27-05-2025
Cheap 69p everyday household product that completely cleans your patio and a garden expert ‘swears by'
PATIO cleaning season has arrived with experts revealing their cheap hacks and essential products to use.
Maintenance of the patio is not just good for providing a seasonal refresh to the home for summer, but also preventing long-term damage.
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Weeds and grime regularly build-up on outdoor surfaces, so it is valuable to clean the patio effectively and without causing costly damage.
Molly Woodward-Moor, Creative Director at Stone Superstore, therefore provides tips for cleaning the patio this summer, as well as how to care for different types of tiles.
One budget-friendly solution she suggest can be made at home, and it only requires a simple 69p buy from grocery stores like Aldi.
Washing Up Liquid can be used to care for stone tiles as well as lift dirt or stains that may build up on them.
To use the product on the patio, the liquid can be diluted in warm tap water.
Then using a soft-bristled brush or non-abrasive sponge, the solution can be scrubbed into areas that need cleaning.
This is a gentle method for stones, that avoids scratching their surface or causing damage to tiles.
Using washing up liquid is not only a budget-friendly option, but also safer than using harsh cleaning products, or even acidic products like vinegar and lemon juice.
Molly suggests tending to dirt and debris in stone tiles once a month to reduce staining.
Deep cleaning of tiles should be done once or twice a year, ideally during the spring or autumn time.
Washing up liquid can also be used as an ingredient to create a natural weed killer.
The solution involves mixing one or two cups of table salt and two tablespoons of washing-up liquid in a spray bottle, that is topped up with white vinegar.
The combination of vinegar and salt helps dry out weeds, whilst the washing up liquid helps the solution stick to plants.
It can be sprayed directly onto leaves or at the vase of weeds on a dry day, and within a couple of days most weeds will die.
This DIY spray can be used once every few weeks as a preventative measure in weed prone areas, however should not be used on natural stones like limestone, marble, or travertine.
