spraying was it smelt like the swimming baths.
If I’m using a 5 litre sprayer with the sodium hypo 14/15% should I dilute it or just spray as is and use diluted for maintenance sprays?
Thanks
Unusual to get stubborn lichen on block pave as its concrete. What product was you using as most "driveway cleaners" are just heavily diluted sodium hypochlorite. I honestly wouldn't think block pave would need it neat, so I would dilute down 3:1. Lichen spores on say natural stone will require a lot stronger, but dirt stains and fungus on blocks generally react well to 3:1 for about 20-30mins then rinse. You won't really get perfectly clean blocks without a jet wash though.
@@DirtyDriveAway it was monty. It did a great job in some areas so maybe my spraying was a bit patchy?
Hi
Excellent video
Can you tell me the ratio of hydro to water you use?
For lichen I use it neat
Hi Phil what would you say is the best way and chemical to use to get rid of black spot
If hypo is it 15%
Hypo is the only chem I know that will shift it. If you want it to work quickly start quite strong 75 hypo to 25 water
Nice job Russell. Have you heard of Wet & Forget? I'm thinking of trying it rather than pressure wash as you have demonstrated
Yes, but wet and forget is a long-acting product. From what I've heard, it can take 3-6 months for it to kill off lichen. It may not remove deep heavy spores, though.
Hi Phil great video! I have artificial grass next to my slabs. If I get any of the hypo on the grass is there any danger of ruining it?
Thanks I’m advance
Hi, no it shouldn't, I have done lots of jobs with artificial grass and as it's plastic the hypo doesn't affect it. Saying that I wouldn't intentionally spray it, but wet it first to be safe and give it a good rinse when your done. Phill
Dirty Drive-Away much appreciate. Continue your excellent work!
@@indysingh2117 will try, need this lockdown to pass.
I burn lichen spores off with a bit of propane. I do it this way due to my cats being in my back garden quite alot and don't want them around harsh chemicals.
I sprayed the stuff directly on to some slabs as a test without mixing with water. Left it overnight and it has not made any difference. Do you need to scrub the slabs with a brush before and after? Also, the chlorine smell is unbearable and I would not recommend it if you have close neighbours
Not sure what you have purchased but 14/15% sodium hypochlorite will remove about 90% of lichen spores in about an hour, especially if you have used it neat. I would never apply it neat and leave it for more than 2hrs without rinsing off as it will leave a white powdery residue because as it dries it turn back to a salt. Even after around 30mins on a dirty patio this stuff will have it practically clean. I know this stuff smells strong but after proper useage is no different than a swimming pool. You must rinse it off if using neat as it can be corrosive. Sodium hypochlorite does go off and when it does it won't do anything, where did you buy it because it may be an old batch. Phill
Quick question, if I have a block driveway could I prepare a weak solution of sodium hypochlorite eg 5 to 1 mix, spray it on my not rinse it. Similar to wet and forget?
Hi, it depends on what you want to achieve. Sodium hypochlorite won't physically remove weeds or moss, which block pave does suffer from. To answer your question, yes, you could do a mix; however, I'm not sure if a low mix will have much effect on black spot lichen. If it's general cleaning, your probably best off going something like 3:1, then let the rain be your rinse. The only downside to leaving hypo down is that when it dries, it can leave a salty residue if not rinsed. Doing this in autumn/winter isn't an issue as it rains; however, in summer, when it's hot, it will probably go a powdery white.
There’s a bit of lichen not much but I’m more interested in the algae that’s started to appear and a bit of moss. I’m tempted to do 50 50 mix and spray it on on the assumption that it will rain within 24 hours to rinse it away as the driveway slops nicely onto the road what do you think? I’m trying to avoid rinsing
@user-gi8sf5sp8i you can do, although the moss won't get removed. It will turn it white but you'll have to physically remove it. Doing it this time of year will ensure it gets rinsed by the weather. Just remember that although hypo will help dissolve the dirt it won't remove it fully. Yes using the chemical will make it a lot better but it won't be the same as a pressure clean.
How soon after treatment could I safely let dogs back on the paved area if I cleaned it in this way?
