The 13 best patio cleaners for every surface

If it's not already obvious from its name, the number one best-selling mould remover, Wet & Forget patio cleaner, requires very little manpower (and thinking) in order to rid your patio, drives and pathways of mould and algae. All you need to do is dilute it in water and throw it over the area you want to de-moss - there's nothing else to it.

For a universal patio cleaner that can be used on all types of surfaces, including concrete, wood and patio furniture, this five-litre detergent from Kärcher effortlessly removes dirt, soil, grease and oil from all your outdoor areas. It's Amazon's choice for the best patio cleaner for use in a pressure washer, too.

If you've got a weed problem, it's time for Patio Magic! This bestselling weed-killing detergent blasts weeds, mould, algae and moss from patios, driveways and masonry, as well as almost all other outdoor hard surfaces. It's biodegradable, long-lasting, antibacterial and doesn't contain any bleach or acids.

As a safer cleaning option for anyone with little children or pets running around — or even those with friendly garden wildlife or fishponds — the Algon Organic Path and Patio Cleaner concentrate will clean your patios and keep your mind at ease. What's more, you don't need to rinse it off, and its mould and algae deterring effects last for a whole year.

With absolutely no scrubbing required, the Jarder Spray & Leave not only gets rid of moss, mould and algae but also prevents regrowth and is totally safe for use around children and animals. In addition to patios, it can also clean decking, fencing, pathways, roofs, sheds, greenhouses, boats and any other outside surface that's susceptible to mould.

Getting rid of mould and moss might seem like a piece of cake compared to those stubborn black spot lichens that have appeared on your patio and driveway, but with the Smartseal Patio Clean Xtreme, even these monstrosities needn't be a bother. This thing gets right in those paving slab cracks and can restore patios and pathways to their former glory.

With more active ingredients than most other outdoor cleaning fluids, this patio cleaner has the versatility to perform on your patio, driveway, decking, fencing and more! It'll help revive your outdoor area (with hardly any effort required at all) and is all you need to keep your garden looking clean all year round.

For smaller pathways or patios of up to 30sqm, whether made from brick, tarmac, concrete or asphalt, this 2.5-litre Job Done cleaner is just the ticket. Stains, algae and dirt are eliminated, and your pathways will start to appear brighter and cleaner in just 10 minutes.

With its biodegradable and non-acid formulation, the economical Defenders Concentrated Path and Patio Cleaner can clean the muck off of brick, block paving, tarmac, concrete and stone surfaces. Being completely safe for use around pets, wildlife, and children, this cleaner might not last as long as some of the other more heavy-duty cleaners on our list, but it's worth it for the peace of mind.

Your patio floors are not the only place mould and algae grow; tiny gaps in patio furniture are prime fungus-growing spots that are notoriously laborious to clean. Luckily, Jeyes multi-usage cleaner has come to save the day. With its ready-to-use formula that will kill 99% of all bacteria and spray bottle, one satisfied buyer described this as a "great product, easy to use and great for cleaning dustbins and feeders."

You might be a bit apprehensive to use harsh chemical cleaners on your patio's wooden flooring or decking, as the wrong product could do permanent damage. The Roxil 100 Mould, Algae and Lichen Killer has been specially designed for wooden surfaces and has a non-destructive cleaning method. This means that your expensive decking will be totally safe and sparkling clean.

For non-sensitive flooring and surfaces such as concrete driveways, pavement slabs and stone, this heavy-duty JCB path and patio cleaner is a strong detergent that will leave nothing in its wake. "Within a couple of days, my mossy patio was totally clean," raved one happy shopper. "The heavy moss between the paving stones has died too and can be swept away. Didn't need to brush after applying; just sprayed with [the] high-pressure spray and left."

Amazon's choice for the best pressure washer is the Bosch EasyAquatak. It's lightweight enough to carry all-around your outdoor space while cleaning, easy to use, and surprisingly powerful for such a small machine. One user reported, "I used this to clean two very dirty patios with years of caked-on grime. It did an absolutely superb job," and another, who also used it for their patio and block paving, added, "I never used any chemical but the action of the high pressure did a really great cleaning job."