Use these methods for cleaning the exterior or interior bricks of your historic home: Mix equal parts vinegar and water and use a spray bottle to apply over a wide area. Let this solution sit on the bricks for several minutes. For really dirty bricks, gently scrub with a nylon-bristled brush.
Dilute vinegar or a mild acid: Apply it to the bricks to create a slightly weathered look. Be cautious as this can affect the bricks' integrity. Moss growth: Apply a moss mixture (moss, buttermilk, and water) to the bricks in shaded areas to create an aged, organic look.
In a spray bottle, combine equal amounts of vinegar and water. Shake the bottle to mix it up. Spray your DIY cleaner onto the brick. Let it sit for a few minutes to penetrate the dirt.
Other types of vinegar, such as apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar, may contain additional ingredients that can cause discolouration or damage to the brick. Therefore, only use white vinegar when you clean brick walls to ensure the best possible results and to avoid any potential damage.
No, WD-40 is not recommended for cleaning bricks as it could potentially discolour them.
Use a detergent solution and apply to the brickwork using a nylon brush. Never use a wire brush or metal tools to clean, as this can damage the brick face. Avoid cleaning brickwork in very cold conditions, as the wet brickwork will freeze, which many cause damage. High pressure washing is not recommended for brickwork.
Staining the Bricks
Staining can give bricks a rustic, aged look without altering their texture. Brick stains penetrate the surface, allowing the natural texture to remain visible while changing the colour.
Fill a spray bottle half vinegar half water. Spray brick and use a sponge or spongemop to wash it down. If it's really gross (which I doubt) then you can let it sit for a bit and use a nylon brush on it. Rinse with water.
The chimney was bricked up and gone but I wanted to tell a story of inglenook bricks that had seen years of use in a fireside setting or been reclaimed. To do so, I mixed Saltwash with Annie Sloan Old White, into a soft paste, then applied across dusted clean bricks with an old credit card.
Reclaimed bricks are sought after for their attractive distressed appearance, compared to the bright consistency of new bricks. They also have environmental benefits, as bricks are being recycled rather than newly produced.
Mimic the look of old European cottages with the German smear technique by applying white mortar to create heavy grout lines, then smearing the excess mortar across the surface of the fireplace to create the illusion of imperfectly shaped bricks. Photo by: Jennie Andrews.
The Auro 114 oil is a hard wearing, transparent (Highlights the surface - Test application recommended) oil. It can be used internally or externally on brick, stone, clinker, cotto, unglazed clay tiles. It is excellent for the treatment and protection of these surfaces.
Although brick needs less maintenance than structures built from wood, for example, brick will need repair, cleaning, and sealing over time due to exposure to moisture and extreme temperatures. Brick restoration, like cleaning and repairing, can give the brick a brand-new appearance.
The slush and brush technique is when a much wider mortar joint is spread all the way to the face of the stone and then brushed smooth. The second method is a dry lay or drystack style, where a small amount of mortar is laid between the stones but is mostly behind the stones.
Historical and heritage value
Reclaimed bricks have the aged and patina effect that new bricks just can't replicate. The bricks have withstood weather and time, giving the material a certain charm, like an antique piece “with character by being fully matured and weathered” (ArchitectureToday, n.a).
If you'd prefer a brick cleaning solution that avoids harsh chemicals and isn't hard on your wallet, there are affordable natural options, one of which uses a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water. These solutions are perfect for giving your tired old brick a refresh, and they're safe for little ones.
As the brick heats up, the minerals in its clay can often start to react with the air or other parts of the clay. This leads to the clay switching from its original color to a different one. This is because the hematite, a bright red mineral, reacts to become magnetite, a black mineral.
First, for very mild cases of efflorescence, try a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water. Using a scrub brush, spot treat and scrub affected areas with the vinegar mix. The acidity in the vinegar helps remove the efflorescence and calcium deposits by breaking down mineral crystals.
If you have outdoor bricks that need cleaning, one of the most effective ways is to apply warm water and a mixture of dish soap and baking soda.
Limewash – The Halfway Solution
Limewash is a type of paint made from natural materials like lime and water. It is often used to give brick a weathered, aged appearance, but it can also be used to change the color of the brick.
Can vinegar clean bricks? As vinegar is acidic, it can dissolve dirt and cut through stains. However, it cannot get rid of tough stains like heavy grease and oil stains, rust markings, or mineral deposits. Using it to clean bricks may also be a laborious process.