Homeowners issued warning over viral 35p hack that can cause 'irreversible damage'
Reach Daily Express March 01, 2026 08:40 PM

A viral 35p cleaning hack being shared online can cause "irreversable damage" to your patio, an expert has warned. Georgina Read, Director at Paving Superstore, drew attention to a DIY tip doing the rounds on social media, with content creators championing the use of white vinegar as a natural cleaning solution for patios.

Some garden owners have taken to mixing it in equal parts with water in spray bottles and applying it to stone outside their homes as a way to get rid of stubborn weeds, moss, and dirt. After leaving it to sit, they scrub away at problem areas, seemingly freshening up the paving with ease, before washing it all away with the hose.

It's also hailed as a cost-effective option, with distilled white vinegar available to Tesco for just 35p. And while vinegar can be useful for various cleaning hacks around the home, Ms Read urges people to think carefully before using it on their stonework outside.

"People are always looking for a quick and cheap cleaning win. But the white vinegar patio hack is one of the most damaging trends we've seen - it can lead to permanent erosion, staining, and even structural weakness in paving slabs," she said.

Social media users may be taken in by the satisfying "before-and-after" clips online showing the solution fizzing away on the surface of the stone, but Ms Read says this isn't the dirt lifting off, it's the stone itself being dissolved.

"That foaming reaction is the acid eating away at your stone. Once etching occurs, the damage is irreversible, and the only solution is replacing the affected slab," she said.

The firm claims the hack often escalates to a £300 to £500 repair bill. Acid damage is important to limit as its cumulative and spreads gradually, meaning even one single use can cause long term degradation, Paving Superstore says.

"The damage isn't instant - it often appears weeks later, so many homeowners never link the vinegar to the problem." This delayed erosion is why so many people mistakenly believe the hack was successful, only to face expensive repairs later on.

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Though white vinegar is seen as mild and eco-friendly, it is an acid that is highly reactive with popular patio materials.

"Never use vinegar on limestone, sandstone, travertine, or marble," the expert advised. "It eats into the surface, causing permanent etching, dullness and weakening the material."

Vinegar is also said to dissolve cement-based grouts, gradually widening the joints, leading to destabilisation of the slabs.

"When grout erodes, slabs loosen. In winter, this allows water to freeze inside the gaps, leading to further cracking of the paving," Ms Read added.

To make matters worse, it can react with iron deposits in the stone, resulting in brown patches that can't be removed, the company says.

Ms Read recommends another method for cleaning them that won't break the bank either.

"Warm, soapy water using fairy liquid works exceptionally well. Not only is it safe for all paving types but it only costs £1 - making it the perfect budget-friendly patio cleaner".

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