How to Clean BrickWhile you might not need to know how to clean brick for your weekly cleaning in clients' homes, a house cleaning service menu that includes brick cleaning will add to your bottom line! Brick is a durable feature of your home that gives it a rustic and comfortable feel. Brick is made from either clay or cement, and so it stands up to smoke, weather and paint with few ill-effects. However, if you want to remove unsightly stains and the erosion of brick over time, make it a habit to clean brick occasionally. Follow these easy step-by-step directions on how to clean brick both inside and outside of your home. How to Clean Brick Inside The Home 1. Protect yourself. You’ll need eye protection and rubber gloves for this process. 2. Use a cleaning agent. When you’re cleaning brick inside of your home, it’s important to use health-friendly cleaners as your family spends a lot of time inside around these bricks. A simple mixture of equal parts soap and table salt yields an effective brick cleaning cream. Simply rub it into the brick with a cloth, let it dry for 10 minutes and the scrub it off with a brush. A similar mixture of laundry detergent, ammonia, pumice and hot water will have the same effect. After either process, rinse well with hot water. Extra-thick soot or grime may require a repeat application. (NOTE: Ammonia is a very harmful cleaning substance and should be used with caution and away from children. Read instructions for use carefully, use in a well-ventilated area and avoid inhaling or ingesting it.)
1. Remove any chunks. It is imperative that you remove any mortar or chunks of debris from your brick first. Skipping this step would turn any unsecured debris into a potentially harmful projectile. Wearing eye protection, use a metal scraper and gently try to lift the debris away from the brick. Don’t jab at the brick or you will leave permanent chips in its surface. Be sure to collect and discard of all debris before continuing on to step 2. 2. Use a power washer. The powerful stream of water from a power washer is all that is needed to remove most dirt and grime from outdoor brick. Simple hook your power washer up to your outside tap, and direct the water stream at the dirty areas of brick. Make sure that the pressure is no higher than 1500 PSI, or you may risk scarring the bricks and permanently damaging the façade of the home. Start from the top of your brick and work your way down, taking extra caution at corner joints and wall cracks where mortar may be prone to shifting or blowing out. Once the brick has been thoroughly rinsed, be sure to rinse any surrounding vegetations or personal items. NOTE: Power washers are very powerful and should never be directed at or used in the vicinity of other people, especially children. Cleaning brick with a powerwasher can loosen chunks of brick. Flying pieces of brick are dangerous! Take precautions! How to Clean Brick Both Indoors and Outdoors Focus on the stain. Depending on what you're trying to clean off of your brick, you may need to use a cleaner after you wash the area.
As always, when cleaning any surface it is important to rinse the cleaned area thoroughly after cleaning. Any leftover residue will attract more dirt and will just leave you cleaning the area again sooner. Additional note of caution: Brick cleaning can be a great service to offer your clients. Because brick is a porous material (whether made of cement or clay), it can be easily damaged or discolored. Where possible, test your cleaning methods before tackling the whole job to make sure you won't significantly change the look of the brick. --> Return Home from How to Clean Brick.
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