The secret to the perfect garden furniture could be hiding your fridge.

While it may sound strange to clean your garden decor and patio furniture with ketchup, experts are claiming that this could actually be the perfect way to get your garden looking perfect for spring.

Sam Stevens, garden design expert at Pergolux UK, said: "Spring is on its way and a lot of people will be looking at their gardens and getting them ready for brighter and longer days ahead.

"Cleaning the garden doesn’t have to be an expensive job at all. We all love a cheap and cheerful hack and the good news is that there are plenty of items you’ll already have in your home that can be used in the garden."

He continued: "Whether you need to buff away stains, achieve a streak-free finish on glass or get rid of rust, there will be something in your house for everything."

Household items to clean your garden

Ketchup can be used to remove tarnish and oxidation from brass or copper garden decor and is great for metal patio furniture, garden gates and metal watering cans.

The expert explained: "Apply a thin layer of ketchup to the affected area and let it sit for around fifteen minutes before gently scrubbing it away and rinsing the area with water."

Fizzy drinks

Fizzy drinks can break down rust, making it easier to remove. These popular beverages are used on a range of things in the garden, from rusty tools and furniture to hinges and the metal parts of the barbecue.

Small tools can be left to soak in fizzy drinks overnight. For bigger items and furniture, Sam recommends pouring some of the fizzy drink onto a cloth and wrapping it over the rusty area for a few hours or overnight for strong rust.

Pencil eraser

A pencil eraser can be used to buff plant pots and remove scuffs and marks - if the mark isn’t too stubborn, it should come away easily.

Tea bags

Mr Stevens recommends keeping your tea bags after you have a cup of tea. They can be used on any dirty glass to achieve a streak-free shine. They will work particularly well on greenhouses, glass patio furniture, and garden mirrors.

Aluminium foil

"Crumple some foil into a ball and gently rub it over metal to give it a shiny finish," he said. "While foil doesn’t necessarily polish, it can remove surface rust and build-up to give tools and furniture a temporary shine."

Pennies

Algae in bird baths can occur from debris falling into the water, which is why it’s important to refill them every couple of days.

However, if you notice algae persistently returning, just give the bird bath a thorough cleaning. When filling the bath with fresh water, place a copper coin in it, as this will help slow down the growth of algae.