The Winter Slip Problem: Patios, Steps & Decking
You can live with a few leaves on the patio. You can ignore a bit of grime on the driveway. But that green film on steps? The thick strip by the back door? The decking that suddenly feels like an ice rink in trainers?
That’s where the near-misses happen. And you only need one wobble while taking the bins out to decide you’re officially over it.
So here’s a simple, realistic plan to make things safer without standing outside scrubbing paving in February like some kind of finger-freezing punishment.
Why everything gets slippery in winter
Winter in the UK is basically a perfect recipe for algae and mould: damp air, lots of rain, low sun, and surfaces that stay wet for ages.
Algae especially loves:
- Shade
- Moisture
- Porous surfaces
- Areas that don’t dry out properly
So it usually starts in the same places every year… and then spreads if you leave it.
The 60-second slip audit: where to check first
If you only do one thing today, walk outside and look at these:
- Steps (especially the edge)
- The main path you actually use (to the back door, bins or side gate)
- North-facing patio strips or shady corners
- Decking boards under fences, trees, or anything that blocks light
Basically: anywhere that stays damp and gets walked on.
Quick winter prevention tips (the small stuff that helps)
You don’t need a full garden routine in winter just these:
- Sweep leaves off paths and steps (they trap moisture and make surfaces slick)
- Move planters occasionally (those rings underneath love to go green)
- Check shady corners after rainy spells and treat early before it spreads
AND use Wet & Forget! The goal isn’t to blast it. The goal is to treat the algae film that makes it slippery, without damaging the wood. A decking or patio cleaner that doesn’t rely on pressure washing is what we are about here.
