IT ruins the look of your patio and can also be dangerously slippery.
Moss in between your paving slabs is a problem many of us have to deal with, and is notoriously tricky to get rid of.
However, one expert has revealed there’s a £1.50 household product hiding in your cupboard that can do the job without damaging your lawn in the process.
“Using laundry detergent is a cheap and effective solution,” Steven Bell, Managing Director of Paving Shopper, said.
“There’s no need for scrubbing as rainfall will naturally assist in the process.
“Simply sprinkle the laundry detergent over the dry moss-covered area and let the rain wash it away.”
Due to this, it’s a good idea to try out the hack when rain is forecasted.
As well as being “straightforward”, the pro added that it’s also environmentally friendly “as it doesn’t harm the surrounding lawn or plants”.
Moss is a common problem in for many, and thrives on wet weather – meaning it’s particularly bad in the UK.
Airborne particles of dust and dirt can also accumulate and gather in the sand between the paving slabs, creating an ideal breeding ground for moss.
Using detergent means the moss is also unlikely to grow back.
“I’ve used a box of biodegradable washing powder on a large moss-covered area, simply sprinkled it over and left it,” Bell added.
“That was two years ago, and the moss hasn’t returned!”
The hack won’t work immediately, and can take a few days to fully kill the moss.
Or, for a more direct approach, you can mix the laundry detergent with water and spray it over the moss.
Once the moss indicates it’s dying by changing colour, rinse off the area with warm water and finish things off by using a stiff brush to brush away the remaining moss.
“This method is not only cost-effective but also prevents damage to paving surfaces,” he continued.
“Plus, it’s a method that’s safe to use around lawns and plants.”
Other household remedies that are known to help banish moss include table salt – which draws the moisture out of moss cells via osmotic pressure.
Simply sprinkle it generously over the slabs and scrub with a brush.
Or you could try white vinegar, the acidity of which disrupts plant photosynthesis and breaks down cells.
Just spray it, undiluted, onto the moss.
