How to clean stone garden ornaments
Stone garden ornaments can be a charming addition to a garden. They add interest in the warmer months, amidst your plants and flowers, and in the winter, when nothing is blooming, they keep the garden visually appealing. However, winter can cause weather damage, and when it is warm, moss, algae, and black lichen can grow on your garden décor, making it necessary for you to restore the beauty of stone statues and other ornaments. What is the best way to clean stone garden décor after winter storms or summer organic growth? Here, we will discuss some easy methods to clean and maintain garden stone ornaments, restoring their charm and making sure they enhance your garden for many years to come.
Step-by-step guide to cleaning stone garden ornaments in the UK
The good news is, it’s not difficult to restore garden ornaments to their original appearance. Patio Black Spot Removal Company, based in the UK, offers this guide to help you.
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First, gather your supplies. You will need a hand sprayer (750ml-3 litre), a garden hose or watering can, and Stone King - Ornamental and Gravestone cleaner. Avoid acidic products. Even natural cleaning solutions for stone ornaments, like vinegar, can be too harsh for stone garden ornaments and can cause discolouration and damage. It is also wise to have gloves to protect your hands and face protection on windy days.
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Next, remove any loose dirt and debris. If you are wondering how to remove moss from stone statues, a soft bristled brush may be your best bet. The important thing is to be very gentle so that you do not scratch the surface of the stone. A toothbrush can be useful for particularly small or hard-to-reach crevices. If you decide to use a pressure washer, be extremely careful!
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Once the loose dirt is removed, pour the Stone King into your sprayer. Build up the pressure in the sprayer and lightly apply the product to the ornament. If there are areas of stubborn dirt or stains, pay special attention to those areas. Some retreating may be required.
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Knowing how to remove algae from stone statues is different from cleaning away dirt. If there is algae on your stone garden ornaments, this will disappear within 10 minutes of application of Stone King. After 10 minutes, reapply Stone King and leave the product for a further 45 minutes before washing off.
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Rinse the whole ornament. Once the colour has been restored, algae removed and black lichen spots removed, rinse the ornament with your hose of watering can.
If what you are cleaning is very heavy or large, you can use a pressure washer on a low setting to rinse it more quickly.
Dry and polish the stone. Let your item air dry completely.
Maintaining stone garden décor
After you have learned how to restore the charm of stone birdbaths and statues, and you have worked so hard on your outdoor stone ornaments, you will want to keep them looking good so that you don’t have to keep doing this chore. Some people use a stone sealant to accomplish this, but this is a mistake. First, natural stone needs to remain unsealed so that it can breathe. While there are sealers that are microporous, this makes it easier for organic growth to take hold. There are no sealers that will keep organic materials from forming on stonework, but using the Patio Black Spot Preventer can prevent black spots from lichen spores, as well as red and green algae. Use this once a year. Patio Black Spot Preventer will slow down moss growth and turn it brown within a few days, helping maintain the finish.Â
When you need help cleaning stone garden ornaments, contact us
We hope this garden ornament cleaning guide was helpful. Cleaning garden stones and statues can be an arduous task, but having the right products and expertise can make it much easier. Black spots on garden statuary, patios, and pathways are unsightly and difficult to remove, and that is why the Patio Black Spot Removal Company was created. When your previously beautiful stone is covered in black spots that ruin its look, you may try pressure washing and acid-based cleaners, only to find that these tactics can permanently damage the stone, as well as the plants in the surrounding area. The reality is that these black spots are spots of black lichen, the result of spores carried by the wind that have rooted in your stone, where they feed off minerals and grow to find more. Our biodegradable, acid-free products are the result of expertise gained from over 40 years in the stone cleaning and restoration industry, and they are safe to use around your plants and your pets. With Patio Black Spot Remover and Patio Black Spot Preventer, you can restore the natural colour to your stone and maintain the spotless finish you have achieved. Shop online, pick up our products at top garden centres throughout the UK, or if you are not interested in DIY cleaning of stone garden statues, contact us to have the work carried out for you.
