How to Polish Slate Pathways

Over time slate tends to lose luster.

Slate path walkways give interesting effects to a home or garden. While slate is rugged and comes in a variety of colors, over time and with use slate tends to lose some of its luster, the primary causes being dirt and mold. Both can be removed, however, to restore the beautiful shine the slate originally possessed. Slate cannot be polished with a chemical compound; it must be scrubbed with a green pad because it is a metamorphic rock created from shale.

Things You'll Need

• Hose
• Bucket with mild detergent
• Green scrub pads

Instructions

1. Spray the slate with a coat of water. If the sun is out, you may have to do this a couple of times as you move along the path.

2. Squirt a few drops of dishwashing detergent into a bucket and fill with water. Scrub the slate with a green pad dipped in the solution. Green pads works well on dirt and fungus growth. Only clean a few tiles at a time before rinsing, so no tiles dry with detergent on them.

3. Rinse all of the tiles when finished. If you are doing a garden path, or there is grass close to the path, rinse for about 15 minutes to dilute detergent so it will not harm plant life.

Tips & Warnings

• This is a hands and knees job, so you may want to have a good pair of knee pads.

References

• "Driveways, Paths and Patios: A Complete Guide to Design, Management and Construction"; Tony McCormack; 2006