How to Clean Garden Stones: A Comprehensive Guide
Garden stones can add a touch of natural beauty to your outdoor space. However, over time, they can become stained, discoloured, and covered in microbiological growth such as algae and moss.
In order to keep your garden stones looking beautiful, proper cleaning and protection are essential to maintain their appearance and longevity.
Cleaning Your Garden Stones
To effectively clean your garden stones, we offer a range of products that can remove microbiological contaminants, clean oil and grease stains, and keep your garden stones protected:
GK Greener Kleener
Greener Kleener is an effective disinfectant that eliminates 99.9% of bacterial growth, removing mould, lichen & algae. It eliminates biological contaminants within minutes of application and breaks down algae, fungi and moulds over time with cycles of sun and rain.
Greener Kleener is extremely easy to use and free from bleach, caustic and acidic chemicals. With a virtually neutral pH of 6, you have no worry about the long-term effects on children or pets, merely keep them away from treated areas until dry.
Greener Kleener is a natural surfactant cleaner, so will foam vigorously when applied by brush or spray, this is a great indicator to ensure all areas are treated. It can be used on almost any hard substrate as Greener Kleener does not contain any harsh chemicals that many bleach-based cleaners incorporate. If used as instructed it will not oxidise or negatively impact your stone.
Key Features
Advanced Disinfection and Cleaning: Greener Kleener is a powerful solution that eliminates 99.9% of bacterial growth and effectively removes mould, lichen, and algae, ensuring a thorough and efficient cleaning process.
Fast Acting: The formula acts swiftly, eradicating biological contaminants within minutes of application and continues breaking down algae, fungi, and moulds naturally over time.
Easy-to-Use Formula: This user-friendly product is easy to apply with no specialised equipment required. You can use a garden sprayer or apply with a brush.
Bleach-Free and Environmentally Friendly: The formula is free of bleach, caustic, and acidic chemicals, making it safe for use and environmentally friendly. It poses no long-term risks to children or pets, with a virtually neutral pH of 6.
Shortened Maintenance Cycles: After the initial application, maintenance cycles become significantly shorter, making it convenient for regular cleaning and upkeep.
Versatile Application: With its natural surfactant cleaning action, Greener Kleener foams vigorously when applied by brush or spray, ensuring comprehensive treatment. It can be used on almost any hard substrate without negatively impacting surfaces or components.
Application Guidelines
For heavy soiling - dilute 2:1 with water. For light-medium soiling - dilute 3:1 with water.
No specialised equipment is necessary for the application of Greener Kleener – a garden sprayer or brush will suffice. However, during application, it is crucial to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). We strongly recommend the use of protective gloves and, as a minimum requirement, eye protection or face protection.
Dilute: Mix with water according to the instructions (usually 2:1 or 3:1).
Apply: Spray or brush the solution onto the affected areas.
Dwell Time: Allow the solution to work for a few ideas, ideally overnight.
Rinse: Rinse thoroughly with water.
GK Black Spot Remover
GK Black Spot Remover is a premium solution designed for the effortless removal of black spots, discolouration and microbiological contaminants on porous surfaces. Tailored for use on stone, render, block paving, and concrete, this high-performance cleaner can revive surfaces marred by those stubborn black stains.
GK Black Spot Remover uses a thixotropic, slightly viscous, and non-penetrating liquid composition and boasts a unique alkali formula enriched with wetting agents. This blend targets both organic and non-organic staining with precision, ensuring a thorough cleaning that leaves surfaces free of unsightly blotches and marks.
GK Black Spot Remover thins when agitated, allowing for optimal contact with surface contamination. Its non-invasive nature also allows for an extended on-surface dwell time (up to 24 hours), meaning the solution has ample time to work its magic.
Key Features
Thixotropic Formula: A unique alkali blend with wetting agents for effective removal of both organic and non-organic staining.
High-Performance Cleaning: Targets black discolouration and microbiological contaminants on porous surfaces, including stone, render, block paving, and concrete.
Agitation Response: Thins when agitated, ensuring excellent contact with surface contamination. Non-invasive with extended dwell time for active ingredient effectiveness.
Versatile Application: Can be used before or after GK Pro biocidal treatment, or as a stand-alone treatment.
Application Guidelines
There is no need to dilute as this product is ready to use.
Compatibility Check: Always conduct a compatibility and performance test on a small surface area before applying to the entire section.
Surface Preparation: Remove loose dirt, moss, and debris using a broom or firm bristle brush to ensure optimal adhesion.
Temperature Range: Ideal application temperature falls between 10⁰C and 30⁰C for optimal results.
Dwell Time: The longer GK BSR is allowed to work (up to 24 hours), the brighter the surface will appear.
Surface Moistening: Slightly wetting the surface before application may enhance the effectiveness of the process.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): During application, it is essential to wear appropriate PPE, including protective gloves and eye/face protection as a minimum requirement.
GK Oil Out
GK Oil Out is an oil-ingesting formula for removing unsightly petroleum-based oil and grease stains from stone.
GK Oil Out is a concentrated formula that pushes oil out from deep within the pores. It removes contamination without leaving a residue. Ideal for stubborn hard-to-remove grease and oil stains.
Simply apply a saturated coat to the affected area using a garden sprayer or apply directly on to the substrate. Leave the product to work for up to 1 hour depending on the level of staining. Remove from the surface using hot water or a jet wash. Repeat the process If staining is still evident until the area is free of contamination.
Key Features
Oil-Ingesting Formula: GK Oil Out is specially formulated to ingest unsightly petroleum-based oil and grease stains, making it highly effective for removing stubborn contamination on various surfaces.
Ready-to-Use: GK Oil Out is ready to use, eliminating the need for dilution.
Versatile Application: Ideal for use on driveways, patios, natural stone (including marble), block paving, concrete substrates, and wood, offering versatility for different surfaces.
Easy Application: Simply apply a saturated coat to the affected area using a garden sprayer or apply directly to the substrate, making it a user-friendly solution.
Fast and Effective: The formula works quickly and efficiently, providing fast and effective results in as little as 1 hour, depending on the level of staining.
Coverage: Offers excellent coverage, with approximately 4 - 6 m² per litre depending on the porosity of the surface.
Surface Compatibility: Will not damage natural or sensitive surfaces such as marble or granite, making it a safe choice for various materials.
Non-Caustic: A non-caustic solution, providing powerful cleaning without harsh effects.
Water Rinsable: Easy to rinse with water, facilitating the clean-up process.
Low Odour: Features a barely perceptible odour, ensuring a more pleasant user experience.
Neutral pH: With a pH of approximately 7 (neutral), it maintains a balanced composition.
Application Guidelines
Surface Preparation: Before application, make sure to shake the container thoroughly to guarantee optimal performance. Always conduct a test on a small, inconspicuous portion of the substrate to confirm the final result meets your satisfaction.
Apply: For application, either use a garden sprayer to apply a saturated coat to the affected area or directly onto the substrate. Allow the product to work for up to 1 hour, adjusting the duration based on the severity of staining.
Wash: Once the product has had sufficient time to act, remove it from the surface using hot water or a jet wash. If staining is still evident after the initial application, repeat the process until the area is completely free of contamination. This comprehensive approach ensures a thorough and effective cleaning process for your desired results.
GK Invisible Stone Sealer
GK Invisible Stone Sealer is designed to penetrate, seal and protect natural stone and concrete paving. Virtually invisible once applied, it allows the stone to "breathe" whilst protecting it from all manner of substances, such as cooking and engine oils, grease and fat, food, ketchup, mustard & beverages such as tea, coffee and wine.
GK Invisible Stone Sealer has been developed using a short chain per-fluorinated polymer technology and is a major step forward in stone and concrete sealers. Suitable for internal and external use.
Providing a waterproof, breathable, transparent, durable seal which can be used on all natural stone including polished concrete and sensitive materials like honed granite and marble as well as block paving.
Key Features
Invisible Shield: Virtually unseen once dry, the sealer creates a transparent yet durable shield.
Breathable Protection: This product allows the substrate to breath, ensuring optimal air exchange while delivering a high level of penetration.
Versatile Use: Suitable for internal and external applications, it provides a waterproof seal, making it ideal for a wide range of surfaces, including polished concrete, honed granite, marble, and block paving.
Repellent Properties: Offers excellent repellency against oil, grease, and water, ensuring your surfaces remain pristine against common stains and spills.
Anti-Stain Properties: Boasts superb anti-stain properties, maintaining resistance against dirt, grime, moss growth, algae, and other natural contaminants.
Environmentally Friendly: Composed of a 100% water-based formula, GK Invisible Stone Sealer is environmentally friendly and devoid of toxic substances, ensuring safety during application.
Extended Coverage: With an approximate coverage of up to 40m², it caters to various levels of porosity in natural stone, providing an effective and unseen layer of protection.
Application Flexibility: Designed for ease of use, the sealer is applicable by brush, long pile roller, or low-pressure spray. Its water-based formula ensures it remains safe on delicate surfaces.
Application Guidelines
This product requires no dilution.
Preparation: Before applying GK Invisible Stone Sealer, conduct a small test on an inconspicuous area to ensure satisfactory results and calculate consumption. Ensure the surface is clean, dry, and free from dirt, mould, and algae.
Apply: Shake the container before use and conduct another small test for satisfactory results. Apply a generous, even coat with a brush, long-pile roller, or low-pressure spray until saturation. Mop up excess product to ensure an even application. For porous surfaces, apply additional coats while the previous coat is still wet, with one to three applications recommended for deeper penetration.
Finish: Remove excess product with a clean microfibre cloth to prevent dirt pickup.
Final Thoughts
Cleaning your garden stones and protecting them from future contamination can be difficult. At GK, we have a range of products that are perfect for removing stubborn biological growth, oil and grease stains and discolouration. We can also help you protect your garden stones for the future.
