You can safely use vinegar to kill and remove moss from bricks. In order to get the job done, make a mix of two parts water to one part vinegar. Then, use a spray bottle to spray the moss growth thoroughly with this mixture. Allow 1–2 days for the vinegar to kill the moss. Once the moss has lost its green color and has begun to turn brown, it will lose its hold on your bricks and be much easier to clean off.
Will Vinegar Kill Moss on Brick Pavers?
Although vinegar is not good at killing weeds to the root, it’s great for killing moss. The acetic acid in vinegar burns and damages moss, killing it quickly. You don’t need to use any super-powerful horticultural vinegar either. A mix of water and white vinegar from your kitchen cabinet will get the job done just fine.
- Vinegar works very well for killing moss on brick, concrete, and other hard surfaces.
- A vinegar and water solution will quickly kill moss.
- You can use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar to kill moss.
The reason vinegar works so well at killing moss is that moss has very shallow roots. Unlike other plants—whose roots will be protected from vinegar by the soil—vinegar will attack all parts of the moss. Also, unlike herbicides like Roundup, vinegar is safe and easy to use to kill the growth of moss.
How Long Does it Take for Vinegar to Kill Moss?
After you’ve sprayed moss with vinegar, allow at least 24 hours for the moss to die. The acetic acid in the vinegar needs time to work, burning and drying out the moss. Within 1–2 days the previously green moss will have turned brown. Brown, dead moss is much easier to remove with a pressure washer, garden hose, or stiff brush than green moss.
- Vinegar kills moss in about 24 hours.
- Claims that vinegar will kill moss in 10 minutes are false.
- You will know the moss is dead when it turns brown.
Don’t listen to claims that say vinegar kills moss in 10 minutes. It takes much longer than this for the acid to seriously damage the moss. Moss that has been treated with vinegar a few minutes ago will still cling to your bricks. You need to allow time for the vinegar to work—it will make the cleanup job much easier.
Will Vinegar Damage Bricks?
Undiluted vinegar can discolor bricks. However, a proper mix of vinegar and water is diluted enough that it won’t harm your bricks but it will kill moss. If you want to be on the safe side, mix 2 parts water for every 1 part vinegar. This will dilute the vinegar enough that it won’t damage or discolor your bricks.
5 Steps for Killing Moss With Vinegar
Before you reach for the pressure washer and spend hours scouring stubborn moss from your bricks, it’s a great idea to kill the moss with a vinegar solution. Once the moss is dead, you’ll be able to remove it easily. Here’s how to use vinegar to get the job done.
Mix Vinegar and Water in a Spray Bottle
In a spray bottle mix 1 part vinegar with 2 parts water. This mixture is ideal because it has the killing power to wipe out moss but won’t damage your bricks. We prefer white vinegar for this job but you can use apple cider vinegar if you prefer.
Spray the Mixture on the Bricks
Use your spray bottle to apply a generous amount of the vinegar-and-water mixture to the moss. Moss is generally damp, so make sure the vinegar solution makes good contact by spraying moss growth thoroughly. This will kill more moss and prevent you from spraying again soon.
Wait
Allow at least 24 hours for the vinegar to fully kill the moss. The acetic acid in the vinegar may show signs of discoloring the moss within minutes, but you’ll need 1–2 days for the moss to fully die. Once it’s dead, the moss should be brown and easy to peel off the bricks. This is because dead moss roots quickly lose their grip.
Remove the Moss
You can use a power washer on a gentle setting to remove the dead moss buildup from your bricks. If you’re concerned that power washing may damage your bricks or the mortar between them, use a garden hose sprayer or a scrub brush. A stiff broom can also be useful for removing moss growth from brick walls and pathways.
Keep Moss From Coming Back
In order to prevent moss from coming back, clean your bricks with vinegar and water 1–2 times annually. This preventative treatment will kill tiny moss seeds before they start to root. Preventative treatment will keep your bricks clean, and annual cleaning will go faster than deep cleaning a lot of moss buildup.
Does Vinegar Kill Moss on Bricks?
You can easily kill moss on bricks yourself by using a vinegar solution. In order to get the job done:
- Mix 2 parts warm water with 1 part vinegar.
- Use a spray bottle to spray the vinegar cleaning solution on the moss.
- Wait 24 hours for the moss to die.
- Remove the moss from the bricks by pressure washing or scrubbing.
- Wash your bricks with the vinegar solution 1–2 times per-year to prevent moss from returning.
It really is that simple. With just a little warm water and vinegar you can remove slippery, unsightly moss from your bricks and return your home to a pristine appearance.
