Cleaning off a patio

[low-key]

or the gardeners blow in.

yep I just hate that or when the pool man messes up

 

[Callie]

I don't own any gardening supplies or gardening bags, which is why I couldn't rake up the leaves. I just brushed them off my patio (which has a fence), into the pile of leaves that was on the other side. There were already leaves on that side. Yes in hindsight I should have dug thru the leaves to get the broken up flower containers, but I didn't have any gloves or the like. I spent 20 minutes sweeping everything up. I was just annoyed that my patio furniture was ruined as well.

I called in today to let them know about my neighbors and the cat litter. I tried to be nice about it. I have a cat myself, so I know cats can get it all over. They could maybe put a rug down to catch it? I just don't want it falling on my outside. I also was able to block off the bottom of my fence with a large board I had outside. That way the leaves can't blow in. I plan on getting some chicken wire or something to put down there permanently so I can stop the issue.

I also mentioned to the landlord about someone (either above me, or the third floor) having thrown a pumpkin off their balcony. It was smashed right outside my patio. Almost fell into it.

 

[robinb]

I was just annoyed that my patio furniture was ruined as well.

How was your patio furniture ruined by the cat litter? Can't you just wash it off?

 

[marlynnp]

You don't need "gardening bags" to throw out leaves. And if it gets windy again that cardboard is just going to go flying and litter up the neighborhood even more.

And you furniture is ruined? What was it made of, more cardboard? Must not be patio furniture.

 

[wishesuponastar]

I don't own any gardening supplies or gardening bags, which is why I couldn't rake up the leaves. I just brushed them off my patio (which has a fence), into the pile of leaves that was on the other side. There were already leaves on that side. Yes in hindsight I should have dug thru the leaves to get the broken up flower containers, but I didn't have any gloves or the like. I spent 20 minutes sweeping everything up. I was just annoyed that my patio furniture was ruined as well.

I called in today to let them know about my neighbors and the cat litter. I tried to be nice about it. I have a cat myself, so I know cats can get it all over. They could maybe put a rug down to catch it? I just don't want it falling on my outside. I also was able to block off the bottom of my fence with a large board I had outside. That way the leaves can't blow in. I plan on getting some chicken wire or something to put down there permanently so I can stop the issue.

I also mentioned to the landlord about someone (either above me, or the third floor) having thrown a pumpkin off their balcony. It was smashed right outside my patio. Almost fell into it.

Without any gloves or gardening supplies I wouldn't want to use my bare hands to clean up the mess OP had to deal with.
OP, I hope your neighbors stop what they have been doing with the cat litter.

 

[robinb]

Without any gloves or gardening supplies I wouldn't want to use my bare hands to clean up the mess OP had to deal with.

OMG! God forbid that she picks up discarded Burger King cups with her hands! If it were me, I would probably not even take the time to find gloves and would just pick garbage with my bare hands. It's really not a big deal. I wash my hands with some soap and hot water and I'm good to go.

Worse comes to worse you can make 'gloves' with 2 plastic bags.

 

[wishesuponastar]

Didn't think of using plastic bags....would definitely not use bare hands as OP said there was kitty litter ewww.

 

[pfalcioni]

No rubber cleaning gloves? No old winter gloves? Use two Walmart bags as "gloves", or use two brooms to capture it, then put the leaves and other detritus into a regular garbage bag.

Anyway, if you're planning on installing chicken wire you'll need gloves for that, so you'll have gloves next time you need to clean.

If the "cat litter" damaged your furniture, it isn't cat litter.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I don't own any gardening supplies or gardening bags, which is why I couldn't rake up the leaves. I just brushed them off my patio (which has a fence), into the pile of leaves that was on the other side. There were already leaves on that side. Yes in hindsight I should have dug thru the leaves to get the broken up flower containers, but I didn't have any gloves or the like. I spent 20 minutes sweeping everything up. I was just annoyed that my patio furniture was ruined as well.

I called in today to let them know about my neighbors and the cat litter. I tried to be nice about it. I have a cat myself, so I know cats can get it all over. They could maybe put a rug down to catch it? I just don't want it falling on my outside. I also was able to block off the bottom of my fence with a large board I had outside. That way the leaves can't blow in. I plan on getting some chicken wire or something to put down there permanently so I can stop the issue.

I also mentioned to the landlord about someone (either above me, or the third floor) having thrown a pumpkin off their balcony. It was smashed right outside my patio. Almost fell into it.

I suggest you get some gloves and clean up the trash you pushed aside ASAP--before neighbors call this to the attention of the property management and you find yourself in hot water. Or, before the management, coming out t see the litter issue you reported, see what you have done.

