Vinegar is a safe and effective mold removal solution, but if this method doesn't prove to be effective, then a heavier-duty weapon may be deployed: bleach. One cup of bleach mixed with a gallon of water should do the trick. Simply combine the bleach and water in a spray bottle and apply directly to the pavers.
Use Vinegar or Bleach
The same thing can happen for your hardscapes. Bleach should not be the first line of defense for folks who have plants or grass bordering the patio or walkway that has mold, but this is another option you can try if pressure washing does not work.
The Mold on Paver Problem and Solution
The mold on pavers problem occurs when algae and/or mold and other fungal types grow on damp or moisture-laden pavers. The answer is to eliminate the presence of moisture from underneath. Without moisture, the algae/mold cannot survive.
Similar to cleaning pavers with muriatic acid, avoid an intense concentration of bleach, as it can damage the pavers.
Vinegar or bleach are two easy to find cleaning solutions that kill moss so that you can wash it away. You will want to mix either bleach or vinegar with water in a 1 to 1 ratio. The 50/50 mixture of water and bleach/vinegar is gentle enough to clean brick and works well against moss.
You can use vinegar as you would a moss killer on patio pavers to remove it. Simply wait for a dry spell, dilute white vinegar half and half with water, then spray on to the moss. Leave for a few days to allow the moss to die off, then brush it off and compost.
Spraying with a vinegar solution
is an effective way to eliminate moss on pavers without damaging nearby plants and grasses. Mix one part water with three parts vinegar, and spray the mixture directly on your pavers. This will help kill any moss growing on them as well as prevent new growth for up to a month.
To clean paver slabs, you can use a detergent, such as Dawn, or a vinegar-water solution that is gentle enough to effectively clean without causing damage to your concrete pavers.
White vinegar is good for cleaning pavers, though it's also acidic enough to erode the stones' surface. Diluted vinegar can be used safely to clean paving stones, though it should be used sparingly and infrequently to protect your paving from damage.
Will Vinegar Damage Pavers? Yes, vinegar is NEVER safe to use on pavers. It can cause a lot of damage, and you may have to replace a lot of the pavers if you try this. I know that vinegar is often used for household cleaning projects, but when it comes to your patio, it's a big no!
Mold generally looks slimy or fuzzy, tends to have a raised texture, and can come in a rainbow of colors, including deep green and black. Mildew is powdery, looks white or gray, always appears flat, and grows on surfaces.
If your pavers have been sealed, which is a service that we offer, it's a lot easier to maintain and it does slow down mold growth for the simple fact that when your pavers are unsealed, that moisture will sit in the joints and make mold grow.
Water and mild dish soap is a popular cleaning solution because it's easy to find at home and it won't damage brick, but it will tackle stains. The BIA recommends using hot water for surface cleaning with a detergent. White vinegar and water, another common household cleaner, can also be used on mildew.
A mixture of one part bleach with three parts water is the most common cleaning agent used to remove mold from pavers. But, be care, bleach can sometimes stain brick pavers. Be sure to test it out with a dab on a small corner piece before applying it to larger areas.
Vinegar is a safe and effective mold removal solution, but if this method doesn't prove to be effective, then a heavier-duty weapon may be deployed: bleach. One cup of bleach mixed with a gallon of water should do the trick. Simply combine the bleach and water in a spray bottle and apply directly to the pavers.
Vinegar and water.
This is an excellent option if you're looking for a more natural way to clean your pavers. Vinegar is known for its cleaning properties, and you can use it as a household cleaner on a variety of surfaces. Plus, it's more eco-friendly than other cleaning options since you're not using harsh chemicals.
Baking soda has low-abrasive properties, making it an excellent cleaning material for stuck-on grime and tough stains. Additionally, baking soda is absorbent, allowing it to absorb oils from the surface of the pavers, especially freshly oil spill on concrete pavers.
Although bleach is great at the whitening effect, you can use peroxide to achieve this. Hydrogen peroxide is an oxygenated bleach. It is safe for plants, so when you rinse this solution, it won't harm anything. It works together with the dish soap and baking soda to remove dirt and whiten dirty concrete.
OxiClean is a powerful concrete cleaner that works well on various materials, including pavement and grout. This concentrated solution provides excellent cleaning without leaving residue.
Whether your patio is sealed concrete or cement, or even sealed concrete pavers, a bleach and water solution makes it easy to clean away built up soil, stains from leaves and pollen, mold, mildew and algae.
Use a specialist cleaner
Try a specialist cleaner like Wet & Forget, at Walmart, which you spray onto the surface of the paving and leave. It can also be used on steps, fountains, patio umbrellas and other smaller outdoor areas. It's bleach-free and non-acidic but will remove mold, moss and grime without any scrubbing.
Can you power wash pavers? Power washing (also known as pressure washing) is also a very effective method by which you can remove dust deposits and various stains from your pavers. Just make sure that the water jet is not directed directly at the joints between the paving stones.
Sprinkle Baking Soda
The great thing about baking soda is that it's a natural way of killing moss from your paver stone walkway or brick patio. Sprinkle baking soda generously over the moss. Leave the baking soda overnight. Use a deck brush or push broom to scrub the moss away.
You can mix either gentle dish soap or baking soda with lukewarm water to create an effective DIY herbicide that will kill moss. If you are using soap, mix 2-4 ounces with two gallons of water. For the baking soda method, mix 2 gallons of water with a small box of baking soda, the sort they sell for fridge deodorizing.