How to Get Brick Soot Off Walls
Occurring when a flame has incomplete combustion, soot covers any surface it encounters with an oily, difficult-to-remove residue. If not removed in a timely manner, the soot will discolor walls and bricks, leaving permanent stains. In addition, the soot will cause the bricks and walls to develop a nose-wrinkling odor. This greasy substance and its odor last until you remove the soot. However, before removing the soot, allow it to dry for 24 hours. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Spray bottle
- Bucket
- All-purpose bucket
- Spoon
- Scrub brush
- Sponge
- Drop cloth
- Trisodium phosphate
- Bleach
- Microfiber or lint-free cloths
Instructions
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Brick
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1
Pour water in a spray bottle, and mist the soot-covered brick.
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2
Pour 1 gallon of water in a bucket, and add one-quarter cup of all-purpose cleaner. Mix the solution with a spoon.
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3
Dampen a scrub brush in the cleaning solution, and gently scrub the soot off the brick. Wipe the solution off the brick with a sponge damp with water. Let it dry.
Walls
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4
Lay a drop cloth over the floor under the walls with the soot buildup to protect the floor from the cleaning solution.
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5
Dissolve 6 tbsp. of trisodium phosphate in 1 gallon of water. Add 1 cup of bleach to the solution, and stir with a spoon.
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6
Dampen a microfiber or lint-free cloth in the cleaning solution. Scrub a small section of the wall with the damp cloth. Rinse the solution with cold water when soiled.
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7
Repeat Step 3 until you have thoroughly cleaned the soot off the wall.
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8
Wipe the cleaning solution off the walls gently with a clean cloth dampened in cold water.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If the brick is more than 50 years old, aggressive cleaning might damage it. Instead, use the upholstery brush attachment of a vacuum cleaner to remove the soot.
References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images
