Black spots can leave your patio looking dirty and neglected but thankfully, they can be removed with a few household items and a scrubbing brush, according to experts
Patios often fall prey to various stains such as oil spills, moss and regular dirt – but these are relatively easy to remove.
However, when it comes to black spots on patios, this is where things can become a bit more challenging. Removing black marks from your patio can be quite a task and time-consuming if you don’t use the right black spot remover.
Black spot is a type of lichen that thrives on stone surfaces in the damp and shady conditions that are so prevalent in the UK. The characteristics of this lichen are that as it matures, it penetrates into the pores of the stone seeking nutrients from the minerals in the stone and gradually spreads across the surface of the patio.
With this in mind, Tom Allen, owner of TGA Concrete Pumping, shared how to remove black spots from your patio using citric acid, “a fairly common household item that is cheap to buy”.
He stated: “Black spots, typically caused by algae, moss, or mould, can make patios appear dirty and neglected, and while solutions like baking soda and vinegar are often recommended for cleaning, citric acid is another household item readily available in supermarkets that can effectively tackle these stubborn stains.”
Before starting the patio cleaning process, begin by gathering the necessary supplies. You will need citric acid powder, a large bucket, warm water, a scrubbing brush or broom with stiff bristles, and a watering can or spray bottle, reports the Express.
It’s time to whip up the perfect cleaning concoction for your patio. In your big bucket, throw in about a cup of citric acid powder to one gallon of nice, warm water. Give it a good stir until the citric acid dissolves entirely – tweak the amounts if you’ve got a larger patch to tackle.
Next, take a watering can or spray bottle and get that citric acid solution all over the black-spotted areas of your patio. Don’t hold back; make sure it really soaks into the surface.
Then, let it sit there and work its magic for around 15 to 20 minutes, allowing the citric acid some quality time to “break down and loosen the black spots”.
When the time’s up, grab your scrub brush or a broom with tough bristles and get to work on that patio, particularly where those pesky black spots are hunkering down. Put some elbow grease into it for the tougher stains.
Once you’ve given the whole area a thorough scrub, wash away all the citric acid solution with a garden hose, leaving no trace behind.
Tom tells us that citric acid is more than just a zesty ingredient in our food, sharing that it “possesses powerful cleaning properties that make it an excellent choice for removing black spots from patios”.
And it’s not only mighty effective but also eco-friendly and safe for you to use, unlike those nasty, harsh chemical cleaners. You can grab a 250g box of citric acid from B&Q for a mere £2.25, or if you’re planning on tackling a larger area, it’s available in bulk on Amazon for £10.90.
If citric acid doesn’t do the trick in banishing those pesky black spots from your patio, Wickes offers a patio cleaner for £14.