If you're lucky enough to have bluestone on your property - whether it's a walkway, patio, or other feature - you know that it's a beautiful and durable material. But like any stone, bluestone can get dirty over time. In this blog post we'll go over how you can clean even the most stubborn stains from your bluestone patio and landscaping features using Stain Solver, a safe and effective natural cleaner.
We'll talk about what bluestone is, why you should clean it regularly, how to use Stain Solver on your bluestone, and why Stain Solver is such an effective blue stone cleaner.
Let's jump into our guide on cleaning bluestone!
What Is Bluestone?
Bluestone is a natural stone made from sedimentary rock composed of sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone. Its distinctive look comes from its various shades of blue-gray that range from almost white to deep navy. It can look similar to granite, but with a different color profile.
Landscape architects often choose bluestone for outdoor projects, and for good reason! It's a great-looking durable material that is perfect for everything from patios to walkways. If you've ever seen a beautiful patio that has a lovely blue color, then you've seen a bluestone patio.
Why do I Need To Clean Bluestone?
Just like any other outdoor material, bluestone can be subjected to lots of abuse, whether that's from the elements, or lots of footfalls, regular maintenance is an important part of keeping your bluestone patio stones in good condition for years to come.
Over time, organic materials like leaves, dirt, and algae can accumulate on the stone and cause discoloration or staining that may be difficult to remove using just clean water and a broom. If left unchecked for too long these stains can cause discoloration and become set in, making it much more difficult to remove.
Part of the reason for this is that the paver joints (the cement in between the pavers) are porous and can trap in dirt and grime.
Luckily, you don't need to clean your bluestone patio too often to avoid this fate. Once or twice a year (in seasonal parts of the country we recommend once in the spring and once in the fall) is all that it takes to keep it looking like new.
Using a like Stain Solver will effectively remove any stains while still being gentle enough not to harm any delicate plants or cause discoloration of your stone. Regular cleaning prevents buildup of debris and will help keep your bluestone looking great for many years to come!
How To Clean Stubborn Stains Bluestone Patio Stones
Luckily, deep cleaning your bluestone is easy! There are a number of methods that you can try, but we have found that using Stain Solver and a scrub brush will get your patio clean and beautiful, without the need for pressure washing or other heavy equipment.
Step-by-Step Bluestone Cleaning Video
The Founder of Stain Solver, Tim Carter, made this excellent video detailing exactly how he uses Stain Solver to clean off a patio.
Step-by-Step Bluestone Cleaning Instructions
Here's a screenshot from the above video that shows just how dirty the patio was before Stain Solver. Check out the moss and algae that was growing between the pavers!
Here's the process that you should use to clean up your own patio so that it's ready for lots of outdoor entertaining and relaxing.
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Fill a five gallon bucket with a gallon of HOT water, the hotter the better here. Add one cup of Stain Solver, and stir until completely dissolved.
Note: Warm water is okay, but the hotter the water is the easier it will be to dissolve the Stain Solver.
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Prepare the patio. Use a broom to sweep the surface of any large debris and dirt. Make sure that the pavers and paver joints are dry to see the best effects.
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Apply the solution liberally to the affected area. You want to make sure that the entire patio gets wet with the Stain Solver mixture. Another option here is to use a garden hand pump to spray the solution on the patio.
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Let the mixture sit on the bluestone patio for anywhere between 15 minutes and a half hour, keeping in mind that the longer it sits, the more time it has to work! We recommend reapplying the solution if you see that it's evaporating off... if the pavers aren't wet they're not getting clean!
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Time to roll up your sleeves! Once you've let the Stain Solver soak, take a stiff bristled scrubbing brush, ideally one with a long handle, and scrub the patio.
Note: You can use pretty light strokes here, as the Stain Solver will have lifted the organic stains from the tile, and you're just doing the final bit.
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Use a hose to spray plain water over the whole area, rinse throughly, and let dry.
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Marvel at how effective Stain Solver is at removing stains from bluestone pavers, without needing a pressure washer, or harsh chemical cleaners!
Take a look at what a difference Stain Solver made on this patio!
As you can see, the pavers in the cleaned area look good as new, while the sections that haven't received the Stain Solver treatment are still looking rather gross.
Why Is Stain Solver Such a Good Blue Stone Cleaner?
Stain Solver works so well on blue stone because it uses a simple and safe chemical reaction, triggered when the Stain Solver powder is mixed with water. This reaction creates hydrogen peroxide, yep the very same hydrogen peroxide you have in your medicine cabinet.
When Stain Solver is mixed with water it releases billions of tiny oxygen bubbles. These bubbles are what do the cleaning, and lift stains, oil, mildew, and all sorts of other spills from your pavers.
But perhaps the best part about using Stain Solver is that it's safe to use around vegetation, which is especially important when you're doing outdoor cleaning around landscaping features.
It's a cleaning solution that works so safely because hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water quickly. Additionally, it's is much less corrosive than chlorine bleach and other chemical cleaners so it won't damage surfaces.
Final Thoughts
There you have it! Stain Solver is a super effective option for cleaning the bluestone pavers on your patio, and it's safe to use around all sorts of vegetation and plants.