How to clean the patio without harsh chemicals
HERE are plenty of natural ingredients you could use to clean the concrete patio of your home without having to use harsh chemicals.
After all, chemicals could be harmful to your pets, kids and also to the soil.
According to website texaspatiobuilder.com, chemicals can also be harmful to the dirt and ground water - most cleaning chemicals are biodegradable which means they are going to be in your soil for a long time.
"If you believe in taking care of the world we live in, you can start helping by using natural ingredients to clean your patio with."
1. Vinegar is an excellent cleaner, and because of it's acidic nature, is powerful enough to dislodge the toughest dirt
For a basic concrete patio cleaner, mix distilled vinegar and water in the squirt bottle. The stronger you need it, the more vinegar you add. If you need it super strong, just use straight vinegar. You can use two bottles and make one half and half and the other pure vinegar. That way you have both general and deep cleaning detergent ready. Spray the vinegar bottle over the entire surface. If you want to make it smell better, add 40-75 drops of your favorite essential oils. Wait about 20 minutes, then scrub it with the broom. If you have a power washer, use it, spray it off with the hose, or mop it up with clean water. As an added bonus, vinegar also works well as a weed killer.
2. Baking soda is a more abrasive choice, making it great for cleaning the rough surface of your patio
There are several ways of using baking soda. You can make a paste for smaller stains by mixing the baking soda with vinegar until it becomes consistent. Spread it over the stain; let it set for a few minutes and then scrub it with the brush or broom, whichever one is easiest. For bigger stains and high traffic areas, mix equal parts baking soda, salt, and water. Spread mixture over the entire area; let it set for a few minutes and then spritz it with vinegar. This increases the effectiveness of all ingredients. Then just scrub it with the broom.
The third way of using baking soda is for general cleaning. For that, you mix a half cup of baking soda in a gallon of water. Rinse all of these when finished.Hydrogen peroxide is a gentler choice for cleaning your patio. Just replace the screw top lid with a spray top and spritz entire area of patio, paying extra attention to high traffic areas.
You can now clean the patio as is or spritz over with vinegar to super charge the cleaning power. Either way, let it set for several minutes and then use the scrub brush or broom. Rinse when finished.Bleach is a cleaning standard as it can literally be used to clean anything. In addition, it's whitening power proves a plus.
3. Bleach can be used if you have any mold or mildew
Just mix one cup of bleach in a gallon of water. Scrub the solution in with either a brush or broom. You can make a bleach mixture with baking soda to clean heavy stains. Add two parts bleach to three parts baking soda to make a paste. Spread it on the stain and let it set for several minutes. Scrub it with either a brush or broom. This mixture can be harmful to your grass, though, so be very careful if you decide to use it.
As with the other natural cleaners, rinse with water when finished, either with power washer, hose, or mop and bucket.The grout tends to get the dirtiest because it's more porous than the tile. Choose any of the stain methods described and spread it on the grout. Using a small brush or toothbrush, scrub it after letting it set for several minutes.
Rinse when finished. If you spread your chosen stain method in the grout and on any other tough stains first, it will make it easier. Then you can finish by cleaning the rest of the area with a less strong choice of cleaners. Then rinse with water. You and your family spend of time on your patio. Now you can keep it clean without having to worry about chemicals.