Refresh Your Garden Gravel To Its Former Glory With A Common Kitchen Staple

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You chose light-colored garden gravel for its clean look and a stark contrast to brightly colored plants. But after a few months, the white stones are covered in dirt, pollen, and every possible form of outdoor grime. Cleaning them has become a conundrum. The stones proved too delicate for pressure washing, and you sent gravel flying in every direction and right into your grass. You considered using a bleach and water solution but don't want to harm any outdoor critters or pets. You thought about putting shovelfuls of gravel through a sieve and rinsing each batch by hand — but then remembered you have a life. 

Enter a common kitchen staple to the rescue! White vinegar can be a versatile cleaning tool for inside and outside your home. It's mild enough that it won't hurt surfaces or your home's occupants yet acidic enough to break down mineral deposits and remove stains. 

To refresh your garden gravel to its former glory, use a leaf blower or rake to remove loose dirt. Next, pour a cup of vinegar into a bucket of hot water and pour the mixture over the stones. Use a hard-bristled brush to scrub the stones (for a time-saver on large areas, try this LandHope Push Broom, which is extra-wide and covers more ground). Rinse with a hose or bucket of clean water. Or better yet, save the project for when rain is forecast and let nature do the rinsing for you.

White vinegar will remove dirt stains and brighten your garden gravel, but it also comes with hidden benefits for your yard. Vinegar is often used as a DIY weed killer, so you'll have fewer weeds popping up through your gravel after cleaning. Vinegar also has antimicrobial properties that kill mold, algae, and fungi when left undiluted — something even bleach can't do on porous surfaces. 

You can also use vinegar to get rid of pests. Vinegar is a humane pest repellent that keeps mosquitoes, insects, rats, mice, foxes, raccoons, snakes, and even bears away. Any plants or flowers growing near your freshly cleaned gravel will be safe from munching bunnies and deer, both of which detest vinegar's pungent smell. And while it won't harm your dog or cat, it may keep them from using your garden gravel as a toilet.

A large bottle of the stuff is wonderfully cheap so that you can use it on even the largest sections of gravel with little effect on your wallet. One note of caution — vinegar can kill plants on contact, so pour the vinegar mixture directly on your gravel and not on your plants or grass.