With last week's heatwave we got a glimpse of summer. This week's weather may have taken a turn for the worse, but as they say: every cloud has a silver lining – and in this case, it's being given a bit more time to get the garden ready before the next sunny spell...
With this in mind, we spoke to Michael Scott, Founder of Lazy Susan Furniture, who gave us a top tip on how to clean your outdoor space using a sweet-smelling solution made with just a few cheap and cheerful household ingredients.
Prep your patio
If you spot algae and moss starting to form, one hack is mixing orange peel with white vinegar in a jar.
After a week or two, remove the solution and dilute it with four parts of warm water.
This provides a natural way of loosening and removing algae, whilst keeping the area smelling fresh. This can work in as little as 5 to 10 minutes, before you should wash it away with clean water, explains Michael.
He adds: “The great thing about this cleaning hack is that it is affordable and natural, with white vinegar available for as little as 35p in supermarkets.”
“For stubborn dirt and stains, try mixing up a 50:50 solution of white vinegar and hot water, pour it over the affected area, leave for 30 minutes, then scrub and rinse.”
Keeping it clean
In between bigger cleans, it pays to regularly keep on top of things with a general patio cleaning routine.
Michael adds: "Sweep regularly to remove debris, wash with warm soapy water and a stiff brush, and rinse with clean water or a hose.
“If opting to use a pressure washer on patio paving stones or bricks, caution is key. You need enough power to clean effectively, but not so much that you damage the surface or blast debris between the pavers. To make the job easier, I would recommend using a patio surface cleaner."
Michael stresses the key is to keep on top of things. Don't leave it too long between cleans and let muck build up.
Also, take preventative measures such as applying a patio sealer to prevent dirt and algae buildup, sweeping weekly and cleaning with soapy water monthly.
Summer in the garden edit
GoodHome GoodHome Sagami Orange Charcoal Egg BBQ
Castlery Sierra Garden Sofa Set
