How to use a potato to get your garden furniture spotless for Spring and totally remove rust too
THE weather may be cold but rest assured, spring is on its way.
And if you’re dusting off your patio furniture to soak up some sun, this hack may be for you.
Whether you leave your outdoor table and chairs to face the elements all winter or store them away in a shed, it’s likely they have developed some rust over the years.
Rather than looking into replacements, why not see if you can salvage them?
The experts at Metals Warehouse have shared a handy hack which will leave your furniture looking as good as new.
And you won’t even have to invest in any additional cleaning products.
Everything you need can probably already be found in your kitchen.
“If you take time, patience, and a little elbow grease, you can remove rust from many metal surfaces and have your tools, knives and pans looking as good as new,” the pros said.
For this unique hack, they recommended using a raw potato to transform your garden set.
Pairing the staple ingredient with some washing up liquid can work as good as cleaning chemicals, according to the experts.
“For rust on easy-to-reach surfaces with less-stubborn, smaller stains, the potato and dish soap method is an easy and fast technique for removing rust,” they said.
For the first step, you should slice a potato in half and cover the exposed end in washing up liquid.
“Use the potato like you would a scouring pad, as this creates a chemical reaction with the rust that makes it easier to remove,” they explained.
Potatoes contain oxalic acid, which is a chemical compound often found in cleaning products.
This, when used along side washing up liquid, can help to break down rust.
It does this by reacting with rust to create a water soluble compound, making it easier to remove.
Once you have finished scrubbing the rusted area, you should rinse it and dry it.
Top 5 Spring Gardening Jobs
Nick Grey, Gtech Inventor and CEO shared the tasks to crack on with as Spring arrives.
1. Clean your garden
Make sure to clear away all leaves, soil and plant debris from your patios and flower beds; this creates a healthier environment for new growth, especially as we get into the summer months. Gtech’s Garden Safety Kit includes durable gardening gloves and safety glasses; perfect for comfortability whilst tackling those outdoor tasks.
2. Weeding
Early Spring is the best time to tackle weeds; if you can introduce some regular weeding into your routine, you can guarantee a tidy garden all year round.
3. Hedge maintenance
Spring is the ideal time to tidy up overgrown hedges and shrubs, as regular trimming ensures healthy growth and reduces pest issues. Using a tool like the Gtech Lightweight Hedge Trimmer can help to keep your greenery looking sharp and neat.
4. Composting
Starting a compost heap this spring is a pro-active, cost-effective way to harness nutritious soil for your plants and recycle organic waste that will benefit the overall health of your greenery and foliage.
5. Look after your lawn
Lawn care is hugely important in assuring your garden stays looking beautiful. Make sure to rake away any excess leaves and trim your grass routinely.
You can also opt to add in coarse salt to create a “more abrasive scrub”.
Letting the potato sit on the rusted area “for a few hours” can also help to elevate the process.
And the handy hack can be used on more than just your garden furniture.
The professionals recommended utilising it to polish up your old kitchen appliances.
Though they advised doing this “over a sink as it can get messy”.