How to Clean a Stain off a Brick Wall

Vinegar is useful at removing brick stains.

A brick wall may become subject to unsightly stains after prolonged exposure to the elements. Cleaning brick stains can prove frustrating, however, since you cannot simply wipe the stains away. Powerful cleaning agents like bleach can discolor the bricks if used improperly, while some milder household cleaners can prove insufficient against brick stains. With the right solution, though, you can eliminate even difficult stains and restore your brick wall to its former, unsoiled glory.

Things You'll Need

• Hose
• White vinegar
• Spray bottle
• Scrubbing brush
• Bleach

Instructions

1. Wet your brick wall with a garden hose. The water will fill and cover the tiny pores, creating a protective layer. You do not want your cleaning solution seeping into the holes and cracks, where it can linger for a long period of time and slowly weaken the brick.

2. Fill a spray bottle with undiluted white vinegar. For most stains, you can use vinegar, which contains 3 percent acetic acid -- a weak acid that can dissolve even stubborn stains without damaging or discoloring your bricks. Avoid other vinegars (like apple cider vinegar), as they contain a higher acidity and may be too strong for some brick surfaces. For stains resulting from mold or vegetation, use 1 cup of bleach combined with 1 gallon of water.

3. Spray the stain with your white vinegar or bleach solution. The solution will need some time to penetrate and break down the stain. Allow the solvent to settle for about 15 minutes.

4. Scrub the brick stain with a the firmest-bristled brush you can find. Continue to scrub until the stain withers away. If you find that the stain loosens but does not disappear completely, spray the stain again and wait an additional 15 minutes before scrubbing a second time.

5. Hose down your wall again to rinse away the cleaning solution. Though white vinegar and diluted bleach are safe to use on bricks, you should not allow it to linger for too long, as any acid can slowly dissolve brick and stone surfaces.

Tips & Warnings

• If your cleaning solution proves insufficient, spray your stain with a brick-and-stone cleaner, sold in home supply stores. You can also try oxygen bleach, a color-safe alternative to household bleach.

References

• Masonry Work Tools.com: How to Clean Brick
• Marble Institute of America: Natural Stone Care and Cleaning
• Bob Vila; New Brick Basics -- Maintenance, Care and Cleaning; Joyce L. Carroll