Bricks build dreams that take the shape of beautiful houses and buildings. A brick wall is flawlessly constructed with bricks and mortar done vertically. You can use bricks in the construction of a building for its exterior walls, retaining walls, parapets, partitions, etc. Clay, calcium-silicate bricks, and concrete go into making a simple brick wall.
There is no strict design or rule for a brick wall though. You can craft it in multiple forms like zig-zag, straight, curvy, or any other form of construction using good-quality bricks.
Although brick walls are quite durable and sturdy, these do not come without their problems of maintenance. Dust, dirt, and stains can ruin the beauty and colour of the bricks. This means that it requires cleaning and maintenance quite often. We are going to discuss the ways of cleaning a brick wall. The interior and exterior brick walls are slightly different when it comes to cleaning.
The ways of cleaning an interior brick wall
It goes without saying that it is very important to save your dream house with the following maintenance tips:
- Prepare to clean- to clean any wall, firstly make sure to remove all the wall hangings, frames, or any other artwork on the wall. If any furniture or rugs are sticking to the wall, remove that as well. Try to cover the floor with an old rug or bed sheet so that whatever spills on the floor does not spoil it. Wear safety goggles and gloves before starting the cleaning process.
- Dust first- see if there are any cobwebs or dust on the wall. If there is any, use a brush with firm bristles or a dust rug to clean the wall. Here, you should wear a mask or tie a piece of cloth on your face covering your nose and mouth so that the dust does not get in your body. Many people are allergic to dust. You can even use a vacuum to clean the dust on the wall.
- Warm water- if the walls are not very heavily stained, you can simply use warm water to clean them. Soak an old cloth in warm water and drain the excess water out of it. Wipe the wall and any minor stains or dirt will come out easily.
- Vinegar- if the brick wall is heavily stained or soiled, you can use a mixture of vinegar with water to clean it. The vinegar with its acidic concentration will pull the tough dirt and leave the wall undamaged. Mix both the ingredients in equal quantities and you can fill a spray bottle with it. Spray on the wall and let it sit there for around 10 minutes. After that, you can comfortably clean it with an old mop.
- Baking soda– to clean the mortar, you can use an old toothbrush. Here, you need to apply a little bit of baking soda, like 2 ounces or 59 ml, mixed in a gallon or 4 litres of water, or mix around half a cup of baking soda with 3 tablespoons of dish detergent. Apply this mixture for 10 minutes and wipe it off with a mop dipped in warm water. You can even use some elbow grease in the scrubber and clean the wall.
- Tartar- another way of cleaning the interior walls is by making a paste of a little bit of water with around 2 tablespoons of cream of tartar. Apply the mixture on the wall and leave it for 10 minutes. Now, you can wipe it off with a cloth dipped in warm water. You can use this method to clean smaller areas like around a fireplace.
- Trisodium Phosphate– this is a cleaning compound that comes in powder form used to clean larger patches of a brick wall. Make a mixture of the powder with water and use it for cleaning the wall. However, it is very important to wear gloves before using them. It can be harmful on direct exposure to the hands.
How can you clean exterior brick walls?
Although exterior brick walls don’t need lots of cleaning, once in a while cleaning becomes necessary of course.
- Use Hose– once in a while, you can just use your normal hose spray that will remove the slight dirt on the brick wall. This is the easiest way of cleaning the exterior wall and will not take a lot of effort as well. You need not wipe the water, it will gradually get dried. If this does not work, you can use a pressurized hose for more force of water that will deep clean the wall. Here, do not use the hose on painted bricks since it might ruin the finish of the wall or on walls where bricks are very old.
- Bleach– if there is any part of your building that does not receive enough sunlight, there are chances that mildew or moss will grow on the wall. You can clean it with a mixture of bleach and water and spray it on the wall. Here, you can use a nylon bristle brush to properly remove the moss. Moreover, do not use a wire brush here. While cleaning, the wire might leave small bits of metal on the bricks which will eventually rust and leave behind stains that look messy. Do not forget to use hand gloves and protective glasses.
3. Salt with detergent– make a consistent paste of equal parts of both ingredients. Apply it on the brick wall with a rag or hands after wearing gloves. Leave it for a few minutes and then brush the wall to let the dried paste come off. You can use warm water to clean the wall after this for a shining effect.
The brick wall gives a very rustic look and has become a common fashion for interior and exterior design over the years. A lot of people with a taste of aesthetics always prefer brick walls over anything else. Many people prefer painting on a brick wall and many want to keep it the old-fashioned way. Any way you prefer building your house, it demands care and maintenance to always look beautiful. With the above-mentioned tricks, you can give a fresh new look and make your house shine flawlessly.
