Vinegar is a non-toxic, multipurpose liquid that’s perfect for cleaning pavers and many surfaces around your property. But can vinegar remove polymeric sand from surfaces?
Polymeric sand haze can be removed with vinegar or without it, depending on the surface it rests on and other factors. However, sand molds might be difficult to remove from patios with vinegar alone.
Following the right steps is crucial to remove polymeric sand haze with vinegar. That’s why this article details different methods to effectively clean sand hazing with relative ease.
What is Polymeric Sand Haze?
Polymeric sand haze is a blanket of dust that appears over pavers and other surfaces during installation. Dry sand beds used for installing pool decks, sidewalks, and patios can easily generate polymeric sand haze.
During installation of these slabs, misting is required over polymeric sand joints as a binder. The binding process reacts quickly to bind sand particles but leaves a fine polymeric residue on all nearby surfaces.
How to Remove Polymeric Sand Haze with Vinegar
Step 1: Put vinegar and dish soap solution into separate spray cap containers
Get two containers with spread/pour spray caps depending on your needs. Next, turn vinegar into one container and a dish soap with water solution into the second one.
Step 2: Spray vinegar onto surface
Next, spray vinegar directly onto the paver while ensuring it gets to every area affected by sand dust. Spraying vinegar generously onto the surface weakens most stubborn sand molds and supports easier cleaning.
Step 3: Let the vinegar set in
Allow the vinegar set in for about 30 – 60 minutes. If you have a small area covered by polymeric sand haze, you could get the dust off almost instantly.
Step 4: Spray surface with dish soap & water solution
After the vinegar sets in, spray your dish soap and water solution onto every area of the surface. Spraying the solution after allowing vinegar settle in makes dust, haze, and stain removal easy.
Step 5: Scrub surface with wire brush
Use a wire brush to brush off any stubborn particles after applying the dish soap and water solution. You can allow the soap solution rest for about 5 minutes before scrubbing particles off.
The vinegar and soap solution will loosen most dirt on different kinds of surfaces with ease.
Step 6: Clean surface with a piece of lint-free cloth or mop
Next, use a piece of lint-free cloth dampened in water to clean off any remaining soap solution. You can use a mop to clean broader surfaces too if you want to save more time.
How to Remove White Haze from Pavers
Step 1: Use a dry brush to scrape off light polymeric sand buildup
Get a dry bristle brush and use it to remove any tough sand haze buildup around the surface. Move the brush in a sideways pattern brushing areas most affected by sand buildup.
Step 2: Sweep the surface
After that, take a broom and sweep the surface removing light and unsettled sand deposits from it. Focus on points where sand deposits appear more at first and then move onto other areas.
Removing the haze with this approach reduces chances of further buildup, especially after all installations are complete.
Step 3: Rinse surface with water, brush, and rinse again
Pour water in generous amount onto the surface and use a wire brush to scrape off any hard haze buildup still on. Next, rinse the surface to check for any stubborn haze deposits and continue this process until you’re satisfied.
How to Remove Polymeric Sand Haze without Vinegar
Step 1: Sweep the surface
Use a broom to sweep off light polymeric sand buildup to make your cleaning effort easier. Brush off areas with visible whitening from sand haze deposits and then onto areas with crystallized deposits (molds).
Step 2: Apply muriatic acid and water solution
Vinegar usually has a 6% acid concentration, which makes it an ideal option for cleaning surfaces without much erosion. However, such a low acid concentration might not be enough to get rid of stubborn crystallization.
Use muriatic acid and water at a ratio of 1:5 (1 part acid, 5 parts water) on your surfaces. After that, scrub your pavers with a thick brush, especially around areas with massive sand crystals buildup.
If there’s little crystallization of sand on your surfaces, it’s best to apply this solution and allow it rest for 5 minutes. Scrub the surface from end to end after this set-in period.
Step 3: Rinse surface
The high acid concentration of muriatic acid could erode textured and non-textured surfaces if you don’t rinse them properly. After the muriatic acid sets in, rinse it from your surfaces with a little amount of cleaning solution and water.
Using a little amount of cleaner and water prevents accidental washing of sand haze into your surfaces.