So long as its really well rinsed pretty much straight away. If its not rinsed well it can leave a powdery salty residue which dogs like to lick.
Do you not mix with Bonnymans surfactant to help it stick better>?
Hi, not when doing a lichen kill as it foams up too much in the sprayer, you end up only being able to half fill the spray pack. I use surfactant when cleaning other stuff.
thank you for your advice, this chemical works great, my path now looks like new,,,
Paul Shakeshaft, your welcome Paul. it is wicked stuff, seems to be a guarded secret lol as not many people know how effective it is. Glad it worked for you.
I wasted £16 on some rubbish from the garden centre which did nothing, the proper stuff that you use cost me £25
for 20 litres from Amazon, could you please advise me no a good pressure washer for me to buy for about £600,
from what I can see I need a petrol driven one to get a good pressure ??????
Paul Shakeshaft, a lot of the so called lichen products are watered down sodium hypo, you've only got to sniff it and the smell is apparent. In terms of washers you are totally limited by the pressure and flow of the tap you are connecting to. The only way to get good power is by using a negative feed washed, that is one that takes it's water from a tank or water butt. The pump output on most tap connected washers tends to top anywhere from 8-12 Litres per min, as that's what the water company's flow rates are. Forget about max pressure, it's seems to be a capture point for customers thinking high pressure means better performance. In reality it's the flow that gives you the cleaning power. you can have 250bar pressure but if the flow is low it won't really get you very far. Going up to petrol really only saves hooking up to power supply, if it still connects to a tap the overall performance won't be any better than than a high end DIY washer. I will try and do a new video soon on washer performance etc as I seem to be asked this quite a bit.
@@Displays.1234. A top model powerful Karcher should suffice. I've got the Karcher 5 (cost me £140) and it is VERY powerful, but they do even more powerful ones. It's been SO RELIABLE too,and quick to put together to use, and to dismantle aerwards. To do patios and flat areas, do get the Karcher Patio Head to use with the machine......absolutely superb results on a FILTHY black paved area......it came up showing beautiful CREAM coloured stonework!! No chemicals used on that one.
Would you recommend sealing after hypo cleaning & how long to wait before sealing if you do.
wayne wehunt if you have natural stone it's worth doing. I wouldn't bother with concrete flags, you can if you want. Good quality long lasting (5 year) sealers are expensive. Once you've killed the lichen with bleach it should stay lichen free for couple years. A regular swill down with diluted bleach can help keep them at bay. If you are going to seal it as long as it's had a good rinse off it should be fine once it's dry.
Thanks for the quick response. It's natural stone with little sun so the lichens & other critters love it. Soooo here comes the hypo & sealer...
wayne wehunt yeah i would seal it if it's natural. I actually did a bleach and seal job past few days. There's another vid on my channel where I seal natural stone patio with resiblock colour enhancer.
wayne wehunt f
What would you recommend to use on Black slate patio. Brilliant video by the way
Depends what is wrong with it, if it's just dirty then a simple jet wash. You have to be really careful with black slate as it discolours very easily. I would probably avoid using hypo on it. Is your slate just dirty?
Dirty Drive-Away It’s got cement residue on it
@@davidowen7695 ok, I would recommend something like lithofin builders clean as it's a mild cleaner that can remove cement residues. They do a dedicated product called cement away but it's designed more for concrete brickwork as it's a lot stronger. Have a look on lithofins website and there's a product selector by stone type. I get most of my lithofins products from extensive.co.uk (if your in UK)
Great Video Would you say you mixed it at about 10lts of hypo to 1 lt of Water
I usually use it neat now when attacking lichen. I spray it down with a pump sprayer. Just make sure you have adequate drainage and don't leave it down for more than a couple hours. Make sure the hyponis fresh as it degrades over time (4-6months depending on conditions)
Hi, the video has been really useful, Thank You. One question I have is this. My patio is Indian sandstone and has been down 12 years. When it was first laid I sealed it with some expensive stuff :-). I think I sealed a again maybe 6 years ago. It has been jet washed every year since but I can still see some shine in places from the sealant. If I use
Sodium Hypochlorite will it not work if there is still sealant on in places or will it also remove the sealant?
