Best patio cleaner: 6 top buys for a spotless patio

The best patio cleaner will make your patio look like new, removing algae and stains, while revealing the original colour of the slabs. Depending on how overgrown your patio is – and whether it's in the sun or shade – the cleaner will have quite a lot of work to do. 

The patio cleaners on our list are up to the task. Use your chosen patio cleaner with the best pressure washer for maximum results with minimum effort, although many of our top picks can just be left on to work over time. 

We've all been spending a lot more time in our gardens recently, so making a few simple updates just makes sense. Order a patio cleaner online and you can completely revamp your paving. And there's no need to be worried about the effects a patio cleaner has on the environment, as most patio cleaners are biodegradable.

The best patio cleaners

Although this Ultima-Plus XP Green Mould & Algae Remover is one of the most expensive ones on our list, what it costs in price, it makes up for in concentration, making it worth the outlay. Simply mix this patio cleaner with water and apply it to your patio late afternoon or early evening. You’ll also need to make sure the weather is forecast to be dry up to eight hours after you apply the solution to your patio, otherwise it’ll wash off before it has the chance to get to work.  

• Buy the Ultima-Plus XP Green Mould & Algae Remover

This Spray & Leave patio cleaner from Jarder is a much cheaper alternative to the Ultima-Plus but according to users, does a great job of clearing patios of unwanted algae. You can apply it neat to badly affected areas and spray on a solution of the cleaner to lesser affected areas. Apply it using a low pressure pump spray or watering can and leave for a couple of days to get to work.  

• Buy the Jarder Spray & Leave Cleaner

When quality is at the top of your agenda, this popular patio cleaner from Wet & Forget is probably one of the best you can get. Backed up by the thousands of five star reviews left on retailer sites, this very effective patio cleaner is suitable for removing algae and unwanted plant growth from a huge variety of surfaces, including asphalt, astro turf, gutters, fascia and even outdoor furniture.  

• Buy the Wet & Forget patio cleaner

Jet washing takes up a lot of time and effort but with Patio Magic! all it takes is a coat of solution and your patio is back to new in a couple of days. As with the other patio cleaners on the list, you can choose to apply this one using a low pressure hose or a watering can. Once the product has dried, it is broken down naturally in the soil so it doesn’t harm the environment – just do not use it near ponds or waterways.

• Buy Patio Magic! cleaner

Non-acidic, bleach-free and biodegradable, this Pro-Kleen patio cleaner is just as good as others on the list with regards to performance. It’s slightly less concentrated, which does make it cheaper, and you can also buy it as a ready-to-use spray for convenience. It can prevent the growth of mould and algae for six to nine months, leaving your garden neat and tidy for the entire summer.  

• Buy Pro-Kleen patio cleaner

Want to make sure that your pets are safe while you're cleaning your patio?  Algon Organic Patio Cleaner is pet safe, organic and biodegradable – in fact, it's so safe that you can walk on it straight after application. You will need to be patient with this product, leaving it on for at least a day (most people report the best results when it's left to work for three to four days); you will see white residue forming in place of the algae/dirt on your patio – simply wash off with a brush or pressure washer. Can be used on tarmac, block paving, and real stone. 

• Buy Algon Organic Patio Cleaner

What is the most effective patio cleaner?

The best patio cleaner for us is the Ultima-Plus XP Green Mould & Algae Remover, which is ultra concentrated so it should last for many seasons, and you can use it on decking, fencing, paths and driveways to transform your garden in time for summer.

Click to shop the Ultima-Plus XP Green Mould & Algae Remover at its cheapest price now.

Patio cleaners and pressure washers: does one need the other?

The truth is that the days when using a patio cleaner needed a pressure washer as standard are over. Most modern patio cleaners can simply be applied and left to do their work, and the next rain will take care of the rest. The only situation where a pressure washer is required is where the patio cleaner is quite strong and you don't like the smell lingering (or the idea of your pets walking over it). Sometimes there's also so much of an algae buildup that you will need two applications of the cleaner to see results. Other than that, an application with a brush or stiff broom is enough for most patios.

Biodegradable vs. eco-friendly patio cleaner: what's the difference?

Patio cleaners are often made from strong stuff, so it's important to know what you're using in your garden. Most patio cleaners sold nowadays are sold nowadays are biodegradable: this simply means that you don't need to do anything extra to make them safe once dry. It is important to know that this does not mean they're eco-friendly: most are harmful to aquatic life and shouldn't come into contact with live plants. So, if you have a pond, for example, you might want to go for a true eco-friendly patio cleaner such as the Algon.

How to prevent algae from growing on your patio

If you feel like you're fighting a losing battle with algae on your patio, you will need to up your cleaning regime. You don't need to use a cleaner every time, though: what you really need is a stiff brush or broom, and to brush away dead leaves very thoroughly. Algae feed on decomposing organic matter, so keep your patio debris free. 

• Find more garden ideas at our dedicated page

MORE WAYS TO KEEP YOUR GARDEN CLEAN:

• Got a deck? You might need the best deck cleaner, too, then
• Transform your outdoor space with our patio ideas for perfect summer lounging 
• Invest in a new garden parasol this summer