With spring just around the corner, now is the perfect time to get a head start on preparing your outdoor areas ready for the beautiful British summer! Mossy driveways and decking, blocked outside drains and grubby patio furniture can seem like daunting tasks to tackle, luckily there’s an easy, cost effective solution to these jobs that doesn’t involve back-breaking work or harsh chemicals! Old fashioned Soda Crystals aren’t just a versatile cleaning product for indoors, they have a multitude of uses outdoors too!
A patio covered in moss looks unsightly and could cause a slip hazard if it has rained, but in actual fact the rain could help you to get rid of the slippery green stuff! Simply sprinkle Soda Crystals on the ground before rain is expected (if rain doesn’t materialise use a watering can to wet the crystals). Leave the resulting paste for a day or two and you will be able to brush or scrape away the brown debris easily. If you do this at the beginning and end of winter, your drives and patios should be moss-free throughout the year! Similarly using Soda Crystals on wooden decking in the spring is ideal. Not only does it get rid of moss and leaves, but also helps in the preparation of the wood, stripping old varnish ready for a spring coating!
Soda Crystals can also be used to remove old dirt and grime from plastic patio furniture. Simply with spray Liquid Soda Crystals or apply a regular Soda Crystals solution to the affected area, and leave to work on the dirt and grime for half an hour. Then simply wipe away with a clean cloth and water. This will effectively remove any lingering stains without excessive elbow grease.
When clearing an outdoor drain blockage, simply pour a bag of Soda Crystals down the offending drain, add a litre of boiling water and leave for 10 minutes. This will allow the Sodas Crystals to dissolve any built up grease, and break down any other deposits. Then simply flush out the drain with a bucket of hot water and the drain is clear! Unlike some heavy-duty chemical drain unblockers, Soda Crystals are not caustic or corrosive, and are bio-degradable.
Soda Crystals and Liquid Soda Crystals are available from supermarkets and independent stores. For further information on the uses of Soda Crystals around the home and garden, visit www.dri-pak.co.uk