Keep your PATIO PRISTINE

Spruce up your outdoor space for spring

1 Remove furniture

and sweep away debris with a leaf blower or broom. 2 Pull up weeds by hand

or use a tool (such as Kent & Stowe Stainless Steel Hand Weeding Knife, £9.99), taking care to tease weeds gently from between block paving. If you choose to use a chemical weeder, first check it won’t discolour or damage your patio by doing a spot test on an inconspicuous area.

3 For wood and composite decking,

apply a proprietary cleaning solution suited to the surface, following the instructions on the packaging and those of the supplier of your decking. Scrub in the direction of the grain and avoid applying too much pressure. A soft-bristled brush is best on composite; a pressure washer can be used on wooden decking, but it’s crucial to use the correct attachments and settings, to avoid accidental damage. Softwoods, including cedar and pine, will need preserving using a suitable wood preservative. Follow this with a varnish. Hardwoods, such as oak and teak, generally won’t need

preserving – just apply teak oil twice yearly to maintain colour.

4 For hard paving,

such as concrete, granite and basalt, clean using a suitable patio cleaner, then rinse or pressure-wash with a suitable attachment, if required. We recommend HG Patio-tile Cleaner (£9.79, Amazon). For softer natural stone, such as slate, sandstone or limestone, it’s best to scrub manually with a medium-bristle brush to avoid damaging the surface. Take care when using a pressure washer, as it can dislodge the pointing between slabs. Older patios can be damaged by the pressure, too, so test in an inconspicuous area first. See the Good Housekeeping Institute’s best pressure washer buys (right).

5 Remove rust marks

from concrete patios using a phosphoric acid-based cleaner, following the instructions, while wearing appropriate safety equipment. Avoid using acid-based products or those containing hydrofluoric acid on natural stone (such as limestone), porcelain or coloured concrete, as it can damage these surfaces.