Best patio cleaner: 6 incredible solutions to use ahead of spring 2022

In search of the best patio cleaner to buy before spring is here? We totally get it, and our experts are here to help every step of the way. You want to ensure that the outdoor space that you probably use a lot – if not for gardening then for socialising – looks the part for when the sun starts to shine once more. 

A patio cleaner is also great for removing anything from slippery moss and algae to gross grime and even for banishing pet urine odours from your patio. You can also use patio cleaners on brickwork, driveways and pathways to give them a refresh, too.

We've found – and in some cases even tested in our own gardens – the best patio cleaning solutions on the market, so that you can rest assured that whatever you invest your money in will rescue your outside space.

Gone are the days of cleaning a patio being a chore as the majority of these buys need only be diluted (some even come already diluted!), then applied to your outside space and left to do their magic. You can, of course, make use of that pressure washer that's probably in your garage or shed collecting cobwebs, to make this job easier, but it's not essential. 

If you do own one of the best pressure washers, it might be a good idea to use this to give your patio a soak after using a cleaner. And for refreshing your furniture and more, ahead of the lovely weather we're keeping our fingers crossed to see in 2022.

The best patio cleaners to buy in 2022

If you don't mind diluting your patio cleaner rather than it being ready to use straight from the bottle, then a concentrate usually offers the best value for money. 

5L of Ultima-Plus XP green mould and algae remover creates 25L of cleaning product, giving you good coverage at an affordable price point. 

This patio cleaner also focuses on longer-term prevention of moss build-up, coating your paving in a protective residue that forms a barrier to prevent algae from growing back or up to six months. 

Cleaning your patio needn't take up too much of your time thanks to this best buy. This product does what it says on the pack; it's ready to use and you simply spray it on with a garden sprayer and walk away while it gets to work removing the green mould and algae. 

No need to dilute or mix, it's ready to go straight from the bottle for hassle-free cleaning. This does make it a little more expensive per volume than a concentrated alternative, but we think for the time and hassle you save it's well worth it.

We can't rave about this pet-friendly patio cleaner anymore. In fact, we've been buying and using it for months now and can confirm that it works wonders on banishing pet smells from your outside space. Plus, it comes in lots of refreshing scents to not only destroy bacteria but to make your garden smell actually quite pleasant. Our favourite is the delightful lemon scent and this fragrance lasts for quite a while. 

It's also worth us nothing that this cleaner can be used on pretty much any surface your pet touches, whether that be the floors inside your home or your patio. This makes it a gentle formula, so rest assured it won't hurt your pet, so long as you keep them away whilst it's still wet. 

To use this patio cleaner you need to dilute it. One 5L bottle can make up to 5,000 litres once mixed with water, so it's safe to say that this solution will be able to cover any area. 

You can use this cleaner one of two ways: for deodorizing only, or for killing bacteria and deodorizing. For the latter, you need to dilute it 4:1 and leave it on your patio for 10 minutes. You can reintroduce your pet to your patio once it's dry. It's really quite simple for such incredible results. We use it once a month or so, sometimes more frequently in the summertime. 

If you have a large patio area or driveway to clean then this concentrated patio cleaner offers some of the best coverage once diluted, with one 5 litre bottle covering up to 300m2 depending on the porosity of the surface.

Just mix one part Wet & Forget with five parts water, spray it on with a pump-action garden sprayer and then walk away and get on with other things while it works; no scrubbing or blasting with water required. 

Long-lasting and bleach-free, this patio cleaner has a long list of surfaces it's suitable for use on and is biodegradable with a PH of 8 (water is PH7). 

For the ultimate in hassle-free patio cleaning this ingenious Wet & Forget option has a built-in spray nozzle so you don't need a separate garden sprayer. 

Just attach your outdoor hosepipe to the top of the bottle and it will automatically mix the patio cleaner with the water, allowing you to spray up to 200m2 in just 10 minutes by using its fan nozzle.

It can spray up to 8 metres making it easier to reach those hard to get to areas, but you will pay more for the convenience, with this option coming in as the most expensive on our list. Worth it to cut down on time and elbow grease? For the time-poor amongst us, we think so.

An oldie but a goodie, Jeyes has been around for over 140 years, not only cleaning but disinfecting – something that’s become increasingly important to us after the last year. Jeyes was actually used to fight the great flu pandemic of 1918. 

As well as killing 99.9 per cent of germs, once diluted this concentrated product can be used to clean patios, paths and driveways, as well as for deodorising and cleaning drains, hygienically cleaning pet housing and outdoor tools, and in its newest incarnation it now removes limescale and rust build-up too.

However, this cleaner doesn't promise to remove moss and algae, so if you have tough patio to grime to shift rather than a quick clean-up to do, this might be a more labour intensive option.

How to apply patio cleaner

There are a number of ways that you can apply patio cleaner, depending on the size of your patio and the tools you have at hand.

The first method, and the method that most people will go for, is to dilute your patio cleaner as recommended and into a bucket that you have laying around. Then, just pour the solution on your patio, ensuring that you cover each part from corner to corner.

Next, it could be a good idea to buy a patio sprayer if the space you need to cover is somewhat sizeable – or you are less able to bend over or carry a heavy bucket. With a patio spryer, you can load the diluted solution into a tank and begin covering your outside space kind of like you would do whilst using a pressure washer, only with less... pressure!

Last but not least, some patio cleaners are safe to use with a pressure washer (always double-check!) to cover more area, and for a deeper clean. 

Choose a method that suits you, and buy a patio sprayer or paint washer below for the best prices.

How to choose the best patio cleaner?

Some patio cleaners require more effort than others and need to be scrubbed into the patio and then rinsed off. Others are spray and walk away. These can be applied and left to work on grime, mould and algae as it dries, leaving a protective coating that continues to keep the surface of your patio clean for months.

Check the ingredients 
Some patio cleaners are not suitable for use on materials like marble, or if they come into contact with some metals. Dilute as directed. 

If the cleaner contains acid, it may not be possible to purchase it if you are under 18. Dilute as instructed. Test on a small area of your paving if you are unsure how it will affect the patio material. 

Safety issues
Always follow the manufacturer guidelines for use and wear protective clothing and goggles when using patio cleaners as they contain harsh chemicals and acids. Take care in case of splashes and dispose of waste thoroughly after use to avoid harm to humans or the environment. 

Check the manufacturer's instructions carefully to find out whether your patio cleaner is safe for children and animals to play and walk on after use. Most patio cleaners are toxic to aquatic life; look for the warning on the back and avoid using near ponds.

Choose the best weather for cleaning 
If it looks like rain soon after you've finished, it may wash away your cleaner before it has dried. If the weather is scorching, it could evaporate too quickly.

Don't forget, there are tons more tips on how to clean a patio in our expert guide.