Cleaning your patio with cleaning vinegar: why it's a bad idea

Removing green deposits from your patio

Cleaning vinegar is at the top of many people's list when it comes to garden maintenance. It is cheap, widely available, and sounds less chemical than a cleaning product from the hardware store. Understandable. But there are serious drawbacks to it for your garden, the environment, and your patio tiles. We explain why, and what you can do instead.

What is the difference between cleaning vinegar and natural vinegar?

These two are often confused, but they are not the same. Cleaning vinegar is a synthetic cleaning agent based on acetic acid, in concentrations of 8 to 15 percent. It is intended for indoor use and is not permitted as a pesticide outdoors. Natural vinegar, also known as table vinegar or kitchen vinegar, is produced through the fermentation of wine and is a food product. That does not automatically make it suitable for use on your patio, but the regulations here are more nuanced.

Are you allowed to use cleaning vinegar on your patio?

Short and simple: no. The RIVM states that the use of cleaning vinegar against weeds or green deposits on patios or driveways is not permitted. The NVWA also confirms that the use of cleaning vinegar and other household products against weeds is not allowed, because they contaminate the soil and water. Furthermore, patio tiles are increasingly being provided with a coating or protective layer that may be damaged by vinegar. Cleaning vinegar is listed in supermarkets as a cleaning agent, not as a weed killer. That is exactly why it is simply on the shelves. But that does not mean it is allowed in the garden.

Why is cleaning vinegar harmful to your tiles?

Apart from regulations, there is another practical reason to avoid cleaning vinegar: acetic acid breaks down lime. Both concrete and natural stone contain lime. By using cleaning vinegar, you do not clean your tiles; you damage them. For concrete tiles without a protective layer, it makes the top layer more porous. As a result, green deposits adhere to the surface more easily. The RIVM determined that vinegar in higher concentrations, from 36 percent, poses a risk to aquatic organisms when sprayed on large, continuous surfaces located next to water. Garden tiles are chemically resistant to acetic acid. But the same applies to them: it is prohibited, and there are better alternatives.

What is the best option?

The most effective and safe way to keep your patio clean requires no special products. Warm water is often sufficient. Algae do not like heat. The more sealed the top layer of a tile, the easier dirt and deposits come off. If warm water alone is not enough, you can add a gentle biological cleaning agent.

For stubborn green deposits

For stubborn green deposits, approved green deposit cleaners based on natural vinegar are available. These products contain the correct concentration of acetic acid and come with instructions for combating green deposits. You can find these at a garden center or at one of our dealers. It is best not to use a high-pressure washer on concrete tiles. It sprays away the protective layer and makes the top layer more porous, causing green deposits to adhere more quickly afterwards. However, using a high-pressure washer is permitted on ceramic tiles.

For good advice and safe, professional products, visit a garden center or one of our distributors. You can find more tips on cleaning your patio in our maintenance tips.