Alright, so let me tell you about this moss situation I had on my concrete path. It was getting seriously out of hand, making the whole place look damp and, frankly, a bit neglected. Plus, after a bit of rain, it turned into a proper slip hazard. I nearly went flying a couple of times, and that’s when I decided, enough is enough, this green monster has to go.

My First Go at It – A Bit of a Flop

So, what did I do first? Well, like most folks, I grabbed the stiffest yard brush I owned and thought I could just scrub the life out of it. I put my back into it, I really did. Swept and scrubbed for what felt like ages. And yeah, some of it came off, but it was a real workout, and the results were patchy at best. The worst part? A few weeks later, I could see that stubborn green fuzz creeping back. So, that was a bit of a letdown, not gonna lie.

Figuring Out a Better Way – My "Aha!" Moment

I wasn’t about to give up and call in some expensive service. I mean, it's just moss, right? I started thinking, there's gotta be a simpler, more effective way that doesn't involve breaking my back or using super harsh chemicals I'm not keen on having around my garden. I remembered some old-timer tricks and a bit of common sense, and decided to try a different approach.

Here’s the stuff I gathered for round two:

• A good sturdy scrubbing brush (yeah, the same one, but this time it was going to be more effective).
• An ordinary plastic watering can. You could use a bucket and scoop, but the watering can was easier for spreading.
• Plain old white vinegar. The cheap stuff from the supermarket.
• Boiling water. Straight from the kettle.
• A bit of patience – this wasn't instant, but it was thorough.

The Actual Process – Getting Down to Business

Okay, so here’s exactly what I did. First, I cleared the concrete area of any loose leaves, twigs, and general garden gunk. You want a clear shot at the moss.

Next, I boiled the kettle a couple of times and carefully poured the hot water directly onto the mossy patches. I was pretty generous with it, making sure to saturate the moss. The heat alone starts to bother it, I reckon.

I let that sit for maybe 10-15 minutes. Just to let the hot water do its thing, loosen the moss's grip a bit. Some people say just boiling water works, but I wanted to be sure.

Then came the vinegar. I didn't even dilute it much for the really stubborn areas. Poured it straight from the bottle onto the moss, especially focusing on the denser patches that the hot water had already softened. For larger, less intense areas, a 50/50 mix of vinegar and more hot water in the watering can did the trick. I let this vinegar solution sit for another 20-30 minutes. You could see the moss changing color a bit, looking a bit sad, which was a good sign!

After the soaking, it was time for the scrub. And let me tell you, it was a world of difference from my first attempt. The moss came away so much easier. It was still a bit of work, don’t get me wrong, but it wasn’t a fight anymore. The brush was just lifting it right off. I worked in sections, scrubbing until I saw clean concrete.

Finally, I gave the whole area a really good rinse with a hose to wash away all the dislodged moss and any vinegar residue. If you don’t have a hose, a few buckets of clean water would do.

The Result and Why I Swear By This Method Now

The concrete looked fantastic! Clean, moss-free, and it wasn't slippery anymore. What I really liked was that it felt like a deeper clean. And the best part? The moss stayed away for much, much longer. I think the combination of the hot water shock and the acidity of the vinegar really sorted it out properly, getting to whatever holds it onto the concrete.

I see all sorts of fancy moss killers in the shops, and people talking about pressure washers. Pressure washers are great for some things, but they can be a bit harsh on older concrete or blast out the sand between pavers if you're not careful. And those chemical killers? I just prefer to avoid them if I can. This hot water and vinegar trick felt more straightforward, used stuff I already had or could get super cheap, and it genuinely worked wonders for me. It’s a bit of old-school effort, but the results speak for themselves. That’s my experience, anyway. If you’re battling moss, give this a try before you splash out on anything else.