Hypo will still work to clean but it won't remove old sealer. If it was sealed (and still is in places) then you shouldn't really be getting lichen on those slabs. A sealer should stop fungal spores attaching themselves to the stone. If you have small areas that are still sealed then a paint stripper should remove it.
@@DirtyDriveAway Thanks very much for taking the time to reply, much appreciated. The stuff I used to seal it was Pave-Gard from Eureco systems, I would have done it once 12 years ago and then again at least 6 years ago. Is it possible that I sealed over some lichen the second time around? There is not a massive amount of lichen so I will do as you suggest and go over what is there with paint stripper first. Thank you again, great videos and you have been a huge amount of help.
@@PaulWestwell there is a possibility you sealed over it. Sealing usually stops lichen taking hold so if you have some on a sealed slab I would say it may already have been there and has possibly grown or spread.
Does it smell once finished? I remember a while back using Jayes Fluid - did a reasonable job but the patio smelled like a freshly cleaned public toilet for seral weeks!
It can smell a bit like a swimming pool for a day or 2 but nothing too bad or unpleasant.
I have flower beds and hedging next to my sandstone patio. If I wash down after the hypo treatment the run-off will go onto the beds which will presumably kill the plants! Any suggestions how to avoid this?
Matthew Brown you can give the hedging and grass area a really good soaking before applying the bleach. If it runs into the beds this soaking should help dilute it. There is no guarantee, i have tried this method on grass and although the tips turn white it doesnt actually kill the grass as by the time the bleach gets to it its been heavily diluted with the soaking. I usually apply the bleach after jet washing which i turn normally soaks the area anyway. It also depends how strong your mixing it. If your just using it to lift dirt then 50/50 is fine. You can do an overnight mix if you weaken it down a bit more and then apply when the suns going down. Leave it down overnight and rinse the following day. If you want the 2hr lichen kill ideally a stronger mix is needed at around 75/25. If time isnt an issue i would stick with 50/50 and do it on an overcast day. If its too hot it will dry out on the stones. Phill
Hi Phil, thanks for your help.
Matthew Brown no worries matt, hope it works for you. Phill
Great job could you send a link to the sodium .
I get mine from a wholesaler, I go and pick it up. You can buy it on eBay for around £30/20L
Hi, great video. After you have treated the lichen, do you need to wash the flags. We have a dog, would it be safe for her to go on the flags after the flags have dried? We also want to seal the flags after? How long should we wait? Kind regards
You need to rinse it very well. Some dogs like to lick and sodium hypochlorite when dry turn back to a salt. This is attractive to dogs but can make them very ill. You need to rinse, rinse and rinse again. I would avoid sealing an area that's had strong hypo on it for at least 6 weeks. If there is any residue left on the slabs this will hinder the adhesion of any sealer.
Thank you so much for this information and explaining it so well. My driveway is about 20 years old andj ave used 2 barrels of sodium hypochlorite on it so far. It has removed a lot of the black lichen but some still remains . There is also a lot of white marks which I assume is also lichen but am not sure. This is really stubborn and doesn't seem to be coming off at all. Could you advise me any further as I don't want to re sand and seal over what I've done if there is anything I can do to make my driveway look better.
White lichen is usually unaffected by hypo. You need quite high pressure to remove it. If you have used hypo on your driveway you will want to make sure it is rinsed really really well before considering sealing. Any residue (hypo turns back to a salt when dry) which is on the surface will prevent any sealer from bonding properly. You will end up with flaking and peeling sealer if any salts are left on the blocks. I would usually leave it for at least a week after hypo cleaning to ensure its dry and no residue is present.
Thank you for responding so quickly. It is so rare to find anyone decent enough to help and advise people unless there is something in it for themselves. I really appreciate it.
@@sheilagoacher3670 your welcome.
@@sheilagoacher3670agree they all want to make money out of you
Do I have to wet the stones with water before applying Sodium Hypochlorite?
Well ideally it would have been jet washed before applying to remove as much dirt as possible.
