Now that we've cleaned the furniture and the grill, here are a few more tips for you on how to keep dirt when it belongs -- and on a deck or patio, it belongs in flowerpots and boxes. To keep it there, just follow these simple steps when you plant.
- When planting flowers in a pot or a box with one or multiple drainage holes, line the bottom with coffee filters. Add a few pebbles and then the soil. Now when you water, dirt won't run out the bottom.
- When you finish planting, place a layer of gravel or marbles on the top of your box or pot. When you water or Mother Nature does, the dirt won't splash all over the plants, pots and patio. Now your patio is protected from any dirt leakage from planters at both ends.
For the Birds Make your patio area a welcoming place for your feathered friends. Clean the area around the bird feeder of wasted food and droppings because they are both perfect sources of infection. If the ground beneath your feeder is smooth, a broom or shovel will do the job. You can also use a heavy-duty vacuum cleaner. Sometimes you can buy trays that attach to feeders or can be hung under them so that tossed-out seeds don't litter up the ground. You can also place a big piece of cardboard under your feeder, as long as you change it often. Wet cardboard covered in bird droppings is a fine addition to your compost heap. More Recipes! Here are some other recipes to clean up around the patio. - For "cool decking" use a mixture of water, vinegar and borax. Spray down the area and then scrub it with the mixture. Rinse well.
- Clean solar-powered lights with Lava Soap rubbed on a wet cloth. Rinse and dry well.
- If your outdoor living space is a wood deck, it needs to be cleaned from time to time. Start by getting rid of the debris. Wet the landscaping around the area to be cleaned. Then give mold and mildew the boot with a mixture of trisodium phosphate ISP), borax and water. Use a broom or sprayer to apply the mixture. Let it set for a few minutes and then scrub. Rinse well.
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