Can anyone recommend something really good for cleaning flagstones?

I've tried the garden-centre algae killers, vinegar, strong detergent, and I
don't possess a power-washer and don't really want to buy one just for this.

Is there anything strong and effective I can brush on and rinse off?

Thanks.

Barb

In article ,
"Barb" writes:
| Can anyone recommend something really good for cleaning flagstones?
|
| I've tried the garden-centre algae killers, vinegar, strong detergent, and I
| don't possess a power-washer and don't really want to buy one just for this.
|
| Is there anything strong and effective I can brush on and rinse off?

Sharp sand, a stiff broom and elbow grease. Seriously. They work.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

In article ,
says...

In article ,
"Barb" writes:
| Can anyone recommend something really good for cleaning flagstones?
|
| I've tried the garden-centre algae killers, vinegar, strong detergent, and I
| don't possess a power-washer and don't really want to buy one just for this.
|
| Is there anything strong and effective I can brush on and rinse off?

Sharp sand, a stiff broom and elbow grease. Seriously. They work.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

I use a stiff broom elbow grease and some washing soda in the water, just
applying the washing soda and rinsing will not remove the algae.
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

Call me lazy, but i use a jet washer, cost £100 but have used it for the past 2 years, to be honest, it does take time but really gets it clean and is good for the car too!

Mrcass

In article ,
MrCass writes:
|
| Call me lazy, but i use a jet washer, cost £100 but have used it for the
| past 2 years, to be honest, it does take time but really gets it clean
| and is good for the car too!

Well, since you insist :-) "You are lazy."

I never clean cars, except to sell them, and I haven't done that in
decades. Why should one bother with anything except the windows,
lights etc.?


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article ,
MrCass writes:

Call me lazy, but i use a jet washer, cost £100 but have used it
for the past 2 years, to be honest, it does take time but really
gets it clean and is good for the car too!

Well, since you insist :-) "You are lazy."

I never clean cars, except to sell them, and I haven't done that in
decades. Why should one bother with anything except the windows,
lights etc.?

We must have been separated at birth...

I'm sure we'll get replies from those who claim that the dirt adds weight
and drag, and affects performance. They are, of course, the same ones who
fit large spoilers and expect them to do anything below 70mph!

--
Jeff
(cut "thetape" to reply)

Nick Maclaren wrote:

I never clean cars, except to sell them, and I haven't done that in
decades. Why should one bother with anything except the windows,
lights etc.?

Because if you don't, small scratches from road detritus may go
unnoticed, and cause rust patches that ultimately destroy the car.

Assuming it's got any metal parts, that is.
--
Carol
"If you are allergic to a thing, it is best not to put
that thing in your mouth. Particularly if the thing is
cats." - Lemony Snicket _The Wide Window_

Barb wrote:
Can anyone recommend something really good for cleaning flagstones?

I've tried the garden-centre algae killers, vinegar, strong
detergent, and I don't possess a power-washer and don't really want
to buy one just for this.
Is there anything strong and effective I can brush on and rinse off?

Thanks.

Barb
I use Jif (Cif) scrubbing brush and elbow grease.
--
Pete C
London UK

On Sat, 26 Jan 2008 14:29:17 -0000, "Barb"
wrote:

Can anyone recommend something really good for cleaning flagstones?

I've tried the garden-centre algae killers, vinegar, strong detergent, and I
don't possess a power-washer and don't really want to buy one just for this.

You can hire them, or hire a man with one. The quickest and most
efficient, and only uses water.

Pam in Bristol

Pam Moore wrote:
On Sat, 26 Jan 2008 14:29:17 -0000, "Barb"
wrote:

Can anyone recommend something really good for cleaning flagstones?

I've tried the garden-centre algae killers, vinegar, strong
detergent, and I don't possess a power-washer and don't really want
to buy one just for this.

You can hire them, or hire a man with one. The quickest and most
efficient, and only uses water.


And electricity.

Yes, very good for cleaning any stone. Mind you, everything else will end
up filthy with the spray bouncing off - including the operator (been there,
done that, got the soaking wet clothes). But great fun on a hot day.

And it is also useful to clean the greenhouse at the end of the season. But
watch out that you use the spray only on glass. It will blast a hole
through plastic, particularly if it is brittle with age.

--
Jeff
(cut "thetape" to reply)

Last winter I left a large unopened bag of compost lying flat on the patio, when I moved it in the spring the slabs underneath were cleaned to the original state, I've been trying to work out why so that I can reproduce the effect over a large area.

On 26/1/08 21:58, in article , "Granity"
wrote:
[color=blue][i]
Jeff Layman;771840 Wrote:
Pam Moore wrote:-
On Sat, 26 Jan 2008 14:29:17 -0000, "Barb" lid
wrote:

Can anyone recommend something really good for cleaning flagstones?

I've tried the garden-centre algae killers, vinegar, strong
detergent, and I don't possess a power-washer and don't really want
to buy one just for this.-



Last winter I left a large unopened bag of compost lying flat on the
patio, when I moved it in the spring the slabs underneath were cleaned
to the original state, I've been trying to work out why so that I can
reproduce the effect over a large area.



The plastic killed off the weeds and prevented re-growth? A plastic coered
patio is unlikely to be a thing of beauty, though! ;-)


--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove weeds from address)
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'

On Sat, 26 Jan 2008 21:06:32 -0000, Jeff Layman wrote:

Yes, very good for cleaning any stone. Mind you, everything else will
end up filthy with the spray bouncing off

Not if you use one of the paving stone cleaning heads rather than a bare
lance. Less likely to rip any grout/cement out from between the flags as
well.

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

On 26 Jan, 21:27, "Dave Liquorice" wrote:
On Sat, 26 Jan 2008 21:06:32 -0000, Jeff Layman wrote:
Yes, very good for cleaning any stone. *Mind you, everything else will
end up filthy with the spray bouncing off

Not if you use one of the paving stone cleaning heads rather than a bare
lance. Less likely to rip any grout/cement out from between the flags as
well.

Oh... I miss that lance for cleaning my old stone pots. I have a
couple with very intricate sculptures of flowers and leaves. It's
impossible without it, unless I use a toothbrush!!!

Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Sat, 26 Jan 2008 21:06:32 -0000, Jeff Layman wrote:

Yes, very good for cleaning any stone. Mind you, everything else
will end up filthy with the spray bouncing off

Not if you use one of the paving stone cleaning heads rather than a
bare lance. Less likely to rip any grout/cement out from between the
flags as well.

I was cleaning paviers.

Although I haven't tried one, I doubt a cleaning head could deal with those
other than to stop spray, as they are too small. It wasn't too much trouble
to let them dry out and put down kiln-dried sand to replace that blasted
out.

--
Jeff
(cut "thetape" to reply)