Is that safe on york stone, no discolouration or anything? beautiful transition, thats amazing, ouch at 10:30 for my york stone, you dont wash it off? i thought everyone washed it off
Yes you can use it on yorkstone and it must be rinsed otherwise it will leave a powdery residue.
Where did you get the brush from?
Petrolhead its made by wolfgarten, they use 1 handle with clip on heads
Im wondering if the black spots on your brick are also lichen. If they are, will they run off on to the patio, and next year, you will have the same lichen on your patio. I'm going to do my fence first before my patio. Im also going to seal my patio and see if I can get rid of it for good.
I liked your video. It was very informative. All I would change is that I would put some dawn in the solution to get it to hold better.
Using sodium hypochlorite will kill off any spores that are present in the run off water. I've sealed patios in the past and unfortunately it still comes back. Not as quickly but it does return if the growing conditions are right. Dawn I'm assuming you mean dish soap, washing liquid. If so it's not a bleach safe soap/surfactant. When added to drums of hypo it can cause coagulation in the drum. I use a bleach safe surfactant when doing general cleaning, however using a surfactant in the pump sprayer causes it to foam up too much in the spray pack. This means I can't get as much in it without it overflowing with foam. Using a surfactant only really helps on vertical surfaces to help it cling.
Hi Phil great video I’ve used the bleach very good for getting rid of the lichen what would you use for filling joints there’s rubber mastic and jointex sweep in mortar products would appreciate your advice cheers
The sweep in stuff is ok. Something like jointex or marshalls weatherpoint 365. Problem is they aren't overly strong and don't fair up too well to future cleaning unless your going full depth. Problem is a lot of firms don't use it full depth because its expensive, they tend to top up the last 10mm or so. It just blows out over time.
@@DirtyDriveAway thanks for the advice much appreciated I no what you mean about the expense if go to the full depth it’s a tricky one for me what to use but thanks anyway great channel 👍
@@kevbrown841 no worries, to be honest if your doing just a few joints the sweep in stuff Is pretty good, just remember to compact it in the joints. If your doing the full patio the best stuff to use thats easier than sand/cement is something like GFTK VDW850 or whichever is suitable to your area. Its a slurry applied mix that really gets into every nook and cranny. Again not cheap but the councils use it in their high streets so its good stuff.
@@DirtyDriveAway ok cheers I’ll have a look at that thanks for taking the time to reply and thanks for the tips you give out on your channel 👊👍
Hi - This is a fantastic video and I'm planning doing the same in a week or so. One question, I have a privet hedge running alongside my patio, Will the wash-off that goes into the soil kill the hedge. That would be a disaster! Thank you
Hi, no it shouldn't hurt the hedge. Just try keep any wash/rinse away. Sometimes you can't help it but so long as it's had a good wetting before it will be fine.
Thank you - Thats really helpful.
@@DirtyDriveAway
Hi, brilliant informative video! Depending on your location I would happy to hire someone like you to do my monster patio.
Quick Q, can you use Sodium hypo, on retaining brick walls to help give it a good clean remove algue and white stuff?
Many thanks, Bhavik
I'm in Bromley, Kent UK. Sodium hypochlorite will work on most surfaces including walls however the white stuff you are referring too could be efflorescence (white powder residue) this is salt in the brick and requires an acidic cleaner to dissolve it. Phill
Dirty Drive-Away That’s great! Thanks for the reply. Ah I’m based in the Windsor/Maidenhead area, that would quiet far.
Is it best to rinse brick/concrete & Indian sand stone patio/coping stones to avoid cross contamination when walking over, and I’m guess chemical will kill any greenery its in contact with?
@@bhavikpatel5054 hypo won't kill unless you intentially spray it, but it can turn greenery a bit white. You can soak the area beforehand to help prevent greenery absorbing the hypo.
If you can wash your car then you are more than capable of washing your patio, I'm up north but get 20ltr drum 14% hypo for £13.50 mix 3 parts water to one part hypo brush or spray on leave 15 mins give a light brush and rinse of after another 15 mins, just avoid your grass and flowers, it stinks but is a very easy job and quite satisfying.
