A DIY expert shared how to tackle stubborn black spots on your patio with an inexpensive two-ingredient homemade mixture.
Sam Williams, DIY expert at SGS Engineeringrevealed how two common household essentials will leave your patio sparkling this summer — and there’s no need for a fancy pressure washer.
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According to the professional, the home remedy is so effective that your outdoor space will be ready to welcome guests in just an hour – so if you’re planning on having a barbecue this weekend, you better stay tuned.
shared the “easiest” and “effective” ways to clean paving slabs using only “home essentials.”
Talking to ExpressoSam said: “You don’t need any fancy products to clean a patio and one of the most effective cleaning tricks is to just use washing up liquid and warm water.
“All you need to do is put a tablespoon of dish soap in a bucket of warm water to make a soapy solution, pour it onto the patio, and then scrub with a stiff brush.”
For best results, the professional recommended rubbing in diagonal movements – according to him, this is less likely to damage the stones.
In the meantime, if you have trouble with black stains on your patio or driveway, the DIY expert advised trying white vinegar.
While this popular closet staple should be avoided on certain paving slabs, like limestone, the acidic content is great for removing tough stains, he explained.
Sam explained: “Combine water and white vinegar in a bucket at a 1:1 ratio and pour the solution over your patio and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour.”
When the time is up, the guru instructed to rinse with the hose.
Alternatively, if you don’t have vinegar on hand, Sam said baking soda is another great option.
This technique works particularly well if you’re hosting delicious barbecues this season and some of the grease has gotten on the rocks.
“However, it will only have limited effectiveness against algae and mold,” he warned.
If you have a pressure washer, it can of course do the job much quicker – but Sam recommended checking what pressure you’ve set the device at.
According to the professional, powerful jets of water can even cause damage to stones, so it’s best to try other tricks first.
Gardening work in July
The Sun’s gardening editor Veronica Lorraine has shared the tasks you need to tackle in your garden this July.
1. Prune wisteria
You should only prune wisteria twice a year – and July – or mid-summer – is one of those times. After flowering, cut the long side shoots to about seven buds, five or six leaves.
2. Remove the tomatoes
Your tomatoes should be really setting – so remove any non-flowering side shoots – and remove any leaves that are shading the tomatoes – this will give them maximum light and energy.
3. Keep weeding
Hand weeding and hoeing the surface of the soil will keep weeds under control.
4. Feed dahlias
To keep dahlias blooming until autumn, you should feed them weekly with a liquid fertilizer rich in potassium – which encourages flowering.
5. Keep plants dead
Keep deadheading your bedding plants and perennials – so they keep coming back for the season. With roses, be sure to get back to a set of five leaves, giving it the best chance of blooming again.
6. Check your pond
If you’re lucky enough to have a pond, make sure it’s free of algae, which can really bloom when the sun goes down.
7. Feed your lawn
Whether with liquid or granulated food. If you chose granules, try to remove them before the rain arrives, so they penetrate the soil.
8. Take care of strawberry plants
Cut the leaves off strawberry plants after picking them – leaving the top intact – which should help with next year’s fruiting.
9. Sow extra seeds
July weather is a great time to sow seeds as the warm soil and sun are great for germination. Try carrots, winter broccoli and other brassicas.
10. Move young plants into the ground
Place any young plants left in the greenhouse – such as zucchinis – in the soil.
If you still want to use the pressure washer, Sam advised moving furniture out of the way before starting at the top corner of the patio.
Here, you should hold the device at a 30-degree angle and spray the water diagonally across the patio, holding it well back to avoid damaging the stones.
One of the main benefits of choosing a patio over a deck is that you only need to clean it once a year, Sam said.
But with a little maintenance, he added, “you can maintain a consistently clean appearance year-round.”
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