'Only thing that works' to remove black spots from your patio in 10 minutes
Moss and black spots can be a nightmare to remove from your patio (Image: Simon McGill via Getty Images)
Moss and black spots, an unwelcome type of lichen, leave homeowners grappling with removal from patios as they stubbornly adhere to surfaces, eluding even the most spirited pressure washing efforts. This unsightly nuisance often leaves many pondering whether there's a foolproof method to eliminate these blemishes permanently.
Yet, seasoned gardeners within the Mrs Hinch Gardening Tips Facebook group have been swapping their tried-and-tested techniques for getting rid of moss and patio black spots. Sodium hypochlorite has emerged as a crowd favourite in the community, lauded for its potent ability to wipe out the organisms behind the black spots and moss growth.
READ MORE: Mum-of-two loses more than 11 stone doing 'wall pilates' at home
Cassandra recounted her positive outcome to other members: 'Sodium hypochlorite cleared mine. I sprayed it all over my patio, left it for half an hour, and then just rinsed it off. Leave longer if you prefer.'
David Simkins likewise hailed the chemical, advising: 'Sodium hypochlorite from eBay. Just brush on and rinse off after an hour. It will kill any weeds, too.'
Charlotte Lodge concurred with the efficacy of the treatment, remarking: 'Sodium hypochlorite worked so well for me to get the black spots and moss off.'
Shannon Booker offered additional insight, explaining: 'Sodium hypochlorite is undiluted bleach, which is really good at cleaning any paving. This year I have used this and the stains and have all gone now. It even helped to kill off my driveway weeds.'
Jess Gwyen couldn't contain her excitement at the quick results, sharing: 'Sprayed my slabs and within 10 minutes the moss and black spots had gone. It really works like magic.'
In agreement, Fiona Stewart also praised the method, commenting: 'I've found this to be the only thing that works to get the black spots off. The moss died instantly.'
The key ingredient behind this method is sodium hypochlorite, commonly found in bleach, which can be watered down for treating unsightly lichen stains and thriving moss on patios and driveways.
While it's a potent solution, caution is advised to prevent any discolouration or damage to the surfaces being cleaned – moderation is key. Ensure to wash down the treated area completely after applying, reports the Express.
Another tip before you start – check the forecast. Any unexpected rain could water down your efforts, potentially reducing the effectiveness of the treatment, so be sure to choose a dry day with no rain predicted.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
French Polynesia Creates World's Largest Marine Protected Area
Corals on the outer slop of the lagoon in Tatakoto, a remote atoll in French Polynesia. Credit - Alexis Rosenfeld—Getty Images French Polynesia announced the creation of the world's largest Marine Protected Area (MPA), at the U.N. Ocean Conference in France on Monday. The MPA will cover the entirety of the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), almost 5 million square kilometers (more than 1.9 million square miles) and will restrict extractive practices like deep-sea mining and bottom-trawling, a destructive type of fishing that drags large nets along the seafloor. Of that 5 million, 1.1 million square kilometers (424,712 square miles) will be designated as a highly or fully protected area, known as class 1 and 2, where only traditional coastal fishing, ecotourism, and scientific exploration, will be allowed. The government has also pledged to add an additional 500,000 square kilometers (193, 051 square miles) to the highly protected area by World Ocean Day 2026. 'We have been managing this EEZ wisely for centuries, using the techniques that were passed on from the generations before us and our ancestors,' French Polynesia's President, Moetai Brotherson, told TIME. 'But now we wanted to take a bold step to be in line with the international standards of the [International Union for Conservation of Nature] IUCN.' IUCN standards for MPAs require the area to include, among other things, defined goals and objectives for conservation along with ensuring the resources and capacity to effectively implement. Research has shown that MPAs help marine animals recover within their boundaries, and could prove a useful tool for supporting climate change adaptation and mitigation. Read more: Fishing Communities in the Philippines Are Fighting for their Future as Waters Rise French Polynesia has been steadfast in its efforts to conserve its exclusive economic zone. In 2018, the country announced that it would classify the entirety of its EEZ as a Managed Marine Area. This announcement, Brotherson says, builds on those efforts by increasing the level of conservation. 