The best patio cleaner solutions to use this spring

Get your patio spick and span in no time with these easy patio cleaner solutions.

Man using jet wash to clean patio decking

by Kat de Naoum |
Updated on

With our list of the best patio cleaner solutions you’ll have a nice gleaming patio before you know it. Cleaning the patio or driveway can be a massive chore. Especially if there’s a lot of dirt, mould, algae, weeds and black spot lichens to get rid of.

We love spending time outdoors (and if that means with the aid of a patio heater, then so be it) so a nice and clean outdoor area needs to be prioritised. Whether you want a patio cleaner that’s organic, pet-friendly, or heavy-duty to get rid of tough dirt, we’ve got a selection patio cleaning solutions for you to choose from. If you want to pull out the big guns, we’ve even found an excellent Bosch patio cleaner pressure washer that will zap dirt into oblivion. Whatever your patio cleaning needs, have a look below to find the right product for you.

Best patio cleaner solutions at a glance:

Best overall patio cleaner: Wet & Forget Patio Cleaner – Buy now on Amazon UK
Best child and pet-friendly patio cleaner: Defenders Concentrated Path and Patio Cleaner – Buy now on Amazon UK
Best universal patio cleaner: Kärcher Patio Cleaner Canister Pressure Washer Detergent – Buy now on Amazon UK

Some patio cleaners are detergents that you can use with a pressure washer. You just need to follow the instructions and add in the detergent. It's worth checking if the manufacturer recommends a specific type or brand of detergent.

However many others are concentrated and will need to be diluted before being applied by hand from a bucket or watering can.

Best patio cleaners to buy

Best overall patio cleaner

Wet & Forget Patio Cleaner Amazon/Wet & Forget

If it's not obvious from the name, the number one best-selling mould remover Wet & Forget patio cleaner requires very little elbow grease in order to rid your patio, driveway and paths of mould and algae. All you need to do is dilute it in water and throw it over the area you want to de-moss and leave it be. It's that easy.

Customer review: "Works a treat. Patio and driveway have come up really nice again this summer. Have used this product a number of times and it is much easier, more effective, kinder to driveway. Neighbours blast theirs with high pressure and tonnes of work whilst I just wet and forget, their drives have sand and colour removed whilst mine looks great and retains colour."

Pros

  • Easy to apply
  • Effective

Cons

  • Take care to read the safety warnings as it is a chemical substance
Quantity5 litres

Best child and pet-friendly patio cleaner

Defenders Concentrated Path and Patio CleanerAmazon/Defenders

With its biodegradable and non-acid formulation, the economical Defenders concentrated path and patio cleaner can clean muck from brick, block paving, tarmac, concrete and stone. It's even great for use on walls, and is completely safe for use around pets, wildlife, and children. This cleaner might not last as long as some of the other, more heavy-duty cleaners on our list, but it's worth it for the peace of mind.

Customer review: "My path has never been cleaner. Doesn't stay clean too long with awful British weather, but after using this stuff I found out my paving stones were a different colour."

Pros

  • Easy to apply
  • Save for wildlife and pets
  • Bio-degradable and non-acid formulation

Cons

  • Customers comment that it was ineffective; it's best used in conjunction with a pressure washer
Quantity2 litres

Best universal patio cleaner

Kärcher Patio Cleaner Canister Pressure Washer DetergentAmazon/Kärcher
Price: £74.95

For a universal patio cleaner that can be used on all types of surfaces, including concrete, wood and even patio furniture, this five-litre detergent from Kärcher effortlessly removes dirt, soil, grease and oil from all your outdoor areas. It's a nice little bonus that it's also Amazon's choice for the best patio cleaner for use in a pressure washer.

Customer review: "I have purchased this as a follow on to using the foam product and it did provide a great finish. Not too thick but I suppose if most of the muck is removed by the foam it doesn't need to be, still a great product."

