Landscape rocks can be a beautiful addition to your garden, but over time they can become covered in dirt, leaves, grass, or pine leaves. Luckily, there's a way to clean landscape rocks to look like new, and you can do this yourself! If the rock is small, clean it on a sieve so that the dirt falls. For larger rocks, use brushes or a pressurized water spray to remove stubborn dirt. If the rocks are really dirty, you may need to soak them in a mild acid solution before returning them to the garden.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using a Sieve to Clean Small Rocks
Step 1. Cut the wire mesh if you are only cleaning a small area
The easiest way to clean dirty landscape rock is to filter it using a wire mesh with a 1 cm wide grid. This is a wire woven into a net with a 1 cm hole, so stones will remain on top of the net, but dirt and small debris will fall. A sheet of wire netting with a width of 0.5 m x 0.5 m is sufficient.
If the size of the stone is smaller than 1 cm, use wire mesh with a grid of 0.5 cm wide
Step 2. Make a frame of wood and wire mesh with a 1 cm lattice for a larger amount of rock
Use 5 x 10 cm or whatever size you have and make a rectangular frame with a minimum area of 0.5 m². Then, use durable staples to attach the 1 cm lattice wire that has been measured to the width of the frame.
You can make the filter as big or small as you want. 0.5 m² is the minimum acceptable width for a project like this, but you can make a larger filter if you like. However, add a piece of wood for support along the bottom of the frame so the stone doesn't put too much weight on the net
Step 3. Place a tarp under the net to make cleaning easier
If you want an easy way to clean filtered dirt off the rocks, place a large sheet of tarpaulin under the filter. That way, when you're done, all you have to do is lift the tarp and pour the dirt wherever you want to throw it.
You can also place the netting over a large trash can, if you prefer
Step 4. Use a shovel to scoop the rocks onto the sieve
Once you are ready to clear the rocks, start on one side of the rock-covered garden area. Use a shovel to collect rocks, then pour them into a sieve. You can pour one more shovel of stones, but don't pour more than that as the weight can get very heavy in no time.
Don't dig the shovel too deep into the ground under the rocks as this will make things more messy to clean up later
Step 5. Shake the sieve or use a hoe to rake the stones over the sieve
If you're using a smaller filter, just swing it back and forth with your hands to filter out the dirt. However, if you are making a larger frame because you have to sift through a lot of rock, use a rake to stir the rock over the sieve. You'll see dirt and debris collect under the frame in no time.
If there is grass, twigs, debris, or other debris that is too large to filter through, pick it up by hand
Step 6. Place the rocks in separate piles or return them to their original place
There are two main ways to get rock back into place. You can put each rock shovel back in immediately after cleaning, or you can first collect all the cleaned rock and then spread it back over the landscape.
- While it's faster to return the rock immediately after cleaning, you may end up cleaning some of the same rock more than once.
- If you want, you can also clear a small area, then replace the rocks in that area before moving on to a new area. Experiment to see which one feels most efficient.
Step 7. Continue across the rocked landscape
Try working in a checkerboard pattern or from the outermost area and slowly working your way towards the center. That way, you can see which areas have been cleaned even if the stone has been returned to its place, because the stone will look cleaner and the next area will look uncultivated.
If there's too much rock to clean in a day, just clean one obvious area a day, then come back the next day to work on the next. Do this until everything is done
Step 8. Sweep or shovel any dirt that has accumulated under the filter
When you're done or when dirt has accumulated and is interfering with the filter, use a brush or shovel to scoop up the dirt, or just remove it when you've spread the tarp under it. Then, you can add the manure to the compost pile or garden, or just throw it away at will.
If you collect all the stones to scatter at once at the end, the dirt can be scattered back into the landscape area, and then place the rocks on top
Method 2 of 3: Washing Off the Dirt on the Cobblestone
Step 1. Scrub the stone with a brush to remove the dirt
Before you spray the stone, it is a good idea to scrub the stone vigorously with a brush. Work from one end to the other, scrubbing the surface of each stone.
- This will help remove any dried dirt on the surface of the stone and make cleaning easier.
- Even if the stone is rounded or has cracks in it, and is not smooth and flat like a concrete brick, scrub it as much as possible.
Step 2. Scrub the stone with water and a brush if it's not too dirty
If the stone only needs to be cleaned perfunctory, just rub it for a while. Moisten with water from a garden hose, then scrub vigorously with a brush or brushes. When finished, rinse with clean water.
- Attaching the sprayer to the end of the hose will make this job easier.
- If the rock is very dirty, you may need to clean it more thoroughly using a pressurized water spray.
Step 3. Use a pressure sprayer to clean the stone
Move away from the area to be cleaned and hold the pressure spray tip at an angle to prevent water and dirt from bouncing off your face. Perform movements such as sweeping from one end to the other. Spray cracks all over the rock, then the entire surface. This method will knock out even the most stubborn dirt.
- It's a good idea to wear safety gear, such as long-sleeved clothes, long pants, and safety glasses, as the pressure from the spray can sometimes splatter debris all over the place.
- If you don't have a pressure sprayer, you may be able to rent one from your local hardware store.
Tip:
If you live in a dry and dusty area, try cleaning with a compressed air spray. Prepare the spray on a windy day and direct it according to the gust of wind. Soil and sand will be swept away by the wind easily.
Step 4. Rub the stone with vinegar if there is mold or mildew
If you see a green or gray layer growing on the rock's surface, it's likely mold or mildew. To remove it, wet the landscape rock with white vinegar, then scrub it clean with a brush. When finished, rinse the rock with water from the garden hose.
If the fungus is stubborn, mix 50 ml (¼ cup) of bleach with 7 liters of water and pour it over the stone. Scrub until gone, then rinse with clean water. You may need to do this twice until the mushrooms are completely gone
Method 3 of 3: Total Cleaning with Bleach or Vinegar
Step 1. Shovel some of the landscape rock into a wheelbarrow or bucket
If the rock needs to be cleaned completely, take a shovel full and pour it into a sturdy wheelbarrow or large bucket. Don't get it too full because you should still be able to lift it.
- This is a great trick if you need to clean white landscape rock because the cleaning agent will help restore the color of the stone.
- This is also a good technique if you want to wash out smaller stones that might bounce off if you clean them with a pressure spray.
- If there are a lot of rocks, just clean the top layer of rock because the bottom one won't be visible anyway.
Step 2. Pour vinegar or bleach over the stone
White vinegar is a good choice because it won't damage the stone, but it's strong enough to remove dirt. However, if you are cleaning white stones, it is better to use a mixture of bleach and water. Mix 50 ml (¼ cup) of bleach with 7 liters of water and pour it over the stones.
- If you use bleach, put on durable rubber gloves before dipping your hands in the water.
- For very dirty rocks, soak them in the solution for about 20 minutes.
Step 3. Tilt the wheelbarrow and discard the vinegar or bleach
When you remove the acid solution, you will see dirt and debris washed away. Try to keep the rock at the bottom of the wheelbarrow or bucket when the solution is removed as the rock will still need to be rinsed.
Be careful when disposing of vinegar or bleach. Both of these ingredients can kill plants, even bleach is also harmful to pets and insects in the vicinity
Step 4. Rinse the stone several times with clean water
Fill the bucket with clean water, then throw it away, and rinse again. You may need to do this a few times to get the stone completely clean.
- Residues from bleach or vinegar can eat away at the stone over time.
- When you're done, you can return the clean rocks to their original place.
