Best Practices for Pressure Washing Pavers

As beautiful as newly installed pavers are, they are not immune from accumulating dust and debris. When they start to look less sparkly and new, it’s time to give them a good cleaning. We recommend using a pressure washer to clean your pavers.

However, you still need to know a few things before you get started.

In this blog post, we look at some best practices you should know before washing your pavers or hardscape with a pressure washer.

Check the PSI of Your Pressure Washer for Cleaning Projects

Whether it’s asphalt, concrete, concrete pavers, or a concrete retaining wall, the most important thing you need to consider is how much PSI (pounds per square inch) the pressure washer has to avoid damage to your hardscape.

Best PSI: 1,500

The best PSI for pressure washing hardscape is around 1,500. This pressure is standard for a residential-grade or homeowner-grade pressure washing unit. It may seem slow and less efficient, but it will minimize damage to your hardscape.

If you have a traditional pressure washer, you can usually adjust the pressure down to 1,500 PSI. However, if you have a pressure washer without an adjustable PSI, simply hold the wand at least 24 inches away from your hardscape as you wash it. You should also use the widest wand you have available to minimize damage.

Test wash a few paving stones before you take on the whole hardscape. This will ensure you are satisfied with how your pressure washer performs and will prevent accidental damage to your pavers.

Use a Surface Washer Attachment

Getting consistent results and a consistent look as you clean your pavers can be challenging. To ensure a consistent finish, hold the tip at exactly the same distance over the entire hardscape. This is slow and tedious and can be very difficult to make sure your hand is the same distance away from the hardscape the entire time.

To make pressure washing easier, implement a surface washer attachment on your pressure washer. Surface washer attachments have two rotating heads that spin at high speeds and will give consistent results over the surface of your hardscape.

Establish a Cadence as You Pressure Wash

Finally, even if you are using a surface washer attachment, establish a consistent rhythm as you move the washer over your hardscape’s surface. If you move too quickly, you will leave small swirl marks that indicate where the pavers are clean and where they did not quite get clean. 

The final product will be consistently clean if you move slowly and maintain the same pressure over the whole surface.

Once again, try testing your washing method on a few pavers before you take on the whole patio or hardscape.

Optional: Try a Pressure Washer Alternative

What if you can’t find a pressure washer or don’t want to use one? You also can use a surface cleaner such as SureClean from SEK Surebond. This cleaner is a simple detergent you can dilute with water and use to clean your pavers.

Mix up the cleaner, put it on your hardscape, and scrub your hardscape with a deck brush to get the same results as cleaning with a pressure washer.

Many different concrete cleaners are available at your local hardware stores. Just avoid any acids or harsh chemicals that can damage your concrete.

Learn More About Paver Maintenance

If you want more information about caring for your hardscape, check out our videos and blog posts about paver care. Click here to head to our DIY with WI page.