Pros

  • Quality
  • Effective
  • Easy to use
  • Good value

Cons

  • Customers comment this is a thinner consistency than the 1 litre version of this product
Quantity5 litres

Best patio cleaner for concrete

JCB Heavy Duty Patio and Path Cleaner ConcentrateAmazon/JCB

For non-sensitive flooring and surfaces such as concrete driveways, pavement slabs, and stone, the JCB Heavy Duty Patch and Patio Cleaner is a strong detergent that will leave nothing in its wake.

Customer review: "Within a couple of days my mossy patio was totally clean. The heavy moss between the paving stones has died too and can be swept away. Didn't need to brush after applying, just sprayed with high-pressure spray and left."

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Heavy duty
  • Range of uses
  • Effective on mould as well as dirt

Cons

  • Mixed option on its effectiveness
Quantity5 litres

Best eco-friendly patio cleaner

Algon Organic Path and Patio Cleaner ConcentrateAmazon/Algon

As a safer cleaning option for anyone with children, pets, ponds or a wildlife-friendly garden, the Algon organic path and patio cleaner concentrate will clean your patios and keep your mind at ease. What's more, you don't need to rinse it off because its mould and algae hampering effects last for a whole year.

Customer review: "I used two of these to clean my 45'x16' polytunnel. I sprayed it all over using a pump garden spray - it was much easier than I thought it would given the polytunnel size and height. At first, I thought it wasn't working but within four days the algae was gone, there was just a white residue in its place. This washed off easily with some washing up liquid and a hose brush attachment and now the tunnel looks great. Very pleased with this product - I bought four more which saved money. I have also cleaned the greenhouse with it and again it came up great and I have three over for next year. I highly recommend this product."

Pros

  • Organic
  • Safe around wildlife, including fish ponds
  • Effective

Cons

  • Customer comments that it smells like vinegar
Quantity5 litres

Best patio cleaner two-pack

Pro-Kleen Patio & Driveway CleanerAmazon/Pro-Kleen

This two-pack Pro-Kleen cleaner set provides 10-litres of patio cleaning fluid, perfect for dousing those larger driveways and outdoor areas. Ideal for concrete and block paving, you can apply this cleaner from either a watering can or pump sprayer.

Customer review: "I used this yesterday to clean my block paved drive, which is on the large side, so I wanted a product that would do the job without a lot of effort. I am really impressed with the results; the drive looks like new."

Pros

  • Amazon's Choice
  • Effective
  • Easy to apply
  • Powerful

Cons

  • Handle with care as it can cause skin burns
Quantity10 litres

Best patio cleaner for smaller spaces

Job Done 86600266 Path & Patio CleanerAmazon/Job Done

For smaller pathways and patios of up to 30sqm, this 2.5-litre Job Done cleaner is just the ticket. Stains, algae and dirt are eliminated, and your pathways will start to appear brighter and cleaner within just 10 minutes. It's suitable for brick, tarmac, concrete or asphalt.

Customer review: "First time purchasing this patio cleaner and happy with the results. Followed clear instructions on bottle and allowed the mixed solution to sit on the slabs for the recommended 10 minutes then proceeded to jet wash the patio. The muck on the slabs came off with ease. Very happy with the end result once the area worked on had dried."

Pros

  • Fast-acting
  • Powerful weed killer
  • Removes dirt and stains

Cons

  • Harmful to aquatic life and can cause skin burns and allergic reactions
Quantity2.5 litres

Best patio cleaner for getting rid of weeds

Patio Magic! ConcentrateAmazon/Patio Magic!

If you've got a weed problem, it's time for Patio Magic! This bestselling weed-killing detergent quickly removes weeds, mould, algae and moss from patios, driveways and masonry, as well as almost all other outdoor hard surfaces. It's biodegradable, long-lasting, antibacterial and doesn't contain any bleach or acids.

Customer review: "I used this to clean green algae from the extensive teak decking of my sailing yacht. It is absolutely amazing stuff when used under the right conditions."

