I tried 4 ways to get my paving clean without a pressure washer – one was a mess and stank but a 65p buy worked wonders
NOW the sun has finally come out to shine, it is time for me to try and sort my front garden out.
While many people rely on a pressure washer to get their paving looking fresh, I don't have the space for that sort of equipment.
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So I did what any millennial does when they need a question answered and took to TikTok to see how others get their patio clean without one.
With over a billion searches for patio cleaning on the app, there were plenty of solutions to try out.
But there were four that kept coming back around - washing up liquid, bleach, baking soda and vinegar, all used with a firm brush and a little water.
It was only right that I gave each of them a go to see which one really stood up to the challenge before doing my entire patio.
My paving stones haven't been cleaned in years, it's definitely much darker than it should be and has moss growing on it.
I used a firm brush from Ikea and used one product on a single paving slab to get an accurate result and see which one really worked.
Washing Up Liquid
It seems there's nothing washing up liquid can't do, from washing the dishes (duh), to removing stains in clothes to cleaning your patio.
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The great thing about this hack is that we all have a bottle of washing up liquid ready to go and it's relatively inexpensive at 69p a bottle from Tesco, so I was hoping this hack would be the one.
I used a little warm water and the brush to scrub the soap in and left it for twenty minutes before rinsing it off.
However, I found that while it did work in some spots, it didn't do much overall to get rid of stuck on dirt.
Instead of using this for a deep clean, I imagine this would work wonders for a quick spot clean before guests come over for an al fresco dinner.
Rating 3/5
Baking Soda
I quickly went to the baking cupboard to find the baking soda and got to work.
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I mixed around a quarter of the tub with water to form a paste and scrubbed it over the damp patio slab.
While a tub of the baking essential costs just 59p from Sainsbury's, with how much you need I think this could get pricey if you were doing your entire patio.
I left it to soak for another twenty minutes before washing it off and yet again I was disappointed with the results.
Some spots on the concrete slab did lighten up, but not enough to make a difference.
Rating 3/5
How to clean your garden soft furnishings
CLEANING your outdoor furniture and furnishings is a relatively easy task, and requires household items already in your cupboards.
Here's what you'll need, according to gardening expert Daniela Venturini from Wayfair...
What you'll need include:
A soft bristle brush
A bucket of warm water
Mild laundry detergent or washing up liquid
White vinegar
A clean damp microfibre cloth
A clean dry towel
Clear your furniture of excess debris
Before cleaning your outdoor furniture ensure that the surfaces are free from excess debris and dirt from your garden, and remove any outdoor cushion covers where possible, as this will make the cleaning process much easier.
Wash down furniture with warm soapy water
In a bucket of warm water, add a few drops of mild laundry detergent or washing up liquid to create your cleaning solution. For any tougher stains, such as harsh water stains or mildew, apply undiluted white vinegar to any stains and let it sit for about an hour in the sun.
3. Use a soft bristle brush to rub away stains
Using a soft bristle brush, gently rub your cleaning solution onto your garden furniture in small circular movements. After scrubbing, take a clean damp microfibre cloth and ensure that all detergent and soap suds are removed from your garden furniture.
After cleaning, take a clean towel and absorb the majority of moisture off your garden furniture and then simply leave in the sun to dry.
Vinegar
Thanks to social media, I always have a bottle of white vinegar under the sink to clean mirrors, washing machines and keep towels fluffy.
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So, when I saw a hack to use it on patios, I figured it would probably do something considering how versatile it is.
I chucked some water on the patio before dousing it in vinegar, which you can buy for £1.09 in Asda, and scrubbing it in before letting it marinate.
Unfortunately, this hack was the worst of the bunch. Not only did it do literally nothing to clean up the grime, it absolutely stank.
Rating 0/5
Bleach
With all other hacks failing it was time to bring out the big guns and get the bottle of bleach out.
I poured a little onto the slab and added some cold water before scrubbing it in and letting it set for twenty minutes like the rest of the hacks.
I could tell this was the winner as the bleach solution turned a murky brown instantly.
I rinsed it off and the patio slab it was applied to looked much lighter than the rest and was able to get up a lot more grime.
The best part is that you can buy the bleach from Wilkos for 55p, and I reckon it could do the whole patio in one go making it a cost-effective solution that really works.
Rating 5/5
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