Great result, I have a patio iv been asked to do, but there are alot of plants surrounding and part of the patio drains into a stream. What precautions would you take to keep everything safe?
Hi Luke, I've never had an issue with plants but it can cause the edge of a lawn to turn white. The only thing you can do is give the plants a good soaking beforehand. This should stop them from absorbing any bleach. As for the stream, sodium hypochlorite actually has very little environmental effects, purely because it is diluted very quickly with water. It really depends what you're actually doing to the patio, is it lichen your trying to kill or simply just an extra depth of clean? You will ideally want to avoid intentionally rinsing it off into the stream. This is an old video now and I use a spray pack to apply hypo now. Depending on what your doing will depend on what strength you will want to use. Phill
@@DirtyDriveAway hi, there is some black spot but just wanted an extra level of cleaning to be honest. The only real drainage off of the patio is into the stream through drainage holes in their wall. I may have to see what pressure washing alone does.
Could you recommend a decent machine to start me off? Did you go for the best straight off?
Thanks for the swift reply
@@lukefarnham2799 if you not too bothered about shifting the black spot you can use a much more diluted mix of hypo. For caution due to the stream you could go 25% hypo 75% water. It won't do much for lichen but should give a better deeper clean. You could go 50:50 for a quicker clean but if all you have for drainage is small holes it may take a while to rinse it away. If you went 25/75 you could give it a general rinse and not have to worry too much. I would jet wash it first to get rid of as much dirt as possible. Phill
@@DirtyDriveAway awesome. Thank you for the advice and for taking the time to right a response. I do window cleaning mainly atm, but am looking into patio washing etc as an extra service.
@@lukefarnham2799 no worries, hope it goes ok
Thanks for the Video! What water/Sodium hypochlorite ratio do you recommend? The strongest concentration I can find here (Canada) is 10.8%, way less than the 14%-15% you have and I'm worried it won't be strong enough, unless you use a 3:1 product to water ratio. Also, any suggestion for removing rust stain on concrete/stone pavers? Thanks again!
Hi, if its general cleaning you could still get away with just over a 25% mix, but if its lichen your trying to kill you will more than likely need the stuff neat. The 10% stuff we get is a fair bit weaker than the 14/15% hence why we don't tend to use it. 25-30% hypo to 70-75% water is OK for general algae and dirt but you'll need stronger for stubborn stuff.
@@DirtyDriveAway Thanks, I appreciate it. Will try to look for a 14%/15% product. If ever you have tips about removing iron/rust stains on concrete and stone pavers, it'd be much appreciated as well. Cheers!
@@unclechunky4615 oh yeah sorry rust, its quite a pain to remove but something like oxalic acid or even strong cleaning vinegar can help.
@@DirtyDriveAway cheers!
My old flagstone patio is covered in black spot after pressure washing. As you mention the branded expensive cleaners are based on sodium hyperchlorite solution, Domestic bleaches are too dilute to use. Wondered if you’ve tried pool shock treatment granules or spa tablets? As you may be aware the hyperchlorite turns to gas quickly so looses its strength once quickly opened.
Never tried it as from research its a different chemical, would be interesting though as its the chlorine that kills the lichen. Sodium hypochlorite has a half life of around 3-6months depending how its stored. All hypo drums have vented caps to allow excess gas to escape. I only ever use fresh hypo when doing lichen removal as it the only way I know its going to work. Also there's a lot of companies online selling watered down hypo. I have a local distributor who bottle it fresh and have tankers weekly. That way I know its always fresh. I've tested ebay hypo that's supposedly 14/15% and sometimes it's barely 10%.
Thanks. I’ll have a go with using stabilised calcium salt shock granules when it’s cooler in the evenings and leave over night. Did you work out the ppm chlorine concentration of the stuff you’re using neat? Shock treatment is usually 10ppm and noticed sodium solution is about 10x dilution in pools? I’ll let you know how I get on.
@@lynnmales4679 14/15 sodium hypochlorite in neat form works out to around 140,000-150,000 ppm. I've heard shock granules can stain or even burn.
