No More Container Stains

When you have a potted plant placed on a step or a stoop outside, it can look beautiful but as soon as you remove it you can see the ugly rings that it can leave beneath on your concrete patio or deck; so then you end up having no other choice but to keep a container or something there to hide it even when you no longer want to.

Here are some ways to make sure that your container doesn't leave any stains behind.

• At our house, we use these cork mats under our pots (similar to coasters you would use for your cups and mugs to not leave water stains behind on your furniture) on the front entryway and although they are meant for indoors, they work just as well as outside.
• Pot Risers are also great to lift your pot up from the ground. They are invisible feet that are made of recycled tire rubber and are 1 inch squares that stay put under your containers and/or anything else you want to lift off of the surface of your patio or deck. They don't slip or leave marks behind, and they also help provide cushioning on uneven surfaces. Pot Risers can also support up to 1600 pounds!
• Flower pot pads are great for both protection as well as for absorbing excess water when it detects more moisture than required in your plant's soil. Also, since they absorb extra moisture, this helps with both mildew and mildew odors.
• Tiles can also be a good buffer for your patios from stains.
• If your flower container is small, you can use a larger decorative pot to place that container inside; this would create a unique look.

For some, unfortunately, you may have already created a stain on your patio or deck; listed below, I have listed some ways below to get those areas cleaned up. Please note, that depending on how long the stain has been there, it is very possible that some of those stains may never fade.

• Power washing can help get rid of some of these stains.
• Stain solver is a great tool to help remove many types of stains on your patio, deck or driveway.
• Sanders or water based deck strippers can help remove the stain from your deck but will also remove the paint/stain that is already on your deck, so you may have to power wash it and then re-stain your entire deck.
• Baking soda along with soap can remove stains from your concrete or other type of patio.
• Pouring any household vinegar on concrete will help remove rust stains.
• Lemon juice has the same effect on cement.
• Usually keeping most of the above items on the stain for 15 - 20 minutes should help lift the stain and then scrubbing it with a stiff bristled brush will then help remove the extra debris out. You should always rinse it off with plain water so that it does not set in one spot and create another stain that you were not expecting and which might be even harder to fix.

Have a wonderful week!

Marlin