'There were some measures of protection that didn't match the [IUCN] standards,' Brotherson says. 'So we upgraded our local regulation to match all the standards of the IUCN.' 'This is an extraordinary achievement and a globally significant contribution to the protection of our One Ocean,' Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General, said in a statement. 'By prioritizing biodiversity, traditional knowledge, and future generations, French Polynesia has set a new standard for leadership in marine conservation. These commitments show that small Island territories can have a massive impact on global sustainability.' But much remains to be done. Research from Dynamic Planet and National Geographic Pristine Seas found that 85 new marine protected areas would need to be created from now until 2030 in order to meet the goal of protecting 30% of the oceans by 2030, as set by the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People in 2020 and signed by over 100 countries. So far, only 8.3% of the ocean is currently protected as MPAs. Read more: One Man's Quest to Heal the Oceans—And Maybe Save the World Ahead of the U.N. Ocean Conference, Samoa also announced that it would protect 30% of its national waters, an area roughly the size of Taiwan. Small island nations, Brotherson says, should be on the frontlines when it comes to ocean protection. '[Island nations] EEZs account for 7% of all the ocean surface, but we have only 0.1% of the total GDP in the world,' he says. 'We don't have the financial means that match the responsibility that we have towards the ocean.' But Brotherson notes that international cooperation is essential to ensure protections are enacted. 'It's very important to us that big countries, big players, large NGOs, can help us implement the measures that we vote [on],' he says. 'Because it's one thing to pass a law. It's another story to make sure that it is respected.' Read more from TIME's Ocean Issue The World Isn't Valuing Oceans Properly 'Ignorance' Is the Most Pressing Issue Facing Ocean Conservation, Says Sylvia Earle Meet the Marine Biologist Working to Protect Our Oceans from Deep-Sea Mining Geopolitical Tensions are Shaping the Future of our Oceans Write to Simmone Shah at
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Tennessee skydiving plane crashes moments after takeoff, leaving multiple passengers injured
Several people are injured after a skydiving plane crashed in Tennessee on Sunday afternoon, according to the Tullahoma Police Department. The plane departed Tullahoma Regional Airport at approximately 12:30 p.m. and crashed shortly after takeoff, Tullahoma Community Engagement Officer Lyle Russell confirmed to Fox News Digital. There were 20 people, including crew members, on board when the plane crashed. 'Happening Now: Coffee County – THP troopers are assisting @TullahomaPD at the scene of a plane crash on Old Shelbyville Road,' the Tennessee Highway Patrol posted on X. During a Sunday news conference, officials said that the plane had experienced an 'unknown issue' shortly after takeoff that 'resulted in an impact on trees and terrain.' Three people were taken to local hospitals for medical treatment via helicopter, while one victim was sent by ground transport for more serious injuries, Russell said. Other minor injuries were treated by first responders at the scene. There are no fatalities reported at this time. 3 A skydiving plane crashed in Tennessee on Sunday. Tennessee Highway Patrol/AFP via Getty Images 3 Tullahoma officials said no fatalities have been reported. Tennessee Highway Patrol/AFP via Getty Images 'We are grateful the injuries were limited, and our hearts and minds are with those who went through this accident and their upcoming recovery,' officials said during the news conference. The sheriff's office said the skydiving plane was a DeHaviland DH-6 Twin Otter. 'No ground facilities or airport facilities were damaged and there were no injuries reported from the ground,' officials added. 3 The skydiving plane was a DeHaviland DH-6 Twin Otter. via REUTERS Authorities said this is an active scene and local officials will provide more updates as they become available. Officials are urging residents to avoid the area while the investigation continues. The FAA responded to the scene and is working with local airport personnel, officials said, adding that the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) will be taking over the investigation.
