How to Restore Concrete Pavers

Clean and Restore

• 1

  Pull up any grass or weeds growing between the pavers with your hands.

• 2

  Spray the pavers down with a garden hose.

• 3

  Connect the garden hose to a power washer to remove touch dirt and grime. Keep the power washer nozzle 8 to 20 inches from the surface of the pavers when spraying to avoid moving too much sand from between the pavers. Spray the pavers in short, even strokes -- spraying one small section at a time.

• 4

  Spray a paver cleaning solution on specific stains on the concrete pavers. Allow the solution to sit there for 10 minutes.

• 5

  Rinse away the cleaning solution with a pressure washer. If there are still stains left on the pavers, see Section 2 for removing specific stains before proceeding with Step 6.

• 6

  Brush the sand back in between the pavers, if needed, with a utility broom after the pavers have dried.

• 7

  Pour sealant in a paint pan. The use a paint roller to roll the sealant over the concrete pavers to prevent color fading and future stains.

Remove Specific Types of Stains

• 8

  Place a poultice soaked with denatured alcohol on the pavers to remove caulking and chewing gum. Allow the poultice to sit for 10 minutes. Remove the poultice, and then rinse the area with hot water. Spray the area with paver cleaning solution and allow it to sit for 10 more minutes. Rinse the detergent away.

• 9

  Tap a chisel to remove hardened substances from the pavers like mortar.

• 10

  Spray muriatic acid on the paver to remove rust stains. Muriatic acid is dangerous to the eyes, skin and lungs. Wear protective gloves, long sleeve shirt and eye wear. Follow the manufacturer's directions to dilute the acid with appropriate amount of water and apply the product. Then rinse it away with the power washer.

• 11

  Pour liquid dishwashing detergent on the pavers to remove blood, ketchup, food stains or grease from food. Allow the detergent to sit for 20 to 30 minutes, and then rinse with hot water.

• 12

  Scrub the pavers with water, detergent and scouring powder to remove tire skid marks.