Reading this it sounds like you think 20 minutes is too much to expect to spend cleaning a patio. It also sounds like, based on the amount of debris and leaves, that either there was a big wind storm recently that you were cleaning up from, OR this was accumulation of a few months of leaves and debris blowing in while the patio was not used and just now catching up from lack of winter use--sort of an early spring cleaning.

In either case, in my experience, it is normal to spend a good half hour cleaning leaves, blown in dirt, dusting furniture, etc on a regular basis, even for a very tiny patio and a couple of hours a couple of times per year really cleaning well, spending time on the furniture to get dust and debris out of cracks, oil, etc. So this 20 minutes does not seem like some large amount of time or reason to complain to me. Perhaps you have not lived where you were responsible for any outdoor area previously and do not realize what would be a typical amount of maintenance time?

And along those lines, perhaps you really do not understand that normal expectations of having an outdoor space. When things blow into your yard, leave, debris, etc--they become YOUR problem and you are expected to deal with them appropriately (putting your trash--which that which blew into your yard has become--into public space or any space other than an appropriate trash bin is not handling it appropriately).

As an adult who has chosen to live somewhere that requires taking care of this outdoor space (patio) you can decide if you are comfortable picking up blown in trash with your bare hands, or using some pieces of cardboard to scoop it up with the leaves and throw it all away, or if you need to go out and buy gloves in order to be able to handle it---but in any event you are responsible and simply not having the needed item for care taking care of your responsibilities is not a valid reason to shove trash onto a public or shared space (it is not like you did not know you now have a patio and could not prepare yourself, or like you could not leave the leaves for an hour to run to the store nor does this require large, expensive, uncommon equipment to handle).

 

[SirDuff]

I don't own any gardening supplies or gardening bags, which is why I couldn't rake up the leaves. I just brushed them off my patio (which has a fence), into the pile of leaves that was on the other side. There were already leaves on that side. Yes in hindsight I should have dug thru the leaves to get the broken up flower containers, but I didn't have any gloves or the like. I spent 20 minutes sweeping everything up. I was just annoyed that my patio furniture was ruined as well.

I called in today to let them know about my neighbors and the cat litter. I tried to be nice about it. I have a cat myself, so I know cats can get it all over. They could maybe put a rug down to catch it? I just don't want it falling on my outside. I also was able to block off the bottom of my fence with a large board I had outside. That way the leaves can't blow in. I plan on getting some chicken wire or something to put down there permanently so I can stop the issue.

I also mentioned to the landlord about someone (either above me, or the third floor) having thrown a pumpkin off their balcony. It was smashed right outside my patio. Almost fell into it.

While tattling on everyone, did you mention all the garbage that you pushed under the fence?

 

[Luvstotravel]

Every year in spring we have to clean up trash in the yard. It's annoying picking up other people's garbage, but we do it. That's life.

 

[DisneyOma]

I don't own any gardening supplies or gardening bags, which is why I couldn't rake up the leaves. I just brushed them off my patio (which has a fence), into the pile of leaves that was on the other side. There were already leaves on that side. Yes in hindsight I should have dug thru the leaves to get the broken up flower containers, but I didn't have any gloves or the like. I spent 20 minutes sweeping everything up. I was just annoyed that my patio furniture was ruined as well.

I called in today to let them know about my neighbors and the cat litter. I tried to be nice about it. I have a cat myself, so I know cats can get it all over. They could maybe put a rug down to catch it? I just don't want it falling on my outside. I also was able to block off the bottom of my fence with a large board I had outside. That way the leaves can't blow in. I plan on getting some chicken wire or something to put down there permanently so I can stop the issue.

I also mentioned to the landlord about someone (either above me, or the third floor) having thrown a pumpkin off their balcony. It was smashed right outside my patio. Almost fell into it.

Wouldn't you have to check with the landlord before you put up chicken wire? Perhaps he has a better solution?

 

[littlejimmy]

I also mentioned to the landlord about someone (either above me, or the third floor) having thrown a pumpkin off their balcony. It was smashed right outside my patio. Almost fell into it.

maybe the person that threw the pumpkin there was the dude from the other side of the fence, that you made a mess for them to clean up? surely, something to think about, don't you think?

 

[phorsenuf]

I don't own any gardening supplies or gardening bags, which is why I couldn't rake up the leaves. I just brushed them off my patio (which has a fence), into the pile of leaves that was on the other side. There were already leaves on that side. Yes in hindsight I should have dug thru the leaves to get the broken up flower containers, but I didn't have any gloves or the like. I spent 20 minutes sweeping everything up. I was just annoyed that my patio furniture was ruined as well.

