Now is the time to give your patio a good clean to get it ready for the winter. Giving it a clean now also reduces the risk of any mildew growth forming on the slabs. Patios, as with most things, will require some maintenance to keep them looking their best.

Remove all of the furniture and plant pots so that you have a clear space ready for work. It will then need a good sweep or a blow over with a blower first to get the area ready for cleaning. There will be leaves and debris to remove that have accumulated over the autumn when the leaves start to drop.

Next give your patio a good scrub, either by hand with soapy water and a hard brush, or you can use a pressure washer.

A pressure washer is good for removing any stains or spots from your patio but make sure that you have the level set correctly and not too high as this could cause damage to your slabs and potentially blow out your grout causing stability issues to your paving.

Hold at a slight angle about 12 inches from the surface and use the fan spray rather than the jet in a diagonal movement across the paving. Test the pressure first on a paver that is out of the way or in a corner.

Always wear safety googles when using a pressure washer to protect your eyes from flying debris. Waterproof clothing is also a good idea if you have some to hand as you will get wet!

Finally go over the area one more time to rinse away any residue or cleaner from the slabs. Leave to dry for 24 hours.

Continue to keep the area clean throughout the winter by sweeping regularly to maintain your paving.