Keeping your pavers clean is very important, especially outdoor pavers, since they’re exposed to many elements, like rain, sun rays, oil spills, and other types of dirt. There are a lot of ways and products that can be used for cleaning and one of them can be easily found in any kitchen: vinegar.
Vinegar is an alternative for deep cleaning without using harsh chemicals, like ammonia or bleach. But, be careful, it’s not because it can be found in any kitchen or supermarket that is not aggressive somehow, after all, vinegar is an acidic solution.
Are you curious about how to clean pavers with vinegar? Read more below and have all your questions about the topic answered!
How to clean pavers with vinegar?
A mix of water and vinegar is a great combination to remove stubborn dirt and stains. If you want even better results, use this mix with a cleaner solution specific made for pavers or soap and water.
Just remember to plan your cleaning on sunny days because if it rains, you might need to redo all the work.
To clean your pavers with vinegar, you’re gonna need some things first:
- White vinegar (Don’t use balsamic or wine vinegar, they can stain your pavers)
- Spray bottle
- Dish soap (or a pavers cleaner)
- Bristle brush
- Garden hose (or a pressure washer)
- Gloves (for protection)
All set? Let’s start! Follow the next steps to give your pavers a good clean!
- Step 1: With a garden hose, water all the area you wanna clean. The pavers absorb the cleaning solutions better wet than dry.
- Step 2: Create a mixture of 50/50 of white vinegar and warm water and put it in a spray bottle, then spray the mixture all over the stained pavers with a spray bottle, distribute evenly and leave for, at least, one hour.
- Step 3: Water the pavers again with a garden hose, then put dish soap and water all over the surface.
- Step 4: Start to scrub away any dirt and stains with a bristle brush. The vinegar solution probably loosened and even removed some of the stains on its own, so a good scrub will do the rest.
- Step 4: If you followed the previous steps and some stains still there, repeat the process.
- Step 5: Finish the cleaning by sealing the surface to protect the pavers. If you have questions about sealing, we have an article that can help you out.
Is it effective to clean pavers with vinegar?
Yes, using vinegar is a good choice for cleaning pavers and very effective as well. Once vinegar is a non-toxic and biodegradable solution, it is a great way to clean your pavers without resorting to chemicals, which is safer, since you don’t harm your plants, pets, or the soil.
The acidity of the vinegar-water solution is very effective to clean stubborn stains, since they lift the dirt and grime, making it easy for good scrub to remove it all completely. But since it is acidic, you need to move any furniture and plants away and be careful while applying to not spill on your skin (vinegar can burn!).
Another pro of using vinegar to clean your pavers is that you don’t need to use other equipment, and you can easily find it in any grocery store.
Should I get my pavers cleaned by a professional or can I do it by myself?
You can do it by yourself, but don’t forget the fact there is always a chance of damaging your pavers while cleaning them. Hiring a pro is a guarantee of quality, since they know exactly what to do and what your paving stones need.
At JS Brick, we have 20+ years of experience providing paver installation, supply, and maintenance services in Sarasota and surrounding cities. For a free estimate on paver cleaning and sealing services, don’t hesitate to leave us a message or a call.
