With spring a matter of weeks away, many Brits are gearing up for some quality time in their gardens this summer.

If you’re keen to soak up the rays but your patio’s looking a bit worse for wear, Mrs Hinch fans have come through with a nifty product that promises a gleaming patio without breaking a sweat. Battling moss and algae can be a real chore, often requiring relentless scrubbing.

While many might consider shelling out £50 to £150 for a pressure washer, there’s actually a more wallet-friendly method to get your garden looking tip-top for less than a tenner. This savvy suggestion was unearthed on the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips Facebook group, where one user sought advice after being quoted an eye-watering £200 for a professional patio clean.

Keen to tackle the task themselves, they posted: “Any tips to clean a patio yourself? Been quoted £200 so would like to give it a go myself first.” Among various recommendations, one particular solution kept cropping up: good old washing powder.

It may sound odd, but the cleaning aficionados claim that biological washing powder is the secret weapon against grime on patios. If you’re ready to revamp your outdoor space, begin by removing any patio furniture and giving the area a thorough sweep, reports the Express.

Next, moisten the surface slightly with water before liberally sprinkling the detergent over the slabs. Resist the urge to rinse immediately – one group member advises letting the mixture sit for several hours or even overnight for the best results.

Kick-off your morning by rinsing and giving the slabs a fresh scrub, which ought to shift any lingering grime. And here’s a savvy tip: swing by Sainsbury’s where you can nab a 2kg box of biological laundry powder for a mere £4.75.

You’ll be pocketing serious savings against the outlay for a pressure washer. Considering the size of the box, your cost per clean is just pennies, plus your clothes will come out sparkling too.

Mind you, this clever trick does have a cautionary note: make sure to rinse thoroughly afterwards as remnants of the powder could upset your furry friends’ skin or tummy. Yet, hope springs eternal as one Facebook user, Eileen Fell, has served up a “perfect” technique paired with a fix for any leftover suds – wield a stiff broom like a pro.

She shared her wisdom: “Dampen area, sprinkle biological washing powder. Leave for several hours or overnight, dampen down again. I use a hard broom to brush off. Pour water over or hose off. Perfect.”

For those tenacious patches of moss and algae that just won’t quit, another group member swears by The Pink Stuff. “Use the cream Pink Stuff, scrub with a hard sweeping brush, leave for five to 10 minutes then rinse with water,” they advised.

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