IF you haven’t touched your patio all winter, chances are your outdoor space is now covered with moss and green stains.
Not only can the likes of algae be unsightly, but it can also prove to be a danger hazard, as it can get extremely slippery.
But with spring just around the corner, it’s now the ideal time to give your outdoor haven a spruce up ready for the warmer weather.
And there’s no need to fork out on a pricey pressure cooker…as a cleaning pro named Colin Seymour has revealed a cheap and cheerful way to clean it up on a budget.
The answer? Soda crystals.
He explained how he was pleasantly surprised by the results after he tested it once – adding that within a week, all of the green stains on his balcony had disappeared.
“I’ve been using soda crystals for various things around the house including stretching our washing powder, cleaning drains, removing grease and general cleaning for a long time,” he said, as reported by The Express.
“Now I have another use: removing moss from paths, balconies, patios and verandas in an affordable and environmentally friendly way.”
For anyone who hasn’t used soda crystals before, there’s two different ways to apply them.
He says you can either sprinkle them on your patio when it’s wet, or alternatively mix them with water in a watering can, before pouring it over your patio.
After testing out both methods, he noted: “Both proved to be very effective with the dry sprinkling onto the wet balcony probably being ever so slightly more effective on the first application as there would have been a higher concentration in spots than with the solution.”
Soda crystals are highly alkaline so work by breaking the moss cells apart so that they lose moisture, causing them to die quickly.
Colin went on to say how he still needed to apply the solution “a few more times” until he’s completely satisfied – but was delighted with the results never-the-less.
Along with avoiding harsh chemicals, he praises the method for being cheap and cheerful – adding that at just £1 for a kg, it’s much cheaper than forking out on commercial chemical moss removers.
However, it’s important to note that bargain buy shouldn’t be applied to aluminium, varnished or lacquered surfaces.
Also, anyone with sensitive skin should avoid prolonged contact as it’s a highly concentrated solution.
Here are some tips to help you clean your home like a pro:
