Vinegar is a fantastic, eco-friendly way to tackle moss on your patio stones, walls, and even in your lawn. In fact, many commercial moss killers use acetic acid (the stuff in vinegar) as their main active ingredient. If you’re looking to clear out those unwanted green carpets naturally, vinegar is your best friend.
Cleaning Up Pavers with Vinegar
Moss loves cool, shady spots. Because of its tiny, thread-like structure, it can grab onto almost any uneven surface, from stone walls to garden paths. If your pavers are looking a bit too “green,” vinegar is a great way to get them back to their original look.
Here’s how to do it:
- Start by scraping away as much moss as you can with a putty knife or a stiff brush.
- Spray the remaining mossy patches with apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar. Pro tip: Avoid using concentrated vinegar essence! It’s way too strong and can actually damage your stones or harm nearby plants you want to keep.
- Let the vinegar sit and do its magic for a day or two, depending on how thick the moss is.
- Once it’s dead, just scrub away the remains.
If you’re dealing with a really stubborn patch, don’t worry—just repeat the process one more time.
The Vinegar and Salt Combo
Some folks swear by mixing vinegar and salt for an extra-strength punch. While it’s effective, you’ve got to be careful with this one. It’s a “scorched earth” tactic that can kill surrounding plants, leave brown stains on your stone, or even break down the grout in your joints. Use this combo sparingly!
Vinegar-Based Moss Killers
If you head to your local garden center, you’ll notice many moss killers are vinegar-based. These are especially handy for getting moss out of your lawn. Within a few days, the moss will turn yellow and die off, making it easy to rake right out. Just be sure to follow the dosage on the label—too much can stress out your grass or other garden favorites.
Cleaning Moss Off Patio Furniture
When it comes to your outdoor furniture, I’d actually recommend skipping the vinegar. The acidity can be a bit too harsh on certain materials. Since moss doesn’t get a very deep grip on plastic or finished wood, you can usually get it off just fine with some hot soapy water and a little elbow grease.
