The £1.94 hack that works ‘like magic' to remove moss and black spots on your patio in 10 minutes – it kills weeds too

The Sun

06-05-2025

IS your patio covered in stubborn moss and black spots that just won't shift?
Or have you splashed loads of cash on weed-killers but with no success?
3
3
3
Well, if you want to get your garden looking in tip-top shape ready for summer, then fear not, you've come to the right place and will need to listen up to this handy hack that works 'like magic'.
Many of us are sure to have spotted moss, weeds and black spots on our patios at least once before.
But thankfully, there's now a simple trick to banish the nasty stuff - and there's barely any effort involved.
Luckily for you, numerous green-fingered individuals have raved about a cheap trick to get your patio sparkling - and it'll cost you less than £2 each time.
Posting on the Mrs Hinch Gardening Tips, a Facebook group with 111,400 members, gardening gurus shared their tried-and-tested methods for tackling stubborn moss and black spots.
A popular solution among the group was sodium hypochlorite, a potent chemical that annihilates the organisms causing the black spots and moss.
One user shared her success with the group and beamed: '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.'
Another also recommended the substance and added: "Sodium hypochlorite from eBay. Just brush on and rinse off after an hour. It will kill any weeds, too.'
Meanwhile, third echoed the sentiment and clarified: "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.'
Cheap and easy ways to transform your garden including painting fences black
At the same time, one shared her rapid results and revealed: 'Sprayed my slabs and within 10 minutes the moss and black spots had gone. It really works like magic.'
But that's not all, as another thrilled user commented: 'I've found this to be the only thing that works to get the black spots off. The moss died instantly.'
Sodium hypochlorite, which is found in bleach, can be diluted with water to treat lichen stains and moss on patios and tarmac.
Top 5 Spring Gardening Jobs
*If you click a link in this boxout, we may earn affiliate revenue
Nick Grey, Gtech Inventor and CEO shared the tasks to crack on with as Spring arrives.
1. Clean your garden
Make sure to clear away all leaves, soil and plant debris from your patios and flower beds; this creates a healthier environment for new growth, especially as we get into the summer months. Gtech's Garden Safety Kit includes durable gardening gloves and safety glasses; perfect for comfortability whilst tackling those outdoor tasks.
2. Weeding
Early Spring is the best time to tackle weeds; if you can introduce some regular weeding into your routine, you can guarantee a tidy garden all year round.
3. Hedge maintenance
Spring is the ideal time to tidy up overgrown hedges and shrubs, as regular trimming ensures healthy growth and reduces pest issues. Using a tool like the Gtech Lightweight Hedge Trimmer can help to keep your greenery looking sharp and neat.
4. Composting
Starting a compost heap this spring is a pro-active, cost-effective way to harness nutritious soil for your plants and recycle organic waste that will benefit the overall health of your greenery and foliage.
5. Look after your lawn
Lawn care is hugely important in assuring your garden stays looking beautiful. Make sure to rake away any excess leaves and trim your grass routinely.
It should be used sparingly to avoid discolouration or damage to the tarmac and users must always rinse the area thoroughly after application.
Gardeners should make sure to check the weather before using sodium hypochlorite, as any rain that falls will dilute the product and may compromise its performance.
As a result, it is best used on a dry day where there is no rain forecast.
If you fancy giving this hack a try, you can nab a five litre bottle of sodium hypochlorite from Amazon for only £9.70.
Sodium hypochlorite is not only great as a patio cleaner and bleaching agent, but it also kills algae and banishes nasty odours too.
That's not all, as it can even be used in swimming pools or for water purification purposes too.
To use the high-strength product, which according to the Amazon listing, is 'widely regarded as the best patio cleaner chemical on the market', simply dilute up to six parts water with one part sodium liquid chlorine.
If you use one litre per use, this purse-friendly hack will cost you just £1.94 each time, making it not only effective but affordable too.