Cleaning tips are trending everywhere at the moment, with bleach and white vinegar being some of the most commonly recommended.
But gardening experts have issued an urgent warning against using these household products to clean your patio, as they could cause “irreparable damage”.
If you want to get your dirty, unkempt patio sparkling clean for summer, don't use white vinegar or bleach, as they can cause irreparable damage. Credit: Getty Pressure washers are an effective way to clean your patio, but gardening experts say you need to be careful how you do it. Credit: Alamy
“Vinegar is commonly used to clean patios, but it can have a detrimental effect on the biodiversity in your garden,” explains Trevor Knight, garden and driveway technical specialist at Marshalls.
“White vinegar solutions can damage or kill plants. While this may be the ideal outcome for someone looking to get rid of weeds on their patio, if the solution gets on plants or grass, the results will be less than desirable.
“The use of acidic solutions should be avoided, especially on calcareous paving materials made from limestone.
“Using it on these paving materials could cause irreparable damage to the material.”
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A similar warning applies to bleach.
“Like vinegar, bleach can be harmful to plants and therefore harm the biodiversity in your garden,” Trevor continued.
“If bleach solution runs off your patio onto your grass or plants during cleaning, it can severely damage and kill them.
“Over time, bleach can cause discoloration and irreparable damage to paving slabs, especially those that are man-made, such as concrete slabs.”
Instead, why not try the soapy water method to combat a heat wave on your patio?
Get a stiff bristle brush and an eco-friendly cleaning product.
My garden is a mess but I've given my patio a makeover using only bargain items from B&M – they cost just £6 and have made a huge difference.
Mix the chemical with warm water and “start at the corners of the patio slab and work your way inwards.”
“Repeat this until you're happy with the results,” Trevor added.
Once you're done, rinse with clean water to remove any remaining dirt or residue.
Or, if you are lucky enough to own a pressure washer, you could try using it on your patio.
“Be careful when using this method as it can damage the paving material if done incorrectly,” Trevor warned.
Gardening jobs in June
The Sun's gardening editor, Veronica Lorraine, shares her top tasks to get up to this month.
Plant long-stemmed perennials
Given the recent dramatic weather, it's definitely time to stake out any long-stemmed perennials (those that grow every year). Heavy rains and rapid growth can cause them to topple over and die.
Slug and snail removal
Hopefully, as the plants get bigger in the summer, the damage will decrease. The best thing to do is still to grab a headlamp and go outside at night to spot the pests.
Picking Elderflowers
You can use them to make your own cordials, add them to cakes or champagne, or even dab and fry them.
Remove weeds
This is when the weeds in your garden really start to grow. Use a hoe to remove the weeds, or the old fashioned “knees and hand fork” method. Avoid chemicals. Remember, weeds are just plants growing in the wrong place.
Up the grass cutting
From now on, you will need to mow your lawn every week. If you have time, remove the weeds beforehand, because when you mow, the leaves fall off and make it harder to see.
Check the tomatoes
Tomato seedlings require regular watering, fertilization, and careful removal of side shoots.
Chelsea Chop
There's still time for the Chelsea chop: Perennials such as rudbeckia, asters, penstemons and sedums will become bushier and bloom for a longer period if cut back by about a third.
Organizing Tulips
If it's a hassle but you have the space, dig up the tulip bulbs and replant them to provide colour next spring.
Picking rose petals
Cut back to the first set of healthy leaves, and you'll see more flowers blooming for a longer period.
Enjoy the space
Take some time to sit and enjoy your garden or outdoor space – it's so good for your mental health – even a few minutes a day can make a big difference.
“The pressure washer should be connected to a garden hose and used with your cleaning product of choice, if you don’t have any detergent then an environmentally friendly solution of dish soap and water will do.
“Working inward from the corner, hold the pressure washer at a 30-degree angle and work your way down the patio.”
Be careful not to get the pressure washer too close to the slab, and start with a low pressure setting to reduce the risk of damage.
