How to Clean Used Brick

Used brick adds charm and visual appeal to many building projects, but it's essential that you use the proper methods to clean the used brick. Cleaning the brick maintains it's beautiful weathered look and special characteristics as you restore it for reuse.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Used bricks
• Mason's hammer
• Mason's brick chisel
• Abrasive stone
• Muriatic acid
• Water
• Buckets
• Protective rubber gloves
• Goggles

1. Put the used bricks onto a solid worktable at a comfortable working height.

2. Place a mason's chisel onto a brick where the seam of the mortar and brick meet.

3. Knock the excess mortar off the brick carefully using a mason's hammer to hit the top of the mason's brick chisel.

4. Brush any remaining mortar off the brick with a stiff wire brush.

5. Scrub the brick with an abrasive rubbing rock if stubborn mortar residue remains on the brick. Purchase the abrasive rock and all of the other needed tools at your local hardware or building supply store if you don't have them on hand.

6. Wash the brick in a bucket with a solution of muriatic acid and water using a ratio of 10 percent acid and 90 percent water.

7. Rinse the brick with clear water, and allow it to dry. Repeat the steps until all of the used bricks are clean.

Tips & Warnings

• Only certain sides of your bricks show when your project is completed. It isn't necessary that every side of each used brick is free from all stains as long as there aren't any large mortar pieces stuck to them.
• Be aware that working with chemicals is dangerous. Wear the proper protection, including gloves, clothing and goggles.