Thank you. Where do you order the cleaning product from, can you recommend the good store which sell these products please?
You'll have to Google sodium hypochlorite. I have a local supplier where I can collect it from. Ebay sell it but prices vary greatly. Your best off trying to find a swimming pool chemical supplier locally to you.
Dirty Drive-Away . Thank you very much 👍
Great job but how would you prevent it from comeing back again thnx.
If you use hypo it should stay clear for at least 2 years. By giving it a weaker solution once a year would help prevent it coming back.
Do you rinse it off afterwards or just leave it on?
No it does need a good rinse otherwise it leaves a powdery residue.
it is very easy to get rid of just use sh no scrubbing just downstream it and let it dwell for 10 to 15 mins keep it wet
how much would a job like this cost
Mike Cox you would be looking at around £150 to clean and then scrub in 2 doses of hypo. This size patio used 20L of bleach. all depends on the size.
Hi, can you use sodium hypo on brick patio?
Yes, just make sure you rinse it well and don't let it dry or it may bring on efflorescence blooms.
Do you need to wash the chemicals off the patio after a few hours?
Yes, if you don't it will turn back to a salt and leave a powdery residue
Hello Phil - thanks for the video and the valuable information. I only have a very small patio and was wondering if I could use the bleach in a watering can and sprinkle it over the flags? Also do you just leave it to work or do you need to give it a good scrubbing with a stiff brush too and if so for how long? Thanks.
Yes you can use a watering can but it will need to be quite a fine head. You will need a couple hours but dilute the stuff down 50/50 and re apply after an hour. Leave for 2hrs total and rinse well. Phill
@@DirtyDriveAway Hello again Phill - thanks ever so much for your help and quick reply. By fine head do you mean the sprinkle cap that comes with the watering can? Also, when I have poured onto the flags do I need to scrub them immediately and then leave for an hour before re applying? Sorry to mither you.
@@martincostello8274 no you don't need to scrub them unless your applying from a bucket. A cheap pump sprayer would be better but otherwise yes a fine rose head on the can. Just sprinkle and forget for an hour, just keep it wet, don't let it dry out.
@@DirtyDriveAway Great stuff Thank Phill.
Hello again Phill. I just wanted to say a massive THANK YOU to you!! Easter Sunday I know but I have just done the patio flags as you have suggested and they are honestly like new. I could see the difference within 10 to 15 minutes. I cannot thank you enough for your help, advice and your video. You're a star - Thanks again!!!
Hi mate, I live in South Darenth, not to far away, enjoyed your videos. What do you think of Monty Miracle cleaner? Any good?
Window and Gutter Cleaners, never used it. To be fair anything that works like sodium hypo probably contains some form of chlorine. I wont buy into any of these so called miracle products. Ive tried many of them and they all smell like bleach. Have you read the comments on the Monty product, there is a block pave video, great if you want clean blocks but shit and moss in the joint lines. Even softwashing wont give you the results a jet wash can, ive tried some softwashing and yes its quick and easy but you stilk cant beat a proper wash first. Sodium hypo is your friend, ok its not environmntally friendly but in honesty anything that is normally dont work too well. Phill
Dirty Drive-Away Hi Phil, your probably right about a hard wash being better, going to look on ebay and some of the stuff you use, I've got a really large area with moss and Lichen in Chilehurst to do in a couple of weeks to use it on.
Window and Gutter Cleaners gotta be carful with hypo though its vicious stuff and will kill grass.
Window and Gutter Cleaners are you jet washing first?
Dirty Drive-Away Yes I planned to, it normally kills me, and it never removes the lichen, that's why I've looking different patio cleaners
Does Sodium Hypochlorite have a shelf life? I bought a couple of containers worth a couple of years ago. I used one with great success there and then. This year, after testing a small area, nothings seems to be happening to my patio. The dirty slab is untouched, as if I'd just put water on it.
Hi yes it does, usually a half life of 3-6months depending where they are stored. After that time it's strength gradually reduces till its like piss 😆
@@DirtyDriveAway Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Ha! Looks like I have already reached that stage. Yet one half empty blue container did a little something oddly enough. Clearly buying a few containers to save shipping was a false economy I won’t make again.