New York Post
3 days ago
- New York Post
Archaeologists may have finally solved the mystery of Roanoke's ‘Lost Colony'
A team of researchers believes they may have cracked one of America's most enduring legends: Where did the settlers of the Roanoke Colony go? The Roanoke Colony, also known as the Lost Colony, was the first permanent English settlement in the United States. A group of over 100 colonists settled on North Carolina's Roanoke Island in 1587, led by Sir Walter Raleigh. John White, the governor of the colony, returned to England for supplies in 1587. When he came back to Roanoke Island in August 1590, he found the settlement mysteriously abandoned – and all the colonists, including his daughter Eleanor Dare and his granddaughter Virginia Dare, gone. One of the only clues remaining at the site was the word 'CROATOAN' carved into a palisade. It either referred to Croatoan Island, which is now called Hatteras Island, or the Croatoan Indians. The mystery has haunted Americans and Brits for the past four centuries, with several investigations launched into the matter. Whether the colonists were killed by Native Americans, starved to death, or left for greener pastures has eluded historians. But new research suggests the colonists' fate may not have been tragic after all. Mark Horton, an archaeology professor at the Royal Agricultural University in England, spoke with Fox News Digital about his findings. 5 A team of researchers believes they may have cracked one of America's most enduring legends: Where did the settlers of the Roanoke Colony go? Getty Images For the past decade, the British researcher has worked with the Croatoan Archaeological Society's Scott Dawson to uncover the mystery. Horton said they've uncovered proof that the colonists assimilated into Croatoan society, thanks to a trash heap. 'We're looking at the middens — that's the rubbish heaps — of the Native Americans living on Hatteras Island, because we deduced that they would have very rapidly been assimilated into the Native American population,' Horton said. The smoking gun at the site? 5 The mystery has haunted Americans and Brits for the past four centuries, with several investigations launched into the matter. Youtube/IslandTimeTV Hammerscale, which are tiny, flaky bits of iron that come from forging iron. Horton said it's definitive proof of iron-working on Hatteras Island, which could have only been done by English colonists. 'The key significance of hammerscale … is that it's evidence of iron-working, of forging, at that moment,' he said. 'Hammerscale is what comes off a blacksmith's forge.' Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Horton added, 'This is metal that has to be raised to a relatively high temperature … which, of course, [requires] technology that Native Americans at this period did not have.' Hammerscale shows that the English 'must have been working' in this Native American community, according to the expert. But what if the hammerscale came longer after the Roanoke Colony was abandoned? Horton said that's unlikely. 'We found it stratified … underneath layers that we know date to the late 16th or early 17th century,' he said. 'So we know that this dates to the period when the lost colonists would have come to Hatteras Island.' 5 The Roanoke Colony, also known as the Lost Colony, was the first permanent English settlement in the United States. Getty Images 5 'We're looking at the middens — that's the rubbish heaps — of the Native Americans living on Hatteras Island, because we deduced that they would have very rapidly been assimilated into the Native American population,' Mark Horton, an archaeology professor at the Royal Agricultural University in England, said. Youtube/IslandTimeTV 'It's a combination of both its archaeological position but also the fact that it's evidence of people actually using an English technology.' At the site, archaeologists also found guns, nautical fittings, small cannonballs, an engraved slate and a stylus, in addition to wine glasses and beads, which all paint a vivid picture of life on Hatteras Island in the 17th century. When asked if the colonists could have been killed in a later war, Horton said they survived among the Croatoans and successfully assimilated. 'We have one little snippet of historical evidence from the 1700s, which describes people with blue or gray eyes who could remember people who used to be able to read from books,' he said. 'Also, they said there was this ghost ship that was sent out by a man called Raleigh.' 5 When asked if the colonists could have been killed in a later war, Horton said they survived among the Croatoans and successfully assimilated. Youtube/IslandTimeTV Horton added, 'We think that they assimilated into the Native American community and their descendants, their sons, their granddaughters, their grandsons carried on living on Hatteras Island until the early 18th century.' When asked if he's officially solved the mystery, Horton said that though the archaeological evidence is definitive, the legend will probably still endure. 'Have we solved the mystery? Well, you know, it's pretty good evidence, but there's always more work to be done,' he said. Horton added, 'And people love mysteries. They hate resolving things one way or the other. So I'm sure that the mystery will continue, you know, whatever the scientific evidence says.'
