My Two Favorite Methods for Cleaning a Brick Wall
Whenever a new friend comes over, the first thing he tells me is that I’m “so lucky” to have an exposed brick wall in my apartment. For the most part this is true because it is beautiful, cozy and has that classic New York feel.
Although it is not entirely true that I was lucky, because it is huge. It’s about nine feet tall and 17 feet wide, which is a lot of brick to take care of. I don’t know how (and I’m too scared to try) to get nails in there, so other than one nail left over from a previous tenant who was braver than me, there’s no way to hang any art, which leaves me with a ton of room to clean and work on.
After seven years of caring for this monstrosity, I realized that just because I can’t see dirt on the dark red bricks doesn’t mean the wall is clean. On the contrary, porous material collects a lot of dirt and requires regular maintenance. This is how I clean a brick wall without damaging it.
Salt and dish soap are fine (with one caveat).
Before you start cleaning the brick with any liquid or other product, you should quickly vacuum it. Small crumbs of brick and mortar, as well as dust and other debris, will be removed immediately, and this will save you a lot of time when you start cleaning. I use my trusty Bissell Featherweight for this so I don’t overload the pads of my fancier vacuum.
The first method I like to use to clean brick is a paste of regular salt and dish soap. I don’t measure it, but pour a little dish soap into a bowl, then add salt and mix until it forms a thick paste. From here I apply it evenly to the area of the wall I want to clean and leave it on for 10 minutes. If you notice a white film has formed on your bricks, it is actually a type of salt, but this gritty paste can be easily removed.
After the mixture has sat for a while, I take a damp cloth and wipe it off. You may want to place newspaper or a plastic tarp under the area where you are working, as much of the paste will flake off. It is also wise to use a bucket of water to constantly wet and rinse the rag. You’ll need it. The soap and salt mixture is not easy to remove. It foams, spreads, and takes three or four passes of the rag to completely disappear.
You’ll also need to be careful if there are any holes or gaps in the wall anywhere (like mine). There is salt paste stuck there and you will have to dig it out. It’s definitely a labor-intensive process, but it leaves the bricks nice and clean.
Vinegar and water also work.
For faster cleaning, simply use equal parts vinegar and water. You can mix it in a spray bottle, spray and wipe, or whisk it in a bucket and dampen a rag or sponge with it. The acidity dissolves dirt and makes it easier to remove, so you’ll see quick results. When you’re done, you’ll still have to rinse everything off with clean water and a clean rag because if you leave it on the brick, it might dissolve or damage it.
Today I added a few drops of dish soap to give it some extra cleaning power. It worked great and, as I hoped, took down the vinegar smell a bit, but it wasn’t necessary. This method does remove dirt from the walls, so be sure to have a durable cloth ready.
This works better if you don’t want to spend a lot of time scrubbing the abrasive, foamy mixture off the wall. Do this about once every two months and save the salt and soap for use twice a year.