@@andyfidler8544 yeah it's only worth buying in bulk if it gets used. I go through over 1200L a season buying in 320L batches, but have to ensure I try get shot of it before the season ends or its wasted.
@@DirtyDriveAway Lesson learned!
Reference the Sodium hypochlorite. Go to
Any farmers supplier. And you’ll get the top
quality product. As it’s used it cleaning milk
Parlours and sheds
ok now to be cheeky how much would you charge for a job like this including hypo ?
barrie joke, hi barry that job was £125 all in. I used 20L of hypo. It was a special price as it was one of the first jobs of the season. I would normally say a job like that would be somewhere around £160-£170 depending on size.
Dirty Drive-Away what pressure washer do you use, have 400l tank atm and have a karcher k4 I do valeting but really enjoying patio cleaning seeing the before and after, so just wondered or anything you could suggest to get me going with decent enough bar for a good efficienct clean
Dirty Drive-Away plus trying to learn prices haha
@@DirtyDriveAway did you pressure wash or just wash off with a hose?
Listings of home deliveriesnorth west area please.
I'm sorry, what?
Do you have link for the store you used 👍🏻
I get my chemical locally but even they currently have no stock. They only do local delivery or collection.
Hi do you need to dilute the SH ?
Depends what your doing with it and what strength you buy. If your trying to kill lichen spores you will need it quite strong. If you get 14/15% hypo I would dilute it with 25% water. You could go as low as 50/50 but it all depends on how bad the lichen is.
Phil....I forgot to add to my last comment.....What about PET'S walking on a surface treated with Sodium Hypochlorite? Obviously you'd need to keep them off the area while treatment was going on, but would it be safe for them afterwards when area dried out to walk on the surface? What about if it rains? - would this burn a Pet's paws? Teddy UK.
Pets will be ok so long as its well rinsed. Keep them off it whilst it's down.
Thank you for the great informative video, just a few questions
1. Will scrubbing the slabs more with a brush help to remove deep lichen quicker? Or should i apply a coat lightly and them move on to the next slab?
2. Some of my slabs are starting to dry with the sodium hypo. Do i leave it or re-apply some water or more sodium hypo?
3. Can you recommend any pump sprays that will help with the application? I am using a broom and it is taking a while as my garden is very big.
I am currently mixing 50:50 with water to sodium hypo, the lichen is being removed, but i will need to do a second coating to fully get rid of it
Hi, any cheap sprayer will work. If the slrayer isn't viton sealed then they will perish over time.
Try to keep the hypo wet, once it dries out its last its effectiveness. You will need quite a heavy coating in order to keep it wet. I tend to either jet wash first or give the area a good soaking, let it drain and the apply hypo.
50:50 is a bit weak for lichen, its a starting point but I tend to go 75/25 or even neat if its really bad.
@@DirtyDriveAway also may i ask what type of brush you are using? Will a pvc stiff bristle brush work?
@@adilmalek6820 I no longer use a brush as it takes longer than a sprayer but yes you can use any brush.
Hi Phill , good job...
I tried hypo in my patio was full of black spots , Algae and Green work well removed everything , but the White Lichens still there doesn't go I tried for 3 times hypo and pressure washer no lucky at all. Any recommendations Phill.
Thank you...
the white is normal mate its happens when the pavs absorb water and evap over time and brings the salts to the top this is another reason why you should not keep pressure washing pavs roof etc its strips them until there is no longer any barrier to prevent the pavs etc absorbing so much water think of it like this if you where beaten every six month or so to a pulp you would soon break down and thats what happens to ur pavs etc mate
Thw white lichens are a bit tougher than the black ones. They dont respond as well to hypo, ive found the washer normally removes them. So long as its the crusty white spores your on about and not efflorescence which is white powdery residue which is the salts in the stone that come out when they constantly get wet and then dry, the salts/minerals sit on the surface of the stone and wont go away. Phill
You need a good pressure washer to remove the white Lichen, You will not remove them with Sodium hypochlorite alone.