I’m a paving expert and this is how to clean your paving stones in time for summer

WITH SUMMER just around the corner, you might feel the urge to get back into your garden.

But after months of bad weather, your garden may not be looking its best.

While it may seem counterproductive to clean your paving stones, a good scrub now and again will make sure your garden keeps up appearances.

Moss, dirt and algae can build up over time, getting stuck in the crevices but luckily cleaning it out is a straight forward job.

Cass Heaphy, digital director at  compiled a four-step guide to help get your paving stones looking fresh for spring.

The first step, is to make sure you get rid of debris on the stones, so it's a good idea to get a sweep or leaf blower out.

Cass told the : "If you do find yourself with staining, then a water-based patio cleaner that actually lifts the dirt and grime out of the capillaries is a great option."

Next, it's time to wash your paving stones, soapy water and a brush will do the trick, but if you have algae or mould growing, you may need something stronger.

You can buy a specialist paving cleaning product or black spot and algae remover for stubborn areas.

He recommends thoroughly scrubbing in between the stones as this is where you are most likely to get algae build up.

Once your patio has been cleaned and dried, it's best to go in with a sealant.

Sealants are a great method to preserve your paving stones and prevent any further damage.

Cass said: “The solution to most of these issues is to enhance the protection of your paving with a sealant that protects the capillaries.”

“This will stop water and other gunk getting into them, especially in high footfall areas like driveways."

There are a variety of sealers on the market, one that can keep your paving stones looing natural or ones that enhance the colour.

Using sealant every couple of years will help extend the lifetime of of your paving stones, and stop mould and algae damaging the stones.

While many of us enjoy having garden furniture on our paving to prevent damaging the grass, it can lead to contact rust if you have metal furniture.

Cass explained that the best way to prevent rusting was to recoat the feet of your furniture or store them away in the winter to prevent staining your paving.

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