PAVING experts have urged homeowners to avoid trying a viral cleaning hack, claiming it will damage your patio.
With the weather finally warming up, many are looking to spruce up their garden and patio, which may be looking a bit more depressing after the harsh winter months.
But while the internet is full of viral cleaning tricks, a group of professionals has warned against one that involves using a common kitchen staple – ketchup.
The hack has taken the internet by storm in the recent weeks, with avid gardeners claiming it's an inexpensive method for removing dust, dirt and grim algae.
However, the Express reported, experts believed this trick may actually be doing more harm than good.
Cass Heaphy, the digital director at Paving Direct, explained that ketchup is a vinegar-based condiment.
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With roughly 1/3 of its volume consisting of acidic vinegar, applying ketchup on natural stone or concrete paving can cause damage.
''Limestone, sandstone, and Portland cement concrete are all vulnerable to chemical erosion and corrosive damage from acids.
“So any acid-based liquid will likely corrode and damage the stone and concrete of the patio,'' he said.
As a professional, he recommended to steer clear from this viral tip, adding that using ketchup may also leave tiny cavities in the natural stone and concrete.
This, in turn, could potentially leave pigments and staining even after hosing it off.
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“I cannot 100 percent vouch for the latter, but that ketchup's vinegar content will damage sandstone, limestone, and concrete paving, I am 100 percent certain,'' Cass emphasised.
Fantastic Services’ garden specialist, Pol Bishop, also warned against using the popular trick on the concrete exterior.
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“Please remember to avoid using a detergent with any acid if you have a concrete patio.
“The ketchup trick is not a good idea for this situation,'' he pointed out.
Instead of grabbing a bottle of ketchup, Cass explained that the best patio cleaner is alkaline-based.
But although there are countless of products in the market, one shouldn't necessarily spend hundreds, as a bit of washing-up liquid mixed with some warm tap water works like a charm, according the experts at Simply Paving.
Here, all you need to do is squirt a little washing-up liquid into a bucket which you then fill with warm water.
Start cleaning from the corners, splash a little water, grab the brush and scrub.
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“Remember to scrub diagonally as this will be gentler on the jointing compound and less will come out during cleaning.”
Repeat the splashing-scrubbing routine until the full area is covered and clear the dirty water away with a bucket of clean water.
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