Keeping patios and driveways moss-free in the UK can be challenging due to the damp climate. Moss and algae thrive in these conditions, making hard surfaces slippery and unappealing. Whether it’s your patio, driveway, or tarmac, maintaining a clean and safe outdoor space is essential.
While many people reach for a pressure washer for this task, if it is used incorrectly, it not only gives you poor cleaning results, but could also damage paving. For a cost-effective and simpler solution to remove moss from patios, Coastal Luxury Outdoors CEO Rafi Friedman and MaidForYou Managing Director Delah Gomasi advocate using white vinegar. Vinegar can effectively kill moss due to its acetic acid content.
Delah explained: “The good thing about removing moss from pavers and outdoor areas is that the best way to remove it is eco-friendly.”
He outlined the process: “It’s really as simple as spraying a mixture of 65% water and 35% vinegar on the areas you want to have the moss removed, waiting a few days until the moss browns and then using a hard bristled brush to remove the moss from your patio, deck or garden pavers.”
Rafi recommended commencing with a clear patio by moving any furniture, grills, plant pots, and other objects before thoroughly sweeping with a push broom to prepare the area for treatment.
His suggested mixture is slightly different: “Put a one-to-one mixture of white vinegar and plain water into a spray bottle and thoroughly soak any mossy areas of your patio.”
He cautioned against getting the solution on other plants or grass as it could harm them, advising: “Do your best to avoid spraying any other plants or your lawn, since this mixture will damage the foliage. Let that mixture sit for 10 to 30 minutes.”
Following the wait, a bristle brush and additional water should be used to scrub the moss away.
Rinse the entire patio with a garden hose, and allow it to dry before replacing any items.
If moss is nestled between the pavers, Delah advised against pressure washing it under any circumstances, as this could dislodge the sand and dirt that bind the pavers together.
For those compelled to pressure wash the moss from between their pavers, they should have some sand at the ready to fill the voids left by the removed moss.
This method enables households to eliminate the moss without compromising the integrity of the pavers.