The Lemon Fool

Looking for anyone who has successfully used BAC50 to clean patio paving please.

I have 5 litres of BAC50 but having never used it before I'm a bit unsure of the dilution to use in a garden spray device? I am thinking around 250ml in 5 litres of water should be adequate to clean the slimy green coating on patio slabs and paths? This very wet winter has produced an incredible quantity of green goo everywhere. Far more than usual.

Obviously, I don't mind using a higher concentration if required. I'd rather do the job once though. Hence getting the dilution somewhere adequate rather than over diluting the BAC50 would be a good result.

The people I bought the BAC50 off aren't forthcoming with advice and I've been unable to find a definitive answer on Google. Thanks.

The standard dilution for moss and algae killing with BAC, and its near equivalent DDAC, is 2%. Or, in other words, 24 parts water to one part of your 50% BAC solution. Be very careful with it, because it can cause burns and eye damage at 50%, and it'll kill pond life at much lower concentrations.

The reason that manufacturers have become coy about BAC and DDAC is that they are no longer allowed to say that it can be used as a moss killer. Moss was upgraded a few years ago to full plant status, even though it doesn't feed through its roots, and that change of classification opens up a whole nother can of environmental worms. Rest assured that they both work in the same way they always did.

BAC and DDAC are routinely used (diluted) as cleaners and bugkillers in hospitals, so make of that what you will. They are not allowed near cattle, though. They are safe around pets and wildlife as long as they've been allowed to dry, so choose a suitable day.

BJ

Should have added: leave the sprayed on surfaces for as long as you can, ideally a couple of days. Look up Patio Magic for more detail. And keep the spray away from the wife's dahlias and suchlike, unless you fancy your chances at marital Russian roulette.

An alternative, but brutal, approach, is to use a 25% solution of bleach. Not worm-friendly, but effective. Er, allegedly.

BJ

250ml in 5 litres sounds about right then. Thanks.

Wear goggles, not just safety glasses, especially when diluting. And make sure your (gloved, I hope) hands do not touch your eyes.
BAC is not corrosive but causes severe eye damage.
Having said that, 2% BAC50 is very good at lichen prevention as well as removal.

I have used washing soda to control moss, lichens and all the green slime round my way. It's ok at inhibiting regrowth until the rains come. There's a few patches of moss on my roof and I've not quite got the kit or inclination to get up there to apply it.

Thanks for the comments. It's been such a mild and very wet winter. I have never seen such a mess on paths and patio paving. Universally green and very slippery this year.

A quick follow up for the benefit of anyone else thinking if using BAC50. Given three dry days in a row recently, I did the BAC50 treatment on my paving. A dilution of 250ml in 5 litres weeks seems to have had the same effect as using products like Patio Magic and similar where BAC is the active ingredient. The main difference appears to be cost. 5 litres of Patio Magic etc costs around £30 for 5 litres. Typically, I use three of these each spring. That's not an inconsequential cost every year to just clear green gunge off the paving slabs. In contrast, my 5 litres of BAC50 also cost me £30 delivered. So using 250ml each time, I have around 20 times the effective cleaning for my £30 by using BAC50 compared to Patio Magic or similar. I can recommend using BAC50 as an alternative cleaner.

One last comment. I found the BAC50 to have the viscosity of syrup. And it doesn’t mix easily with water. I found that the best result was by pouring the 250ml of BAC50 into the spray bottle and adding the water to it, shaking as I went. Adding the BAC50 to 5 litres of water made it difficult to get a good solution. Hope that helps.

Thanks for the update, I have already bought 10 litres of BAC50 to try on my patio and paving because of this thread. My wife wanted to use Patio Magic which is what her parents use. I am just waiting until I can expect some dry days before I try it out.

fisher wrote:Thanks for the update, I have already bought 10 litres of BAC50 to try on my patio and paving because of this thread. My wife wanted to use Patio Magic which is what her parents use. I am just waiting until I can expect some dry days before I try it out.

If my experience is anything to go by, you'll get the same result for a lot less cost.

Where do you buy bac 50 from?

I've seen it on amazon but wondered if there are better/cheaper places.

Also recommendations for goggles and a sprayer. I might try doing the roof so something to go up a ladder or maybe battery operated.

I can source my own life insurance

Gerry557 wrote:Where do you buy bac 50 from?

I've seen it on amazon but wondered if there are better/cheaper places.

Also recommendations for goggles and a sprayer. I might try doing the roof so something to go up a ladder or maybe battery operated.

I can source my own life insurance

When I checked a few months back, eBay was the best deal. There's lots of sellers on there. I think at the time £30 for 5 litres delivered was a decent deal. I have used about 1 litre of the BAC50 this spring so I expect another four years before I buy again. A pound or two isn't going to make a lot off difference in the overall scheme of things.

I usually buy from Bonneymans, currently around £40 for 5litres.
And as mentioned in an earlier reply, do wear good eye protection, especially when diluting, or you will be visiting A&E in short order.

Gerry557 wrote:Also recommendations for goggles and a sprayer. I might try doing the roof so something to go up a ladder or maybe battery operated.

A simple lightweight pressure sprayer will give you several minutes' spraying after a few pumps. I have one of these (https://www.builderdepot.co.uk/ox-trade ... sprayer-5l?) which is excellent, and which we use only for weedkillers and suchlike. Come to think of it, that's a pretty good price. )

Dead flat calm day, though, if you're going above gutter level with it, and fully-fitting goggles mandatory. (Buy new ones, don't try to shine up an old pair, because you never really get rid of the scratches.)

BJ

At that £price buy two or three: one for BAC, one for Roundup, one for liquid fertiliser ?
(I label mine with laminated tags showing dilution and safety precautions. Don't want to accidentally spray my roses with Roundup)
For Weedol (nee Verdone) on lawns, though you need a large capacity lever-action back-pack sprayer.

Thanks all. I note the concerns near plants so have also found some hg algae remover which says plant safe so might try both.

I also saw a battery sprayer that might be worth the extra cost

Gerry557 wrote:Thanks all. I note the concerns near plants so have also found some hg algae remover which says plant safe so might try both.

HG algae remover is basically DDAC, which was mentioned upthread. (The label is at https://cdn.hg.eu/media/kqykw3xr/0518100110006.pdf).

DDAC works for me, and it hasn't (yet ) killed the wife's plants. You dilute the HG product with 19 parts water, so take that as a hint that eyes and hands etc need protection.

BJ

bungeejumper wrote:

Gerry557 wrote:Thanks all. I note the concerns near plants so have also found some hg algae remover which says plant safe so might try both.

HG algae remover is basically DDAC, which was mentioned upthread. (The label is at https://cdn.hg.eu/media/kqykw3xr/0518100110006.pdf).

DDAC works for me, and it hasn't (yet ) killed the wife's plants. You dilute the HG product with 19 parts water, so take that as a hint that eyes and hands etc need protection.

BJ

So diluted correctly, sprayed on a wall, the flowerbed below should be OK.

I'd test patch that first anyway. Now off to find the plant I like least

Gerry557 wrote:So diluted correctly, sprayed on a wall, the flowerbed below should be OK.

I'd test patch that first anyway. Now off to find the plant I like least

Everything in moderation. I'd invest in a bit of sheeting if I were you (or cardboard, or whatever you've got), just to keep the worst of the wet chemical off your wife's most treasured horticultural achievements. You know it makes sense.

Or take the risk and spray away. On your own head be it.

BJ