Brick exteriors looks great. Unfortunately, when brick isn’t maintained over time, it quickly loses its appeal. Whether you have a brick fence, brick walls, brick walkways, or any other type of outdoor bricks, it’s helpful to learn how to clean and restore brick.
Here’s our easy guides on how to clean your outdoor / exterior bricks:
Step 1) Check the Weather Forecast
The best time to clean brick is when it’s cloudy. If it’s too hot or sunny, then cleaning solvents could dry too quickly and leave residue stains, discoloring your brick.
Step 2) Use a Tarp to Hide Nearby Surfaces
Use a tarp or other covering to protect these surfaces. If you have lights, windows, or plants on the exterior of your home, for example, then you may want to cover up these items to protect from the cleaning solvents.
Step 3) Wet the Brick
Dry brick will absorb the solvent quickly, leaving you with discolored brick material and insufficient amounts of solvent. Spray the brick down thoroughly with a garden hose before you apply solvent.
You should also use your garden hose to remove any surface dirt and grime from the brick. You’ll want any major problems to be removed from the brick before moving onto the next step.
Step 4) Create your Cleaning Solvent and Apply
There are three effective types of cleaning solvents for brick, including soapy water (for general brick cleaning), a bleach formula (for mold and mildew), or muriatic acid (for the toughest-to-remove stains).
Soap (For Basic or Interior Cleaning): A basic soap mixture (say, with dish soap and warm water) can clean basic stains off of brick.
Vinegar (For Basic or Interior Cleaning): Alternatively, some people skip the dish soap and mix a solution with equal parts vinegar and water, then pour it into a spray bottle.
Bleach (For Mold, Mildew, and Moss): A bleach mixture is ideal for removing mold, mildew, and moss from exterior brick walls. Use a scrub to tackle hard-to-reach areas or difficult stains. If the bleach begins to dry on the brick, spray a small amount of water on the area to keep it moist.
Muriatic Acid (For Rust, Soil, and Mortar Stains): Muriatic acid is an industrial-strength solvent that can easily remove tough stains caused by rust, soil, or mortar.
Step 5) Use a Pressure Washer
Pressure washers are great at cleaning brick surfaces. You can add a brick-cleaning solution to your pressure washer. Remember, too much pressure can damage the brick.
Other Tips for Cleaning Brick Exteriors
- If a certain side of your home doesn’t get much sunlight, then mold, mildew, and moss can quickly form on the bricks.
- A good sponge should easily clean the surface of the brick; however, for harder-to-reach areas, like the spaces between bricks, use a natural or nylon-bristle scrub brush.
- Avoid using a wire brush because it can leave bits of metal behind that rust and stain your bricks.
- Cleaning brick exteriors can be tricky. Professional cleaning companies like FCT Surface Cleaning knows what works on brick on your area – and what does not. If you have never pressure washed brick before, then you may inadvertently damage your brick exteriors.
If you want a professional to clean your outdoor bricks, contact FCT Surface Cleaning for a competitive quote on (08) 9204 3333.
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