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Using wire brush to clean patio - help - be gentle with me - this is OCD/anxiety ish re young child !

13 replies

crokky · 13/05/2009 16:38

I have a patio outside my back door. It is very dirty - it is black but the stone underneath is a sandy/pinky sort of colour.

My mum has been helping me clear the place up as we haven't been here long. Anyway, she has been using a wire brush to scrub the little patio and bits of wire have come off the brush - these pieces are about the length of a staple say so they are quite hard to see to pick them up (there are quite a lot of them). My youngest DC is 13 months and she can't yet walk so spends time sitting/shuffling on her bum. I am really stressed out that she is going to get these nasty little wire pieces in her clothes/mouth etc and I don't know what to do. Best I can think of is to vacuum the patio.

Will these little pieces of wire harm her if she accidentally swallows one? How shall I try and make sure there are none left there? Any remaining ones could have gone into the grass around the area as well.

Perhaps I should have posted this in mental health! I feel embarassed to have written it down . But I do worry a lot about my DCs (3 and 1) coming to some sort of harm accidentally like this because I have failed to protect them properly.

OP posts:
littleducks · 13/05/2009 16:44

a wire brush like a pan scourer?
could you sweep the patio, leave it a day (is windy here) or if really bad sweep with broom while tipping bucket of water?

Seeline · 13/05/2009 16:44

Sweep with a really stiff broom?

crokky · 13/05/2009 16:49

yes, sort of like a pan scourer, but the bristles are straight rather than curly like a scourer. [time to confess I don't much like pan scourers either for the same reason - the bits of wire and me thinking of my DCs ingesting them somehow!! . It's not a problem though as I stick everything including pans in the dishwasher so don't actually need to wash up anymore.

but yes, re the patio I will wash it down with hosepipe I think.

I have all my DCs toys out there - sand and water table etc so it will get used a lot so I want to be as careful as possible getting up all these little wire bits.

OP posts:
crokky · 13/05/2009 17:06

what does anyone think would happen to DD if she ate one (she likes to stick everything in her mouth)

OP posts:
crokky · 13/05/2009 20:38

Shameless bump! Because I am feeling worried!

OP posts:
YouLukaAmazing · 13/05/2009 22:51

Message withdrawn

Sorrento · 14/05/2009 08:59

She wouldn't be out on the patio alone at 13 months would she ? I would be worried about choking on a wire parts and them getting stuck too so don't feel bad.
Sweeping is probably the best plan and then watch her like a hawk until she's about 5 lol

morningpaper · 14/05/2009 09:01

I would wash it with a power-washer (borrow one if you don't have one) and then when it's dry, give it a hoover.

That's just cleaning advice though

Re. the wires, I wouldn't worry

MmeLindt · 14/05/2009 09:03

Give the patio a good sweep. I would actually hoover, much easier but make sure that the neighbours are not watching or they will think that you are a loon.

You can hire a power washer to clean the patio, it is a lot less work than scrubbing and is done in now time.

morningpaper · 14/05/2009 09:03

There might be an MNer near you who can lend you a powerwasher?

crokky · 14/05/2009 09:19

Thanks for replies everybody - pmsl at MmeLindt saying my neighbours will think I am a loon - I am a loon

I will take a really careful look at the patio, pick any obvious bits up then vacuum it and I think after I will powerwash it - I have to powerwash it anyway as we had only scrubbed a few slabs and there are more so I think it will be a better option doing that - don't want to create any more wire pieces to worry about!! Perhaps if I'm feeling really crazy, I'll vacuum it again.

No, I would never leave DD on the patio - remember I am a major worrier

mp - I will be OK to get a power washer - I think my dad has one. Perhaps I can make him wash the patio for me as well!

OP posts:
Rollmops · 14/05/2009 09:22

Do you have a leaf blower, that could suck up the nasties?
Keeping toddlers away from potentially dangrous things is incredibly stressful.

southeastastra · 14/05/2009 09:24

could you put a blanket out over it when she's outside?

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