Patio black spots are those pesky types of lichen that burrow deep into surfaces, becoming a cleaner’s nightmare.

More stubborn than either moss or algae, these tough marks laugh in the face of even hardcore pressure washing, puzzling many over the existence of a true cure.

But don’t abandon hope just yet as director of The Expert Gate Company Daniel Scholfield has shared an easy removal method that you don’t need specialist products for - just a stiff brush, water and white vinegar.

Daniel claimed that while power washing the affected areas will likely remove the black spot visibly, “it won’t kill the organisms that are still present” in the rock, along with potentially risking damaging your paving or patio in the process. 

What you need to do is “kill off the black lichen completely”, for which you’ll need the “right product”.

He said: “Household cleaning products won’t do a thing for black lichen, save for one exception - distilled white vinegar is the only household cleaner that works.”

Before you start cleaning the area, however, it’s important to prepare first. 

Remove any plant debris and excess dirt that might get in the way of the cleaner working its magic with a brush or by hand, and then give the patio a quick rinse with some clean water. You’ll want a nice, clear space to work with for the next step.

Speaking about vinegar, Daniel said: “This miracle cleaner can be mixed with water at a 50 to 50 ratio, and then poured over the affected area (though you may want to do a test on a small patch of the patio first to make sure it won’t damage or discolour your slabs).”

Leave for up to one hour, scrub with a stiff brush to remove all the material and debris, and then rinse with clean water.

If you can still see some signs of the black spots remaining, then give it another round of cleaning to make sure it’s “gone for good”. 

If they’re proving tough to remove, then consider leaving the mix on for a longer period or slightly increasing the amount of vinegar in the solution.

However, “don’t overdo it as too much may begin to damage the patio surface”.

To avoid these black spots returning, regularly use a combination of vinegar and water to keep your paving clean.