Patios often bear the brunt of various stains such as oil spills, moss and regular dirt - however, these are relatively simple to clean.

The real challenge arises when dealing with black spots on patios. Eradicating these dark marks from your patio can prove to be a tough and time-consuming task if you don’t have the right black spot remover at hand.

Black spot is essentially lichen that thrives on stone surfaces in the damp and shady conditions so prevalent in the UK.

As the lichen matures, it burrows into the pores of the stone, drawing nutrients from the minerals within the stone and gradually spreading across the surface of the patio.

With this in mind, Tom Allen of TGA Concrete Pumping, has shared his advice on how to eliminate black spots from your patio using citric acid, which he describes as “a fairly common household item that is cheap to buy”.

He stated: “Black spots, typically caused by algae, moss, or mould, can make patios appear dirty and neglected, and while solutions like baking soda and vinegar are often recommended for cleaning, citric acid is another household item readily available in supermarkets that can effectively tackle these stubborn stains.”

Before embarking on the patio cleaning process, start by assembling the necessary supplies. You will need citric acid powder, a large bucket, warm water, a scrubbing brush or broom with stiff bristles, and a watering can or spray bottle.

Next on the list is whipping up a homemade patio cleanser. Grab a sizeable bucket and blend about one cup of citric acid powder with a gallon of hot water.

Give the solution a good stir until the powder is fully dissolved and tweak the mix depending on how large the patch you’re tackling is.

Load up your watering can or spray bottle and coat the patio’s blemished spots evenly with the citric acid formula, not skimping on the amount so it gets right into the surface.

Leave the concoction to work its magic for 15 to 20 minutes, during which time the citric acid will “break down and loosen the black spots”, aiding their removal.

When the time is up, grab a scrub brush or stiff-bristled broom and give the patio a proper once-over. Get into those heavily dotted areas and don’t shy away from a bit of elbow grease to shift those stubborn marks.

After delivering a good scrubbing, hose down the patio to wash off all remnants of the citric acid concoction.