Patio & exterior
Algon Organic Path, Patio & Deck Cleaner Concentrate dupe
Why pay around £11.99 for Algon? The bulk active is Spirit vinegar 25% (acetic acid) — 70% less per working litre than a typical shelf pack.
From the retail pack to the active and the mix
1 · Retail
Algon Organic Path, Patio & Deck Cleaner Concentrate
2.5 litres · £11.99 typical snapshot
Water and a trace of alkyl polyglycoside surfactant
2 · Active
Acetic acid
18% on the label
64-19-7CH3COOH
Bulk Spirit vinegar 25% (acetic acid)
3 · Mix
1:4.5 (to ~4.5% working, matching Algon 1:3)
£0.36 per working litre · 70% less than the shelf pack
- Active
- Acetic acid
- CAS
- 64-19-7
- Dupe
- Spirit vinegar 25% (acetic acid)
- Saving
- 70% / L
Saving is per litre of working-strength mix versus a typical pack price, not versus the DIY kit total. Shop prices move — always check the listing.
Label teardown
What the pack promises versus what the label chemistry actually is.
The marketing claim
“Organic, non-toxic formula safe around pets and ponds”
The chemical reality
The ‘organic patio cleaner’ is about 18% acetic acid with a drop of sugar-derived surfactant. Dilute 1:3 and you have ~4.5% vinegar. Spirit vinegar at 25% is the same molecule in a 5 litre jerry.
Active vs filler
18% Acetic acid · 82% carrier / filler — Water and a trace of alkyl polyglycoside surfactant
- Typical retail
- £11.99
- 2.5 litres
- Estimated active cost
- £3.60
- Scaled from bulk £9.99 / 5 litres
- Indicative markup
- 3.3×
- Snapshot maths, not a live shop price
The Marketing Claim & The Catch
A 2.5 litres pack of Algon Organic Path, Patio & Deck Cleaner Concentrate typically retails around £11.99 in patio & exterior. That is a UK shelf-price snapshot for the maths on this page — not a live shop quote or a manufacturer RRP. Listings, sizes and deals move. The marketing line is that you are buying a finished lifestyle product, not a weighed chemical.
On the pack: Organic, non-toxic formula safe around pets and ponds; and No rinsing or scrubbing — apply and walk away.
The catch: The ‘organic patio cleaner’ is about 18% acetic acid with a drop of sugar-derived surfactant. Dilute 1:3 and you have ~4.5% vinegar. Spirit vinegar at 25% is the same molecule in a 5 litre jerry.
- “Organic, non-toxic formula safe around pets and ponds”
- “No rinsing or scrubbing — apply and walk away”
Proprietary Blend & Dosage Breakdown
The labelled active is Acetic acid at 18%. Everything else in the pack is water and a trace of alkyl polyglycoside surfactant.
At 18% active, most of what you pay for is carrier and packaging. The brand is selling convenience, fragrance and a label — not a uniquely potent molecule.
Branded working strength is whatever comes out of the bottle. The bulk alternative is 25% Spirit vinegar 25% (acetic acid), mixed to 1:4.5 (to ~4.5% working, matching Algon 1:3).
- Labelled active
- Acetic acid
- 18%
- Carrier
- Water and a trace of alkyl polyglycoside surfactant
- Retail pack
- 2.5 litres · £11.99
The Active Chemical Alternative (Dupe Stack)
The dupe stack is Spirit vinegar 25% (acetic acid) at 25% bulk. Indexed as CAS 64-19-7, formula CH3COOH. Buy it as 5 litres for around £9.99 from Amazon UK.
Working strength: 1:4.5 (to ~4.5% working, matching Algon 1:3). Indicative cost £0.36 per diluted litre — 70% below a typical branded pack on a per-litre basis, before you reuse leftover bulk.
Follow the mixing method and the supplier SDS. Wear the listed PPE. Do not mix incompatible oxidisers, acids or ammonia.
- Wear household gloves. Keep off foliage — acetic acid scorches leaves.
- 1 part 25% spirit vinegar + 4.5 parts water lands near 4.5% acetic acid, the same order of strength as Algon diluted 1:3.
- Apply to dry masonry with a sprayer or soft broom. Do not rinse. Results show over a few days as algae browns off.
- 5 litres of 25% makes about 28 litres of working mix. Store away from bleach (chlorine gas).
Dilution recipe
5 L sprayer
Working strength 1:4.5 (to ~4.5% working, matching Algon 1:3). Educational estimate from the listed ratio — check the SDS before you mix.
Chemical
909 millilitres
Spirit vinegar 25% (acetic acid)
Water
4.09 litres
Carrier / diluent
18% concentrate · 82% water by working volume (solids are dissolved into the water share).
Required PPE
Loading calculator…
Side-by-Side Price & Potency Comparison
Head-to-head comparison
| Measure | Retail brandedAlgon | Raw active dupeDupeStack |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Organic Path, Patio & Deck Cleaner ConcentrateAmazon UK search — listing, not a confirmed seller | Spirit vinegar 25% (acetic acid) |
| Pack / unit | 2.5 litres · £11.99 | 5 litres · £9.99 |
| Active | Acetic acid at 18%Carrier: Water and a trace of alkyl polyglycoside surfactant | 25% bulkCH3COOH |
| CAS number | Not disclosed on pack | 64-19-7 |
| Working strength | Ready-to-use pack | Dilute 1:4.5 (to ~4.5% working, matching Algon 1:3) |
| Cost per litre | £4.80 / L typical pack | £0.36 / L mixed from bulk |
| Headline saving | Baseline | 70% cheaper |
| COSHH / PPE | Follow the branded SDS | Gloves. Chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile or neoprene)Ventilation. Use outdoors or with mechanical extraction |
Active ingredient and cheaper alternative — FAQ
Is Algon the same as Patio Magic?
No. Algon is acetic acid (vinegar chemistry, CAS 64-19-7). Patio Magic is benzalkonium chloride. Algon browns algae slowly; it is not a quat biocide and it will scorch leaves if you drift onto the lawn.
Can I use kitchen 5% vinegar instead?
Kitchen vinegar is about 5% acetic acid — much weaker than Algon’s 18% concentrate. Spirit vinegar at 25%, diluted 1 part + 4.5 parts water, is the stack that matches Algon diluted 1:3. Keep it off bleach (chlorine gas).
How do you mix the Organic Path, Patio & Deck Cleaner Concentrate dupe stack?
Wear household gloves. Keep off foliage — acetic acid scorches leaves. 1 part 25% spirit vinegar + 4.5 parts water lands near 4.5% acetic acid, the same order of strength as Algon diluted 1:3. Apply to dry masonry with a sprayer or soft broom. Do not rinse. Results show over a few days as algae browns off. 5 litres of 25% makes about 28 litres of working mix. Store away from bleach (chlorine gas).
DupeStack provides chemical concentration data and educational mixing guides only. Wellness pages compare food supplements, not medicines or prescribed treatments. Always review the supplier Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and comply with UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and COSHH regulations when handling concentrated substances. Mixing and storage are at your own risk. Some links are affiliate advertisements (Amazon Associates, eBay Partner Network, and Awin when those programmes are live). Commissions do not change listed concentrations or calculator output.
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Indicative DIY stack