I called in today to let them know about my neighbors and the cat litter. I tried to be nice about it. I have a cat myself, so I know cats can get it all over. They could maybe put a rug down to catch it? I just don't want it falling on my outside. I also was able to block off the bottom of my fence with a large board I had outside. That way the leaves can't blow in. I plan on getting some chicken wire or something to put down there permanently so I can stop the issue.

I also mentioned to the landlord about someone (either above me, or the third floor) having thrown a pumpkin off their balcony. It was smashed right outside my patio. Almost fell into it.

Before going to complain to management, why didn't you just go and politely speak to the cat owners about the kitty litter? That would be the neighborly thing to do. As for the pumpkin, why do you think they threw it off the porch? It could have rolled off, or been blown off from winds. Why always assume the worse?

 

[NHdisneylover]

Before going to complain to management, why didn't you just go and politely speak to the cat owners about the kitty litter? That would be the neighborly thing to do. As for the pumpkin, why do you think they threw it off the porch? It could have rolled off, or been blown off from winds. Why always assume the worse?

I agree that the kitty litter issue would be best handled (as a first approach) directly with the neighbors as it is very likely they have no idea it is falling through and a problem.

I could understand reporting the pumpkin to to management after waiting a couple of days to see if neighbors appeared and apologized for their pumpkin falling onto your patio or just leaned it up from the public area. But, unless pumpkins have suddenly started appearing in US stores much later than they used to, I have to assume the pumpkin has been there for at least a couple of months at this point. I think it is odd and likely to mark someone as whiny and needy to complain about it so long after the fact. The end result will probably be that management stops taking any complaint from the OP seriously--which could come back to bite her if/when something legitimate comes up.

If I had a neighbor who pushed leaves and debris off the patio and then blocked the area with cardboard or chicken wire, I would call management rather than go directly to the neighbor as those are clearly deliberate actions and the person is aware of what they are doing (unlike with the kitty litter)

 

[Lilacs4Me]

How was your patio furniture ruined by the cat litter? Can't you just wash it off?

Really?

I don't even like seeing the kitty litter that my cat throws all over the basement floor when he's scratching around in the litter box. But at least it's on the floor - in the basement! The OP is talking about kitty litter falling onto her furniture -that she sits on! and maybe even a table, on her patio. That's disgusting. Do you really think she should just suck it up and keep letting possibly dirty, germy, feces-contaminated litter fall all over her patio just because she can wash it off? If that is the right thinking, then we all may just as well put our cat litter boxes on our kitchen table - I mean, after all, we can just wash it off, right?

I (kind of, although it is getting rather harsh) get the massacre for the sweeping of garbage out into the common area that PP's are plying on the OP right now, but telling her that it's OK for cat litter to fall all over her patio furniture is a little too much.

OP - take care of the cat litter problem with your management company or the neighbor directly, but stop sweeping out a mess of leaves and garbage into the common areas. Clean it up and put it in the trash. Get a broom and dustpan if you don't want to wear gloves.

 

[mom2rtk]

Really?

I don't even like seeing the kitty litter that my cat throws all over the basement floor when he's scratching around in the litter box. But at least it's on the floor - in the basement! The OP is talking about kitty litter falling onto her furniture -that she sits on! and maybe even a table, on her patio. That's disgusting. Do you really think she should just suck it up and keep letting possibly dirty, germy, feces-contaminated litter fall all over her patio just because she can wash it off? If that is the right thinking, then we all may just as well put our cat litter boxes on our kitchen table - I mean, after all, we can just wash it off, right?

I (kind of, although it is getting rather harsh) get the massacre for the sweeping of garbage out into the common area that PP's are plying on the OP right now, but telling her that it's OK for cat litter to fall all over her patio furniture is a little too much.

OP - take care of the cat litter problem with your management company or the neighbor directly, but stop sweeping out a mess of leaves and garbage into the common areas. Clean it up and put it in the trash. Get a broom and dustpan if you don't want to wear gloves.

I don't think anyone is suggesting she be happy about the litter and go forward just living with it. People are suggesting that lawn furniture can be washed off, and that she can talk to the neighbor or landlord about making sure it doesn't continue.

 

[Snap Crackle Pop]

Really?

