How To Clean Hardscape | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House mason Mark McCullough shows host Kevin O’Connor how to remove organic stains from hardscape like bluestone and limestone blocks and pavers.

Mark McCullough teaches host Kevin O'Connor how to clean stains from stone surfaces like limestone and bluestone. After explaining some of the older methods, Mark shows Kevin the procedure for lifting stains from these stones with muriatic acid to bring them back to life.

Stone is one of the toughest landscaping materials, but the fall and winter can be hard on it. Leaves that deteriorate on porous stone surfaces can leave stains, and mildew can grow in damp areas. The good news is those stains don’t have to be permanent, and mason Mark McCullough shows host Kevin O’Connor just what to do about them.

Difficulty: ⅕
Cost: Around $50
Time: One day

How To Clean Hardscape
1. For smaller stones and bricks that can be removed from the landscape, prepare two tubs: one with water and the other with the stone cleaning solution, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Pre-wet the stone. Place the stone in the water tub and dip the brush in water to wet and scrub the stone. For hardscape materials that are large or stuck in place, use a garden hose to wet the entire surface of the stone. This will prevent the cleaning solution from damaging the stone while it lifts the stains.
3. Apply the cleaning solution to the stone. For smaller stones, place them in the other tub and apply the solution to the surface with the stiff bristled brush. For large stones, dip the brush into the washing tub and apply the solution directly to the stone. Allow the solution to react with the stains for a minute so it can lift them from the stone’s surface. Then, use a clean brush and fresh water to wash the cleaning solution away. Heavy-scrubbing is not necessary.
4. Repeat the process if the stains aren’t completely gone.

Where to find it?
Mark demonstrates techniques for cleaning up driveways and walkways after the winter. Although,
common household items like baking soda and vinegar can handle some hardscape stains, Mark

There are also masonry cleaners available made to target specific issues such as rust and efflorescence.


Materials:
Water

Tools:

About Ask This Old House TV:
From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

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How To Clean Hardscape | Ask This Old House

[jomangeee]

I've been watching this show for about 20 years, seeing hosts age makes me reflect about myself, a lot!!

[Guardducks]

Mark was an excellent addition to the team. Thanks Mark. 👍🏼

[noracharles]

I love the algae on the stone, as well as moss. Not on anything I might slip on.

[rhiannonsullivan]

Personally, I'd stick with vinegar and baking soda for hardscape cleaning. The other stuff might be "user-friendly", but doesn't sound environmentally- or health-friendly.

[VinMan]

Play it at half speed and its like two drunk hippies

[oldfart]

Wish he had shown the clean up of the bricks that he showed the before picture of

[cmputer]

2:20 played at half speed is two stoners high as a kite doing a science experiment.

[seang]

If we ever colonize Mars we should totally send in the Old House crew in first. These people seem to know everything!

[jetg]

It would have been nice if you did it outside on a patio on a large scale what about the grout between the stone

[debb]

What are the products? Who makes them?

[celestineevans]

You go great results.
🎉
Do you think that your products work on a wall mounted Water Fall that is dry, rusty looking with black streaks from winter rain ?

[davedalane]

Would l put white vinegar and baking soda in a spray bottle?what would the ratio be?

[brucebenson]

Can I add this to a power washer? What a about grass or other vegetation around the pavers? Is it harmful to pets? Questions I would have liked Kevin (producers) to ask.

[g.e.boroush]

Personally, I'd rather see the lesson, outside, on real hardscape in the yard, using vinegar and/or baking soda. I hate ending up with big empty plastic jugs that go to recycling but don't, in actuality, get recycled. I give this video a C. Let's do better.

[TechmattOfficial]

Pressure washer will take care of it. And it’s free

[markhabeck]

A block wall with moss on it what to use to get rid of and be plant safe?

[ryanroberts]

Don't you just love how they only vaguely talk about whatever product they are using, and don't say a word about where to get it, what you should get, or how much it cost.

[MrFrankcoughlin]

TOH policy of not making recommendations about products and tools is outdated and frustrating. You actually tape over the brand of the limestone cleaner. Strange. You are experts not gods, and if you make a recommendation about a particular product, so don’t worry too much about the “impact” your recommendations may have on your viewers. People are adults and can balance your recommendations against recommendations about other products and against their own experiences. Plus, Mark is probably the best things that’s happened to this show—a true pro. DIYers like me would love to hear specific brand recommendations from someone like him. Further, the fact that you turn the bottles away from the cameras is irritating. The way you handle brand issues is also inconsistent and weird—festool and carhart are ok but other tools and brands need to be covered.

[shanew]

And what about the plants and paint on your siding, etc. lol

[marshall]

Does Kev seem off here to anyone else?