Help! Really slippery patio. What can we use on it before I fall on my arse?

[RooneyMara]

Our patio is some kind of stone I think. It's covered with very slippy algae of some kind, it's greenish, like a thin coating and every time I go out which I have to do every day, as we have a hundred billion pets, I seem to slide around on it, and with a gippy pelvis thanks to being 8mo preg, it's quite worrying and hurts a lot.

Is there a product I can put on it, or something I can do to it? I'm stuck as never had this problem before. I have brooms etc, washing soda? would that do anything? and the willingness to work at it but please do tell me if you have the answer.

Thanks

[megandraper]

We get this - it can be very dangerous.

You need to jetwash it - we do this every year. We get someone to do it for us (window cleaners often offer the service) - you need a high power hose to blast the algae off.

Makes a huge difference. It does grow back, but slowly - once a year works for us.

[MadCap]

This happens to us about every other year (must be how long it takes to build up to slippery level.) DH or his dad just pressure washes it and that gets rid of it. Pressure washers are handy things to have too if you don't already have one.

[RooneyMara]

Oh crikey, thanks. We don't have a jet washer or pressure washer or anything.
Or a window cleaner!

I will work on this as a possible solution, but in the meantime, any other suggestions muchly appreciated.

Thankyou for answering though

[RooneyMara]

I am a bit worried about pressure washing in my present condition

Can you imagine.

The neighbours would derive enormous pleasure from this.

[nemno]

Use a watering can with dilute bleach to kill it.

[RooneyMara]

Oh brill, I can envisage that. Thanks so much. Bit unsure if that's going to be harmful when it goes down the drain? But still I won't use much bleach.

[amazonianwoman]

Jet washing is immensely satisfying. A bit like colouring in in reverse. A Karcher pressure washer is a worthwhile investment.

Otherwise we've had moderate success with a liquid cleaner called Wet & Forget. You wet the patio with it then forget about it! But it isn't as effective as a proper jet wash.

DD 8 just jet washed ours, do you have an older child who could do it?

[RooneyMara]

Oh really? It sounds like fun when you put it like that

Yes I have a 9yo ds. He would love it.

[MadCap]

I think a jet washer and a pressure washer are one in the same! You can probably hire one cheapish from one of those tool hire places.

[OnTheBottomWithAWomansWeekly]

In the interim before you get it jet washed you could scatter a layer of sand over it, walking on the sand will 'exfoliate' the surface & should stop it being slippery.

Only downside will be tracking sand into the house - a good doormat will get the sand off your feet but not off the dog's feet though.

[RooneyMara]

Ooh I never thought of hiring one. Great idea.

And sand...that did occur to me, I wasn't sure if it would work - do you think it would? It's got to be worth a try, we have loads of it.

You lot are great.

[MrsHoarder]

Try freshly boiled water (from the kettle). Be careful though.

[GrendelsMum]

Sand will make it safe, or do you have a good old-fashioned garden broom? Pour hot water from your kettle onto it and then brush firmly with the garden broom.

[RooneyMara]

Aha. Yes, indeed I have a good broom, I've just got it from Scats. I'll try that with boiling/hot water and give it a hard brush, and then put sand on if it hasn't sorted it out.

Thankyou ever so much everyone. I was so worried about it