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We have a large concrete patio under a big maple and it gets really dirty. There are perennial borders and lawn around it, so I need to use something safe. I've heard baking soda is good. But - how do you rinse without squirting the baking soda all to the edges and then having it just sit there?
I thought about dispensing with the whole idea of rinsing and just getting something absorbent, like little sponge pieces, throwing them down, wetting them, then letting them bring dirt up and vacuuming them up. Sponges are expensive, but something with a sponge action, like those little white balls you see in potting soil (forgot what it's called). Would that work?
Am I on to something or would it just be a huge mess?
The easiest and fastest way to do it would be to rent a pressure washer from an equipment rental yard. They're very easy to use and you can probably do it with just water and no oher cleaning agent. (Hard to tell what kinds of stains, if any, you have on it.)
You just hook your garden hose up to it and fire it up. It has a hand held wand that you can turn on and off by squeezing the trigger. They come with assorted spray tips and you can pick the one you need depending on what you're cleaning and how tight of an area. The rental yard should have additional cleaning products IF you need them.
They'll show you how to operate it when you rent it. They're about the size of a power mower and have wheels. These machines run on gasoline.
If you're worried about your plants, you can tie them up and cover them while you're doing it.
It shouldn't hurt your lawn at all if you direct the spray properly...like start at the edge near the grass and work AWAY from it.
Until I bought one, I used to rent them for about $35.00 a day.
I bought my own when they went on sale a few years ago - electric, not gas, so does not have the power that the gas models do, but still plenty enough fo most tasks.
A word of warning about cleaning large concrete surfaces; Use the fan tip and DO NOT get too close to the surface. You will be able to write your name, and not be able to erase it. In other words, you can get a very narrow line extremely clean. By backing off, you can remove the dirt and grime evenly. There is a learning curve, but it is easy to master.
I used mine to remove the mold buildup on the bricks. First time I used it, was too agressive on the grout.
