How to Clean Balconies and Terraces

Clean balconies and terraces with natural remedies It's possible, economical, and environmentally friendly. The strategy depends on the type of dirt: dust, soil stains, leaves, plant debris, or algae.

To encourage you to clean your balconies and terraces, always remember that these are places you can go even in winter, well-covered, on a nice sunny day. In short, consider these areas as integral parts of the home, to be enjoyed year-round, albeit in different ways.

Cleaning balconies and terraces begins with two preliminary steps.

The first: get yourself a nice broom made of sorghum, the most suitable for this cleaning activity.
The second: move the plants and pots in one area, so that they do not create clutter and do not risk being damaged.

And now let's look at the natural remedies for each individual area of the balcony and terrace.

Index of topics

Water, vinegar and lemon for balustrades and railings

Let's start by cleaning the balustrades, usually made of marble, iron, glass, or concrete.

After removing the dust with the sorghum broom, brush the dust well wrought iron using a solution of water, vinegar and lemon, let it dry and then pass over it a napkin soaked in olive oil. Not only will you make them shinier but you will also prevent the formation of ruggine.
You can clean instead concrete balustrades and railings using a hard-bristled brush and a solution based on water and bicarbonate.
for marble balustrades and railings Instead, use the Marseille soapGrate a few spoonfuls of it into a bucket with hot waterMelt well and use it to remove stains and encrustations. Dry with a cloth and decide whether to use natural wax.
Finally, to clean effectively glass balustrades and railings, fill a bowl with hot water and white vinegar.

Broom made of sorghum for floors

At this point proceed with the floor cleaningFirst, using a sorghum broom or an outdoor broom, remove dry leaves and any remaining soil, and then proceed with washing the floor, carefully evaluating the material it is made of so as not to damage it. Before starting, Also remove any leaves accumulated during the winter in the balcony drains.

For cleaning the tiled floors use a solution based on water and white vinegar, an excellent remedy also to sanitize and eliminate residues of limestone.
For the slate or stoneware floors, fill a bucket with hot water and add a cup of Marseille soap, a cup of bicarbonate and two of white vinegar. Brush vigorously, rinse, and let dry.
For the pebble tile floors, more difficult to clean due to their particular shape, use plenty of water and an outdoor broom capable of effectively removing dirt and encrustations. If necessary, consider also using a pressure washer steamIn general, stone floors are at risk of being damaged by chemical products. Therefore, for washing it is preferable to use natural substances such as sodium bicarbonate or beeswax.

More stubborn stains

Some stains may seem more stubborn and difficult to remove. But even in these cases, there are several effective natural solutions, to choose from based on the type of floor and the stains you need to clean.

Stains of earth or mud: baking soda + water → thick cream, rub with a soft brush.
Limescale stains: pure or diluted white vinegar (50:50 with water), leave to act for 10-15 minutes, then rinse well.
Mold or algae: Mix water + baking soda + a few drops of tea tree essential oil (natural antifungal), rub and rinse.

Coarse salt for the umbrella

If you are lucky enough to have furnished the terrace with a nice umbrella garden, before you start using it again for evening dinners and aperitifs at home with friends, you must clean it thoroughly. First of all dust the umbrella with a fabric brush in order to remove dust and various encrustations.

Afterwards, continue cleaning using a sponge soaked in a solution based on warm water and salt Kitchen. Run the sponge over the umbrella canvas several times, rubbing vigorously if necessary, and then rinse with water.

General cleaning of the terrace

A very dirty terrace or balcony becomes a natural magnet for mice. To clean it quickly, move objects, wash the floors (following the instructions we've given you), the railings, and the various access points. Then focus on prevention against them. mice. With a very simple natural remedy: just plant as many plants as you like mint, rue, chamomile, absinthe, rosemary and narcissus. Thanks to their scents, which are very pleasant to humans but repellent to mice, you'll see that they'll no longer dare to intrude on your terrace or garden.

Cleaning the vases

An invasion of small birds and pigeons can cause problems for your balcony plants. What can you do? You certainly can't think like you're in a large agricultural field and place scarecrows everywhere. Instead, use a simple and effective natural remedy: hydrogen peroxide, colorless and odorless. Take half a glass of 3% hydrogen peroxide and mix it with 500 ml of plain water, then pour it into a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on the railings: the birds won't come near. About Instead, find the best solutions to keep the pigeons.

Natural ingredients for cleaning balconies and terraces