Cleaning Brick and Stone Walls the Easy Way - By: Jay Benjamin

The fastest way to clean exterior brick or stone walls is with a pressure washer, they will allow you to literally blast the dirt off the wall. They simply attach to your garden hose and provide an adjustable, high pressure water jet (up to 50 times the power of the hose alone). It's a good idea to buy one which has wheels for easy portability, and with the highest pressure rating (PSI - pounds per square inch) possible. Also check what extensions and accessories come with the model. If you can't afford to buy a good one, or don't think you'll be using it enough to warrant the expense, then hire one for a day or two instead.

Before you start, get into some old clothes or overalls - you're certain to get wet! It's also sensible to wear some eye protection in case flakes of brick or stone are thrown back towards you. Pressure washers can have quite a 'kick', so keep a tight grip on the washer as you pull the handle. Start at the top of the wall and work your way from left to right, top to bottom. Slowly move the nozzle of the washer in a steady line across the wall to make sure you cover the whole area. You may damage the wall if you keep the jet concentrated on a particular area for too long, so keep moving slowly. If you come across a particularly dirty area which the water won't clean by itself, then it's time to break out the wire brush and give it a good scrub before washing it again. Obviously, you need to be careful to avoid windows, etc. while using the pressure washer. Wood is particularly susceptible to damage from too much pressure.

If your walls have areas of ingrained dirt or staining which brushing and washing alone won't remove, then you may have to use a specialty wall cleaner from your hardware store. These contain an acid which will remove most stubborn stains, make sure you rinse the area very well after applying the cleaner. The problem with this approach is that you may set yourself up for more work than you bargained for: if you clean just the stained area it may end up looking a different color to the rest of the wall and you could well end up having to apply it to the whole area!

About the Author

Jay has been writing articles for a number of years. Take a look at her latest site about using a lumbar support pillow or back support belt to relieve lower back pain.

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