If you plan to enhance your home’s curb appeal before putting it on the market, consider these two ways you can use vinegar to protect new flower beds and gardens from being populated by weeds, and to refresh the look of a brick driveway or a brick retaining wall that has become discolored by calcium buildup.

Getting Rid of Weeds 

A simple vinegar concoction can help zap pesky weeds from your flower beds and gardens. Mix one gallon of white vinegar, one cup of salt, and one tablespoon of dish soap. Pour the solution into a spray bottle with a nozzle that can be switched between spray and stream. If you’re targeting a cluster of weeds use the spray nozzle to apply the weed-killing solution. If you need to be more focused in your approach, toggle the nozzle to stream. It’s best to apply the solution on a sunny day, since acid from the vinegar will burn the weeds and the salt will cause them to dry and shrivel in the sun. The dish soap is an essential ingredient because it makes the caustic solution stick to the weeds.   

Removing Calcium Deposits From Brick Driveways and Retaining Walls

If you have a red brick driveway or a red brick retaining wall you know how easily a white film can form on these surfaces. The discoloration is the result of calcium deposits that form as evaporating water pushes minerals in the brick toward the surface. Pressure washing alone won’t be enough to remove the discoloration. You also need an acid-based solution of vinegar and water. 

What to do? First, spray the retaining wall or brick driveway with a 3,000 psi (or less) pressure washer to remove loose dirt. Next, mix two cups of distilled white vinegar with two gallons of hot water in a bucket. Use a stiff bristle brush to scour the surface of the retaining wall or driveway with the vinegar and water solution, then rinse away the solution with clean water to reveal a refreshed surface.