Pros

  • Amazon's Choice
  • Concentrated formula goes a long way
  • Effective
  • Easy to apply

Cons

  • Toxic to aquatic life, causes skin irritation and eye damage - handle with care
Quantity2.5 litres

Best patio cleaner for getting rid of mould

Smartseal Patio Clean XtremeAmazon/Smartseal

Getting rid of mould and moss can seem effortless compared to those stubborn black spot lichens that appear across patios and driveways. Thankfully, with the Smartseal Patio Clean Xtreme, even these monstrosities needn't be a bother. This solution gets right in those paving slab cracks and can restore patios and pathways to their former glory.

Customer review: "Tried this to tackle stubborn lichen black spots on ageing paving slabs, all other remedies having failed to dislodge them. Left it for a couple of (damp and murky) hours and then had a peep – astonishing results. Spots pretty much all gone, patio gleaming (if patios can gleam) and best it's looked in living memory. The Holy Grail of patio cleaning - I've found it."

Pros

  • Amazon's Choice
  • Fast-acting on Black Spot
  • Effective natural stone cleaner
  • Inhibits further fungal growth

Cons

  • Strong smell of bleach
Quantity5 litres

Best patio cleaner for wooden surfaces

Roxil 100 Mould, Algae & Lichen KillerAmazon/Roxil

You might be a little nervous about using harsh chemical cleaners on your wooden patio flooring or decking, as the wrong product could do permanent damage. The Roxil 100 Mould, Algae and Lichen Killer has been specially designed for wooden surfaces and has a non-destructive cleaning method meaning that your expensive decking will be totally safe and sparkling clean.

Customer review: "Really excellent for cleaning decking before re-oiling. I also used it on a wooden bench and it came up very nice. I needed far less than I thought I would, spraying it on with a spray bottle."

Pros

  • Biodegradable, long-lasting protection
  • Minimises regrowth
  • Use on a range of surfaces
  • Customers praise its effectiveness

Cons

  • Harmful to aquatic life
Quantity5 litres

Best patio cleaner pressure washer machine

Bosch EasyAquatak 110 High Pressure WasherAmazon/Bosch

The Bosch EasyAquatak is lightweight enough to carry all around your outdoor space while cleaning, easy to use, and surprisingly powerful for such a small machine.

Customer review: "I used this to clean two very dirty patios with years of caked on grime. It did an absolutely superb job."

Pros

  • Best-selling pressure washer
  • Value for money
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Powerful for its size

Cons

  • Set-up takes a while

Best Kärcher patio pressure washer

Kärcher K2 pressure washerKärcher

The Kärcher K 2 Power Control Home pressure washer has everything you need for powerful outdoor cleaning. This machine comes with the Home accessory kit which includes a T 150 patio cleaner and Patio & Deck detergent to give your outdoor areas a new lease of life. From blasting away garden moss with the Dirt blaster, to rinsing away the dirt on your garden furniture. The accessories make getting the perfect pressure as simple as a twist and click.

Customer review: "The patio attachment is a good size so made the job of cleaning our large patio area a lot easier than using the smaller nozzle, plus the patio cleaner solution is included which is brilliant. We have quite pale coloured tiles which really show the dirt, so the before and after difference was impressive. We have also used the Karcher K2 on our cars – both get very muddy as we live in the countryside and my partner works on a farm. You can see an immediate difference and it’s very satisfying to see the dirt coming off. Great that it has multiple uses, you really get your money's worth."

Pros

  • Great cleaning results
  • Easy to use
  • Versatile
  • Comes with accessories

Cons

  • Some customers comment that it's a less high quality build than previous models

If you'd like to know more about the best ways to clean a patio, read our comprehensive guide.

FAQs

Will the results to my patio be instant?

Unfortunately not. Typically, you'll have to wait for a few hours before you can notice any difference. We recommend waiting a couple of days to truly see the full effects of your patio cleaner.

Does biodegradable patio cleaner mean eco-friendly?

The majority of patio cleaners available to buy are biodegradable, however this just means you don't need to do anything once they're dry, not that they are eco-friendly, so you should continue to ensure that the patio cleaner doesn't come into contact with live plants.

Kat de Naoum is a freelance writer, SEO specialist, author, mother, and bookworm. She has written for many magazines and media outlets including Mother&Baby, InStyle, Real Simple, Shape, Parents, Bust and The Debrief.

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