Cleaning terrace tiles: this is how tiles in the garden get clean

Cleaning patio tiles is actually quite easy. However, means and methods should be tailored to the material so that the tiles are thoroughly cleaned without damaging the material. For example, wood needs to be treated differently than stone or ceramic tiles. Interested readers can find out here whether high-pressure cleaners or scrubbers are the right choice for cleaning tiles in the garden.

Preparation

Regardless of whether the terrace tiles are made of wood or stone, the terrace must be prepared accordingly before thorough cleaning. This includes the following points:

• Clear the terrace
• Remove coarse dirt such as leaves, branches and twigs
• Remove weeds from the joints with a joint scraper
• Pre-treat green coverings such as moss and lichen
• Check tiles for damage and weak points

Soda has proven itself for the pre-treatment of moss and lichen. Ideally, washing soda is used directly. Dissolved in water, it is applied generously to the affected areas and left on for about an hour. The tiles can then be scrubbed and rinsed.

stone and ceramic tiles

Stone and ceramic patio tiles are fairly easy to clean. They can be cleaned very easily with a high-pressure cleaner and pure water. However, cracks in the tiles and cracks in the joints can cause problems when cleaning with high pressure. The water can increase the damage. It is therefore important, as mentioned, to check the tiles in advance.

Damaged areas should be cleaned by hand and without high pressure and then repaired. In the case of very heavy soiling, it can also help to pretreat the patio tiles with soft soap or washing-up liquid before using the high-pressure cleaner. This loosens the dirt and makes it easier to remove afterwards.

wooden tiles

Wooden terrace tiles are more sensitive to targeted and selective pressure. Unnoticed cracks in the wood can cause individual parts to come off during high-pressure cleaning. Connection points and wood glue can come loose. It is therefore not recommended to use a high-pressure cleaner.

The easy way is to clean with soft soap, water and a scrubbing brush. A hand brush can also be used for tighter areas. As simple as this method is, it is also very tiring. An alternative to this is an electric scrubber. With this and a pre-treatment with soda or soft soap, the cleaning of the wooden tiles is much easier and the effort is reduced.

Click tiles made of wood and plastic

Terrace tiles with a plastic click system and a wooden or plastic overlay have many advantages. They are comparatively inexpensive, can be laid quickly and easily and, if necessary, removed from the terrace or balcony just as easily and quickly. If necessary, individual tiles can also be replaced.

Advantage

When cleaning the terrace with click tiles, these properties and the combination of materials result in both advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, large amounts of dirt accumulate in the joints and under the tiles. Experience has shown that leaves, soil, pebbles and dead plant parts appear in large quantities when the click tiles are removed. For a really thorough pre-cleaning, it is therefore not enough to sweep the terrace tiles. The joints should be vacuumed. It is even more thorough and cleaner if the tiles are clicked apart directly and the subsurface is cleaned separately.

Disadvantage

On the other hand, the click system made of plastic becomes brittle and brittle over time, which could cause damage when subjected to high-pressure cleaning. The same applies to the comparatively thin wooden slats that are screwed onto the plastic. While these are resilient under distributed pressure, they can crack and tear under targeted high pressure.

Clean

It is therefore better to clean the click tiles on the terrace or balcony as follows:

1. The tiles are separated from each other and already roughly cleaned of dirt.
2. The surface is freed from coarse dirt, such as leaves, twigs and soil, with a broom. It can then be cleaned with a scrubber or a high-pressure cleaner.
3. The click tiles themselves are first brushed dry. A bottle brush of appropriate thickness is recommended for grooves and joints.
4. Once all dry and coarse dirt has been removed, the tiles can be brushed or scrubbed wet. A mixture of soft soap, dissolved washing soda or washing-up liquid and water is recommended as a cleaning solution.
5. To prevent the terrace tiles from becoming stained by the cleaning agent, they should then be rinsed off well with clear water.
6. The tiles can be set up to dry or laid out again directly.

post-treatment

After cleaning the terrace tiles and when they are completely dry again, the ideal time has come for any after-treatment that may be necessary. If the tiles have been grouted, cracked joints and cracks can be repaired if necessary. A seal can be applied to stone tiles that has a dirt-repellent effect.

Wood preservatives can be used on tiles made of wood, which protect the natural material from penetrating moisture and prevent the resulting frost damage, reduce the risk of cracks and also warping and bending of the wood prevent.

Learn more about building a terrace