IF you plan on having guests over to your home this summer to enjoy time in your garden, and want to ensure that everything is in tip top shape, then you’ve come to the right place.
There’s nothing worse than enjoying the warm weather outside, only to be stared in the face by grim moss on your patio.
Whilst it’s commonplace for patios to become caked in dirt, one of the trickiest things to remove is moss, which will quickly spread and take over.
Moss can cling to porous surfaces made out of stone, brick or concrete and can penetrate small crevices, making it very difficult to clean away no matter how much you scrub.
And don’t worry, if you don’t have the time or energy to spend hours scrubbing, then we’ve got just the thing for you.
Even better, if the cost of living crisis has made your purse feel tighter than ever before, then you’ll be thrilled to know that this super simple hack is incredibly cheap too.
Lenard Nagy, an expert from Perfect Clean Cleaning Services explained: “Moss growth on surfaces is a common problem that can make your concrete look dirty, dull, and unattractive.
“It can also damage your concrete over time by creating cracks and holes and pose a safety hazard by making your concrete slippery and causing falls and injuries.”
However, luckily for you, there is an incredibly easy and fast way to remove this green menace.
And according to Lenard, you do not need any harsh chemicals or specialised equipment to do it.
It turns out that a popular kitchen item – baking soda – is one of the most effective ways to get rid of moss.
And not only this, but even better, it will prevent it from growing back too.
According to the pro, baking soda will cause moss to quickly dehydrate, dry out and die in no time at all.
Moss also prefers to grow in acidic places and baking soda is highly alkaline, so it will change the pH level of a stone surface to create an environment where moss cannot grow.
Lenard revealed: “Baking soda is a common household item that you can use to clean moss from concrete.
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“Baking soda is a base that can raise the pH of the moss and kill it…[and it] is also gentle and safe for your concrete and the environment.”
If you fancy giving this trick a try, all you need to do is sprinkle a generous amount of baking over a mossy area and make sure the moss is covered completely.
Take care to make sure the baking soda does not get onto any plants or grass as it will dry out anything organic it touches.
THE paving specialists at Simply Paving told Fabulous how you can repair broken patio slabs, without the faff.
The experts advised: “If you have a loose paving slab, then it’s unlikely it can be lifted straight by hand. Instead, you will probably need a hammer and chisel to prise the paver free of your patio.
“To remove loose paving slabs without damaging your flagstones, carefully chip away at the mortar around the paving slab with the plugging chisel and rubber mallet until the slab comes completely loose.
“Then, slide the spade into the gap left by the mortar and prise the paver free of the patio.
“As you lift it up, place a short piece of timber underneath the spade to act as a lever, making it easier for you while protecting the slab underneath.
“When the paver starts to give, place the cylindrical wood underneath it and roll the slab out of the patio.”
A small amount of baking soda is unlikely to harm your garden but be cautious and do not try this cleaning solution on a windy or rainy day to prevent it from spreading.
Once you have applied the baking soda, allow it to sit for 24 hours to fully penetrate the moss, and it will instantly begin to turn brown.
After 24 hours. the moss should have completely dried out.
Following this, you can use a broom or stiff brush to remove the dead moss from your patio.
To get rid of any excess, you can hose down your patio or pour a bucket of soapy water on it to rinse away any more baking soda or dead moss.
If you haven’t got any baking soda in your cupboard, you can nab it for as little as 59p from Sainsbury’s, making this hack not only effective, but incredibly affordable too.
