Cleaning pavers is perhaps the last thing on anyone's mind when cleaning or remodeling a house. Pavements are the most neglected part of any building. A neatly maintained pavement adds to the beauty of the building and makes it aesthetically appealing.

When not cleaned for longer periods of time dust, debris, and weeds might crop up over the pavers. Weeds are unwanted plants that grow in the wrong place. They can grow anywhere and prove detrimental to other breeding plants in the vicinity.

Pavements are made of various materials like limestone, concrete, marble, cobblestone etc. Weeds spring up from the gaps between the stones and colonize the whole pavement if left uncleaned for extended periods of time. It is very rare to find weeds growing through the pavement.

Cleaning pavers is not a difficult task. With little planning and usage of proper materials you can clean the pavement all by yourself with little help from family members. Weeds can be pulled out with bare hands or using tools like hoe or spade. Care should be taken to pull out the weeds with their roots so that they do not grow back.

When pulling out weeds that are deep-rooted some of the sand might come out. Make sure that the empty spots are filled with sand again to prevent regrowth of the weeds. This is more important in dealing with stubborn weeds like Japanese knotweed or Mare' s tail that tend to grow up to a depth of about five to six feet beneath the ground.

After the weeds are removed the surface of the pavement must be cleaned with water. Weeds do not grow in places where there is regular vehicular movement and people frequently walk upon the pavement. Even after removing the weeds cleaning pavers should be done periodically to prevent regrowth and to ensure longevity of the pavement.

After removing weeds from the pavement it is essential to take measures that will prevent regrowth, especially in pavers, where there is no or little human or vehicular movement. This can be achieved by employing certain techniques. Cleaning pavers regularly using a brush with tough bristles will remove debris that has accumulated and also disturb any weeds that have resurfaced after cleaning.

There are a variety of chemicals available in the market to kill weeds. Weed killers that have been manufactured specifically for use in gardens and pavements can be used to kill existing weeds and also to deter emergence of new ones. Never use general herbicides to kill weeds as they might damage the pavement, adjacent lawn, and surrounding plants and trees.

Recently, weed preventers that retard the growth of weeds have been developed. They have to be applied to the pavement surface after it is cleaned. Simple surface weeds can be dealt with contact weed killers while deep-rooted weeds require more powerful systemic weed killers

Sealants can be applied to the surface after cleaning pavers. They ensure that the pavement joints remain intact and no stains are formed.