Stop ‘dangerous’ April patio mistake with 1 kitchen ingredient
You might think the that warmer weath4er means garden parties - but if you're not prepared, your patio could be a dangerous spot.
April showers bring May flowers - but they could also bring a dangerous side effect to your garden patio if you're not careful. The spring rain can actually be even more treacherous than black ice in the winter if you don’t get ahead of it - and home safety experts are urging Brits to take care of it before it's too late.
April rain can lead to algae and moss growing on your patio, turning it into a dangerous, slippery mess before you know it. Neil McKenzie, a home safety expert at Halton Stairlifts said: "Algae creates a surface that becomes extremely slippery when wet. People step out onto their patio on a damp April morning thinking it’s safe, and that’s often when accidents happen."
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“The risk is far from trivial. Wet and contaminated surfaces are one of the primary causes of slip and trip incidents.
"Surface contamination from leaves, dirt, and anything else brought in from outside all contribute directly to falls.”
If you are older, or share your home with older people then the risk is even greater, Neil continued: “Age compounds the problem significantly.
"Deteriorating vision, altered mobility, and increased frailty all increase the likelihood of a serious fall from what might seem like an ordinary slip.”
He warned that by the time you can see the green on your patio, it’s already too late - the surface has been compromised for weeks. Instead, Neil is urging everyone to treat their patio for mould and algae regularly.
He said: “Treating it every few months costs almost nothing and takes under half an hour.”
Neil has shared his top three ways to make your outdoor space safer this spring - and they cost almost nothing. His first recommendation is vinegar.
He said: “Applying white wine vinegar directly to algae growth is remarkably effective at removing it. Leave it to sit, scrub with a stiff brush, and the surface grip comes back. Most households already have it.”
Baking soda also works well -and like vinegar, most households already own it. Neil said:”Mixed into a paste with water and spread across the affected area, it breaks down the algae layer and lifts it from the surface when scrubbed away. Importantly, neither solution requires specialist equipment.”
He also recommends putting down anti slip tape to make your outdoor space safer. When applied to a dry surface and pressed down it will create a textured surface that is much harder to slip on, even in heavy rain.