I don't even like seeing the kitty litter that my cat throws all over the basement floor when he's scratching around in the litter box. But at least it's on the floor - in the basement! The OP is talking about kitty litter falling onto her furniture -that she sits on! and maybe even a table, on her patio. That's disgusting. Do you really think she should just suck it up and keep letting possibly dirty, germy, feces-contaminated litter fall all over her patio just because she can wash it off? If that is the right thinking, then we all may just as well put our cat litter boxes on our kitchen table - I mean, after all, we can just wash it off, right?

I (kind of, although it is getting rather harsh) get the massacre for the sweeping of garbage out into the common area that PP's are plying on the OP right now, but telling her that it's OK for cat litter to fall all over her patio furniture is a little too much.

OP - take care of the cat litter problem with your management company or the neighbor directly, but stop sweeping out a mess of leaves and garbage into the common areas. Clean it up and put it in the trash. Get a broom and dustpan if you don't want to wear gloves.

She didn't say if the litter was being used for a cat or for other purposes that deal with snow. So cat litter won't ruin your furniture if its not being used by a cat, its just like sand. It's annoying to clean up, but thats life sometimes. Also her tattle tailing to management instead of going upstairs to her neighbors and talking to them about the issue rubs me the wrong way. I would understand if that person was being like "OH YES, LETS POUR SOME CAT LITTER DOWN THERE. HEY NEIGHBOR, HOPE YOU LOVE RAINING CAT LITTER." But she's not giving that kind of impression.

 

[Callie]

Didn't think of using plastic bags....would definitely not use bare hands as OP said there was kitty litter ewww.

Exactly, I didn't know what was all in the leaves. I did pick up the cups using a plastic bag, but the small plastic from planting materials I was not digging thru a mess of wet leaves, cat litter and who knows what else. Also, I can't put leaves in a plastic bag, its against the law here. They require special paper bags, which I don't own as I don't have a yard.

The pumpkin was there before I cleaned my patio. I don't have neighbors on the otherside of the fence, its the parking lot. The fence is just like a balcony type fence, to keep people off.

My furniture I have tried cleaning off. The cat litter has gotten wet and caked on. I'll keep trying to scrub the table, but its gross. The chairs are wicker and the litter is in the wicker. Its patio furniture.

I already told the apartment complex that I brushed everything out and they said that was fine. I shouldn't be dealing with garbage and litter on my patio.

 

[Magpie]

Exactly, I didn't know what was all in the leaves. I did pick up the cups using a plastic bag, but the small plastic from planting materials I was not digging thru a mess of wet leaves, cat litter and who knows what else. Also, I can't put leaves in a plastic bag, its against the law here. They require special paper bags, which I don't own as I don't have a yard.

The pumpkin was there before I cleaned my patio. I don't have neighbors on the otherside of the fence, its the parking lot. The fence is just like a balcony type fence, to keep people off.

My furniture I have tried cleaning off. The cat litter has gotten wet and caked on. I'll keep trying to scrub the table, but its gross. The chairs are wicker and the litter is in the wicker. Its patio furniture.

I already told the apartment complex that I brushed everything out and they said that was fine. I shouldn't be dealing with garbage and litter on my patio.

Okay, I'm with you about not using your bare hands this one time. But this is your patio. You deal with whatever happens to land on it, because that is what responsible people do. If you can talk to your neighbours and get them to be a bit more careful with the kitty litter, great! But you still have to maintain your outdoor living space, same as you maintain your indoor space.

What you need to do now is get yourself over to the hardware store (or hardware section of whatever big box store is closest) and purchase the following items:

Sturdy Gardening gloves.

Brown paper yard waste bags.

A large bucket.

Large sponges.

Liquid soap.

(Optional, but highly recommended: A garden hose.)

Then get online and find out what your local pick up schedule is, so that you can do the bulk of your cleaning in time to have your bags hauled away.

Now, to deal with your wicker furniture and table - if you have a hose, great! Just hose it off with the strongest spray setting you can. However, I'm assuming you either don't have a hose or can't figure out a way to hook it up, in order to use it on your balcony.

In which case, this is going to take some physical labour. You will be filling your bucket, carrying it out, and dumping it over your furniture. Repeat as often as necessary, until the bulk of the kitty litter washes off. Then fill the bucket again with soapy water and attack it with a sponge. Rinse. Repeat. Keep going. This WILL take longer than 20 minutes.

You'll probably want to devote an afternoon to this endeavour. Take frequent breaks and reward yourself with something nice when you're done.

Having a patio is lovely, but it takes maintenance. Once you've got it cleaned up, this time, you should be going over it about once a week, just to maintain things. Keeping an outdoor-only broom by the balcony door helps. A ten minute sweep and tidy once a week will save you a LOT of hassle in the long run.