Keep your space in shape with the best patio scrubbing brush

Using the best patio scrubbing brush to tackle unsightly grime in your patio or decking is a surefire way to keep your outdoor space in top condition. If you’re not looking to make a splash with a pressure washer, a manual, hands-on approach might suit you better. After all, we can’t see any reasons as to why you shouldn’t go back to basics. We’ve found the best outdoor brushes to help.

To help scrub your way to success, it’s likely that you’ll need a decent patio cleaner. No matter how big our decking or patio is, a patio cleaner will make this chore a little more bearable – and way more effective. We’re certainly not discounting your skills when armed with a brush, but an easy-to-apply patio cleaner will take minimal effort and with a scrub, will have fabulous results.

Best patio scrubbing brush at a glance:

• Budget patio scrubbing brush: Polyethylene Scrubbing Brush
• Best patio scrubbing brush: Karcher WB 7 Plus 3-in-1 Wash Brush
• Best sustainable pick: Dunelm Bamboo Broom
• Best versatile patio brush set: Hilka Paving Deck Patio Brush Set
• Recommended: Roughneck Patio & Decking Brush Set

Keeping your patio clean and tidy is something we strive to achieve. For all of us outdoorsy people, the patio is our go-to space to catch up with friends, play with the kids, relax, and even work during the warmer months. All the more reason to keep it looking its best. Something like a patio pressure washer may get the job done faster, but using a garden brush to tackle your filthy patio will make the end result feel much more deserved. Just like gardening by hand, it evokes a great feeling.

So, we’ve found the best patio scrubbing brush for your outdoor space. For those of us who prefer to rely on ourselves to get the job done – as opposed to some garden tech like a cordless pressure washer – a garden brush will do the trick. Though it may take a little more time to get the decking sparkling, you’ll be feeling all the better for it – and you’ve saved some dosh, too. Result.

Best patio scrubbing brush

VERDICT: What is the best brush for patio cleaning?

Our top pick is the Kärcher WB 7 Plus 3-in-1 Wash Brush as it combines three important functions into a single product. Saving you time, this brush comes with an integrated detergent tank for less faff refilling and is very versatile. Whether cleaning the patio, outdoor furniture or the hood of your car, this tool will certainly get the job done.

FAQs

How to use a patio brush?

Thanks to Deborah Eaton at Simply Paving, we have a guide on how to clean a patio – with your lovely (and new) patio brush. So, get scrubbing. After all, summer is here – and the unsightly grime on your patio is making an appearance after months of wind, frost and heavy downpours.

Before you start scrubbing, make sure to remove all furniture and brush any debris off your patio.

Apparently, you don’t need fancy products to clean a patio without a pressure washer, says Simply Paving, who claim that the “most effective patio cleaning products is good old-fashioned washing-up liquid mixed with warm tap water.” So, the method below doesn’t involve any patio cleaner.

Washing-up liquid method

Requirements: Bucket, warm water, washing-up liquid, hard-bristled brush

After adding washing-up liquid and warm water to a bucket, you need to start from the corners of your patio and work your way in. Simply “splash a little water, grab your brush and scrub,” says Deborah. Here, the dirt and debris will begin to lift as you rinse away as you go. She has a top tip on your scrubbing method: “scrub diagonally; this will be gentler on the jointing compound.”

Repeat this routine as you work your way into the centre, covering the entire patio. If your patio is a whopper, you may need to top up your solution a few times. When finished, you need to use a fresh bucket of clean water to “clear the dirty water away… into a drainage point.” Now, you must check between the slabs and add a jointing compound to your shopping list if any has come loose.

Lastly, wait for the patio to dry before popping the furniture back on.

Other methods

Could white vinegar be the most versatile cleaning compound out there? Quite possibly. Found in just about any supermarket, this solution is environmentally friendly, non-toxic and is not full of chemicals. You can use white vinegar instead of the washing-up liquid from the last method.

However, Deborah says: “you shouldn’t use this method on limestone pavers as the acid will permanently damage their surface.” If your patio is not limestone-based, then you need to mix a 1:1 ratio of warm water to white vinegar. This method involves pouring the solution over the patio slabs and covering them for 30 minutes to an hour. Then, follow this up with a bucket of clean water.

No scrubbing brush technique is needed, in fact. This is a budget pressure washer solution.

Aftercare

Simply Paving recommends cleaning your patio once a year and claims that a “small amount of maintenance… year-round” is great practice. Deborah suggests regularly brushing “your patio, especially during the autumn months” as this can prevent any leaves from causing displeasing stains.

They add: “You might want to consider a patio sealant. This helps to prevent weathering and is also effective at preserving the colour of patio slabs – a good option if you have recently laid dark slabs.”

What to read next:

Best electric pressure washers to tackle dirt and grime

Best Kärcher pressure washers for a powerful yard clean

Best pressure washers under £100

Piper Huxley is a Homes, Garden and Wellness Product Writer for Modern Gardens Magazine, an all-rounder. When she’s not writing about houseplants, she’s tending to her own growing collection…