How to Clean Red Brick

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Red brick can be a beautiful addition to your home, but it requires some cleaning and maintenance to keep up its rustic charm over the years. You can vacuum your red brick with a high-powered nozzle or spray it with the garden hose. You can also wipe the surface with vinegar or a bleach mixture for routine cleaning. For tougher stains, you may need to use a chemical cleanser like ammonia or tri-phosphate sodium.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning Interior Red Brick

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  1. Use the nozzle of your high-powered vacuum cleaner to remove any surface dirt and grime on your red brick. Go over the entire surface of the brick with the nozzle of the vacuum, making sure you get into all the nooks and crannies. [1]
    • You can try out different settings, but you’ll probably need to use the highest one to effectively remove most of the dirt.
    • For interior red brick flooring, you can use a standard floor vacuum if you wish. Turn off the brush roll to protect your flooring, however.
    • If you choose to sweep your brick floor with a broom, take care that crumbs and debris don’t get stuck in the rough grout.
  2. Mix 1 ⁄ 2   c (120 mL) of mild laundry detergent with 1 oz (28 g) of regular table salt and add just enough water to create a paste. Use a clean, damp cloth to apply the paste to the red brick and let it sit for 15 minutes, or until dry.
    • You can also use a mixture of salt and dish soap or borax and warm water.
    • Once the paste has dried, remove the remnants with a nylon brush or another hard-bristled brush.
    • If there is any remaining soot or dirt, try applying a bit of vinegar with a wet rag and wiping it clean.
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  3. Use a clean rag to apply a bit of distilled white vinegar to the red brick. Dampen the cloth with the vinegar and wipe it across the surface of your brick. Let it sit for a few minutes and then wipe it off with a clean damp cloth. [2]
    • Remove any remaining vinegar residue with some warm water.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Cleaning Exterior Red Brick

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  1. Turn your garden hose on full spray and wash any dirt and grime off the brick as best you can with the strong force of the hose spray. Work methodically from one side to the other so that it doesn’t keep spraying back onto a part you have already cleaned.
    • You may also use a bucket with soapy water to scrub stains off of exterior red brick.
    • You can use different hose settings to access some of the harder to reach places. For example, you might need a steadier stream to get rid of cobwebs hiding in corners and crevices.
  2. Make a cleaning solution using 4 parts water to 1 part bleach. Combine it all in a bucket. Scrape off any moss or mold with a spatula or a stiff-bristled brush. Apply a generous covering of the bleach mixture directly to the red brick and let it sit overnight. Then you can rinse off the bleach mixture with a hose. [3]
    • If there are still traces of mold remaining, you can make a stronger mixture – half water and half bleach – and let it sit on the red brick for 2 days before rinsing it off.
  3. Once you have finished cleaning your exterior red bricks, consider sealing them with a siloxane- or silane-based sealer. This will help protect your bricks from future stains, and it will prevent dirt and grime from building up on your bricks over time. [4]
    • You should be able to purchase these products at any home improvement store.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Removing Tough Stains

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  1. Purchase some trisodium phosphate and add 1 ⁄ 2   c (120 mL) of TSP to 1 US gal (3.8 L) of hot water. Dip a scrubbing brush into the cleaning solution and scrub the red brick until you begin to see results. When you finish scrubbing, rinse the brick with warm water to remove any lingering residue from the cleaning solution. [5]
    • Be sure to wear rubber gloves while handling this cleaning solution.
    • You should be able to purchase trisodium phosphate at any grocery or home improvement store among the cleaning supplies.
  2. Pour some warm water into a bucket and add 1 ⁄ 2   c (120 mL) of ammonia. Dip a scrubbing brush into the mixture and scrub the red brick until the tough stains are removed. Be sure to rinse off the rest of the ammonia mixture with warm water. [6]
    • Wear rubber gloves when handling ammonia.
    • This method is best for use on exterior red brick, or in a well-ventilated area.
  3. If your red brick is extremely stained or covered in unwanted paint, it might be a good idea to simply let a professional handle it. These cleaning and removing processes can involve harsh chemical applications that should be left to professionals. [7]
    • Most construction or home improvement companies can cover this kind of work, or recommend a qualified professional who can.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you make red bricks look new?
    Gerber Ortiz-Vega
    Masonry Specialist & Founder, GO Masonry LLC
    Gerber Ortiz-Vega is a Masonry Specialist and the Founder of GO Masonry LLC, a masonry company based in Northern Virginia. Gerber specializes in providing brick and stone laying services, concrete installations, and masonry repairs. Gerber has over four years of experience running GO Masonry and over ten years of general masonry work experience. He earned a BA in Marketing from the University of Mary Washington in 2017.
    Gerber Ortiz-Vega
    Masonry Specialist & Founder, GO Masonry LLC
    Expert Answer
    If it just looks dusty, you can buy special chemicals at your local brick supplier that help clean and restore the original color of the mortar and the brick. Mix that with water and basically just clean off the mortar and the brick. However, if the mortar has been cracked and eroded, that would be a different issue.
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/living-area/how-to-clean-brick.html
      2. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-a-brick-fireplace-with-all-natural-cleaners-apartment-therapy-tutorials-216668
      3. ↑ http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/tip/cleaning-brick.html
      4. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/cleaning/how-to-clean-brick/view-all
      5. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/cleaning-with-tsp-trisodium-phosphate/
      6. ↑ http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/tip/cleaning-brick.html
      7. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/370-brick-basics-maintenance-care-and-cleaning/#.WQiO9tKGPIU
      8. ↑ Gerber Ortiz-Vega. Masonry Specialist. Expert Interview. 10 March 2020.

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If your red brick walls are looking a little dirty or discolored, you can restore their rustic charm with some simple household cleaners. Indoors, use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of any surface dirt and dust. Outdoors, use a garden hose to rinse the bricks. Then, mix ½ cup of laundry detergent with 1 ounce of salt and a little water to form a paste. Apply the paste to your bricks with a clean, damp cloth, let it sit for 15 minutes, then wipe or brush it off. If your walls still look dirty, wipe them with vinegar and a clean cloth. For really tough stains, mix ½ cup of ammonia with warm water and scrub the wall with it and a stiff brush. For more tips from our Cleaning co-author, including how to seal your bricks to protect them from the elements, read on!

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