A Comfortable Stay

Posted on: 16 February 2016

Efflorescence is the accumulation of visible salt on the surface of brick or masonry. Instead of being an external deposit, this salt actually comes from the interior of brick. The appearance of salt can cause long-term problems for homeowners from an aesthetic point of view, though it causes no permanent harm to the brick itself. However, due to its unsightly presence, it is good to remove efflorescence from the brick. Below is how you can remove efflorescence and restore the original look of your bricks:

Tools and materials needed

• Muriatic acid - Look for products designed for cleaning masonry, and only purchase acid that is clearly labeled with the concentration of the bottle's contents.

• Tampico fiber scrub brush - Use a natural fiber brush with acid-based cleaners, since metal bristles may be damaged by the cleaner and transfer rust to the brick.

• Garden hose with nozzle - A plant-watering nozzle that emits a slow, wide flow of water works best.

• Measuring cup - Glass measuring cups are safe to use with acid and will not react with the contents; plastic cups may melt, so avoid their use when measuring acid.

• 5-gallon bucket - Any ordinary bucket is acceptable for use, but be sure to remove any residue that might remain inside from previous use.

• Eye protection

• Rubber gloves

Step-by-step procedure

1. Soak the brick surface thoroughly - Brick is a highly porous material and readily absorbs any liquid on its surface. If you apply muriatic acid to the brick first, it will quickly pass into the pores of the material and bypass the surface-level salts altogether. As such, you should spray the brick with a garden hose in order to fill the empty pores inside the brick; this will keep the acid on the surface where it can perform the hard work of cleaning away salt. When spraying water, avoid using high-pressure spray, as this can actually drive salt and any other surface residue into the brick and make it more difficult to remove. Instead, spray the brick with a slow, shower-like spray and wet the brick completely.

2. Prepare the cleaning solution - Ideally, it is best to use the weakest possible acid solution on brick to avoid inadvertent etching. That is why you should begin by mixing a 40-to-1 ratio of water to acid; you can always slowly increase the amount of acid in later formulations, should the solution not be effective.

Before beginning to mix the solution, put on eye protection and a pair of chemical-resistant rubber gloves. Once you are well protected, add 3 gallons of tap water to a clean 5-gallon bucket, then measure and pour 1 and ⅓ cups of muriatic acid into the water. Never add water to acid, as this can cause potentially dangerous splashing.

3. Apply the acid solution to the brick - After you have mixed the muriatic acid and water, dip a tampico fiber brush into the solution and allow it to soak for about a minute. Lift the brush out of the bucket and allow it to drip for a couple of seconds, then scrub the brick in a circular motion. Scrub vigorously in an area about four feet by four feet square, and always begin at the top and move down the wall. Work quickly enough to prevent the solution from drying on the brick.

4. Rinse and neutralize the acid solution - Once you have scrubbed a small area as directed in step 3, use the garden hose and nozzle to rinse the brick. Rinse it thoroughly to remove all of the water and acid solution, and be sure not to allow it to remain on the surface of the brick for any length of time. In addition, also be sure to dilute the run-off from the bricks in order to render the solution harmless.

If you lack the resources to accomplish this project on your own, contact a local building exterior cleaning company in your area.