I’m a garden maintenance expert – my 23p trick will get your patio sparkling in an instant & there’s no jet wash needed
WITH the summer weather (hopefully!) just around the corner, people will soon be hosting friends and loved ones in their gardens.
But if your outdoor patio is looking a little worse for wear after the harsh weather conditions from the winter, then you're in luck...
That's because a garden maintenance expert has revealed a cheap hack to help get your outdoor space ready on a budget.
Whilst many may turn to a jet washer in a bid to get their patio glistening, the gardening experts have praised a 23p trick that'll do the job instead.
And perhaps the best part of all? You'll likely already have the products in your kitchen cupboards.
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous Digital, the gardening whizz at Clear Amber, comments: “For a sparkling patio, not only don't you need an expensive pressure washer, a pressure washer is actually bad for your patio.
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"My 23p trick involves using basic household items."
She then suggests mixing a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water, and adding a few drops of dish soap.
"The amount of both you need to use equates to as little as 23p and as much as 43p, depending on the brands you buy," the gardening guru explains.
She then goes on to share the method she swears by and advises pouring the mixture into a spray bottle, before generously applying to your patio.
"Let it sit for about 15 minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush and rinse with water," she explains.
"This method effectively removes dirt and grime, leaving your patio gleaming."
And the gardening whizz isn't the only expert to warn against using a pricey jet washer.
Fabulous previously spoke to landscaping expert named Claire Baglin, from Toolstation, who pointed out that while the gadget can speed up cleaning, there are some jobs where they should not be used.
Amongst them included painted surfaces, with Claire warning that the power of a water pressure can cause the paint to chip or peel or, at worst, strip away the paint altogether.
My 23p trick involves using basic household items
Garden maintenance expert
...the amount of both you need to use equates to as little as 23p and as much as 43p, depending on the brands you buy
She also advised steering clear of using a pressure washer to clean brick and mortar.
The landscaping pro explained that brick is a porous material and soaks up a certain amount of water, so too much of this water could cause the brick to crack as it dries out, weakening the structure.
How to get algae off fences
ABS Fencing shared a list of do’s and don’ts when it comes to cleaning green algae off your fence.
- Don’t use household mould or mildew remover sprays as these are generally intended for use on hard surfaces indoor.
- Don’t use bleach in the garden, it kills a lot more than the mould.
- Don’t try sanding back the top surface of the wood, as algae will just regrow back.
- Don’t bother with power hosing – that only opens up the timber grain and allows more water inside, making the problem worse down the line.
- Do use white vinegar mixed with hot water in a spray bottle and work it in with a brush, leave for 30 mins or more, then hose down.
- Do repaint when dry with good quality fence paint.