Tips & guides
How to Clean Pavers: Driveways, Patios, and Pool Decks
Paver driveways, patios, and pool decks are built to last, but Florida humidity coats them in algae, fills the joints with weeds, and dulls the color over time. Cleaning them is straightforward, and the one thing to know up front is that it is easy to overdo. Here is how to clean pavers the right way, get the weeds out, and keep them looking clean once you are done.
The short version
Clear the weeds and debris, wet the pavers, scrub with a mild cleaner, and rinse. If you use a pressure washer, keep it low and wide or use a flat surface cleaner so you do not blast the sand out of the joints. Then sweep fresh polymeric sand back into the joints. That last step is what most people skip, and it is what keeps the weeds from coming right back.
What you need
- A stiff nylon brush or broom, and a hand tool for scraping weeds out of the joints
- A bucket of water with dish soap, or a cleaner made for exterior masonry for heavier growth
- A garden hose, or a pressure washer with a wide fan tip or a flat surface cleaner attachment
- Fresh polymeric joint sand for re-sanding afterward
- A targeted product for any oil, rust, or tannin stains
How to clean pavers, step by step
- Clear the surface. Sweep off leaves and debris and pull any weeds or moss out of the joints so you are not cleaning around them.
- Pre-treat stains. Hit oil, rust, and tannin spots with the right product first, since general cleaning will not lift them. Our guide on removing driveway stains covers each type.
- Wet and wash. Wet the pavers, apply your cleaner, let it dwell a few minutes, and scrub the grime and algae loose with a stiff brush.
- Rinse gently, or pressure wash carefully. A hose is enough for light jobs. If you pressure wash, use a wide fan tip or a surface cleaner, keep the wand moving, and never hold a narrow jet on one spot.
- Let it dry, then re-sand. Once dry, sweep fresh polymeric sand into the joints and set it per the product instructions so the pavers lock together again.
The pressure-washing trap
A pressure washer will make pavers look great for a few weeks, but the wrong technique causes two problems. Too much pressure etches and roughens the paver surface, and it strips the sand out of the joints. Empty joints let weeds and ants move in and let the pavers shift underfoot, so you end up worse off than before. If you pressure wash, go wide and light, and always re-sand afterward. We break down the difference between the right and wrong pressure in soft washing versus pressure washing.
Getting weeds out of the joints for good
Pulling weeds is only half the job, because the gap they grew in is still there. To actually keep them out: clear the joints, sweep in fresh polymeric sand, and seal the pavers so the sand is locked in place. A sealed, fully-sanded joint has no soft, open soil for a seed to take hold in, which is why sealed pavers grow far fewer weeds than bare ones.
Cleaning is step one, sealing makes it last
Cleaning pavers restores the look, but on its own it does not last long in Florida. Within weeks the color starts to fade again and the algae creeps back. Sealing after a clean locks in the joint sand, revives the color, and protects against stains, which is why the two go together. Our guides on how to seal pavers and how often pavers should be sealed walk through that side of it.
When to call a pro
A small patio is a reasonable weekend job. It is worth hiring out for large driveways, heavy algae or stains, or when you would rather not risk etching the pavers with too much pressure. Professional paver cleaning and sealing does the full sequence in one visit: deep clean, weed and stain removal, fresh polymeric sand, and a sealer that keeps the result. See the paver sealing cost guide for what that runs.
We clean and seal paver driveways, patios, lanais, and pool decks across Seminole, Largo, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and the beach communities of Pinellas County. Send a photo of the pavers and we will tell you what they need, with a free estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Can you pressure wash pavers?
Yes, but with a light touch. Too much pressure or a narrow tip etches the paver surface and blasts the sand out of the joints, which is what invites weeds and shifting. Use a wide fan tip, keep the wand moving and back from the surface, or better yet a flat surface cleaner that spreads the pressure evenly.
How do you get weeds out of paver joints?
Pull or scrape the weeds out of the joints, then treat the roots so they do not come straight back. After cleaning, sweep fresh polymeric sand into the joints and, ideally, seal the pavers. Locked-in joint sand is the real defense against weeds, because it removes the gap they grow in.
What is the best cleaner for pavers?
For general grime and algae, a mix of water and a little dish soap plus a stiff brush handles most of it. For heavier organic growth use a cleaner made for exterior masonry, and for oil or rust use a targeted degreaser or rust remover. Avoid harsh acids, which can discolor and etch the pavers.
Should you seal pavers after cleaning them?
It is not required, but it is what makes the clean last. Sealing locks in fresh joint sand so weeds and ants stay out, slows fading, and keeps oil and stains on the surface where they wipe off. Clean pavers that get re-sanded and sealed stay looking good far longer than cleaning alone.
How often should paver driveways and patios be cleaned?
Most Florida pavers do well with a cleaning about once a year, and sooner for shaded, poolside, or coastal areas where algae returns faster. If the joints are growing weeds or the color looks dull and gray, it is time.